Passport may not be here in time for Alaska cruise...

[KatieMill]

My brother's passport has not been mailed yet...it is very close to sailing time...has anyone gone on Alaskan cruise out of Vancouver without a passport? Is it even possible? They had sent it back due to an issue with the picture...and it was remedied and overnighted right back. All they will say is hopefully it will be here in time. Just trying to figure out if there's anything he can do in the event it is not here

 

[Maggie'sMom]

No. I'm fairly certain there are no exceptions to needing a passport for the Alaskan cruises since they depart from Vancouver. Did they pay for expedited processing? When is your sail date? There are ways to get the passport sped up if need be.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My brother's passport has not been mailed yet...it is very close to sailing time...has anyone gone on Alaskan cruise out of Vancouver without a passport? Is it even possible? They had sent it back due to an issue with the picture...and it was remedied and overnighted right back. All they will say is hopefully it will be here in time. Just trying to figure out if there's anything he can do in the event it is not here

It depends on how you are traveling to Vancouver. Is he a US citizen? Is he flying to Vancouver? Then he needs a passport. If he's traveling to Vancouver by land (train, car, bus) then he just needs a birth certificate and a government issued photo ID to get into Canada. However, to return to the US from Canada, you need a passport

This is from the DCL website:
U.S. Citizens Traveling to Canada (Vancouver) By Land or Sea

All Guests claiming U.S. citizenship, including children, must present one of the following documents:

• A valid U.S. Passport
• A valid U.S. Passport Card
• A valid Trusted Traveler Card (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• Government-issued photo ID* along with one of the following:
  • Original or copy of their state issued birth certificate
    • Puerto Rico birth certificates issued prior to 7/1/10 are not acceptable
  • Original Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State,
  • Original Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
  *When returning to the U.S. from Canada via land borders, U.S. citizens must present either a U.S. passport, passport card, or NEXUS card. The only exception to this requirement is for U.S. citizens under the age of 16 (or under 19, if traveling with a school, religious, or other youth group) who need only present a birth certificate (original, photocopy or certified copy), Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or Certificate of Naturalization.
  
  With the exception of the state issued birth certificate, photocopies of the above documents are not acceptable. Hospital issued birth certificates are not acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship for purposes of traveling outside of the U.S.
  
  
  United States citizens can visit the State Department's travel website at http://travel.state.gov or call the United States National Passport Information Center at (877) 4USA-PPT (487-2778) for more information.

U.S. Citizens Traveling To Or Returning From Canada (Vancouver) by Air
All Guests claiming U.S. Citizenship, including children, must provide:

• A valid U.S. Passport

United States citizens can visit the State Department's travel website at http://travel.state.gov or call the United States National Passport Information Center at (877) 4USA-PPT (487-2778) for more information.



https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/...ons/alaska-passport-and-travel-documentation/

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

If he is entering by air, he needs a passport. If he is entering by land or sea, he could also use an Enhanced Driver’s License if his state is doing those already.

You can go to an actual passport agency (may be hours from you though) and get a passport quickly if you are traveling in less than two weeks. It is not recommended and you will pay through the nose, but it can be done.

 

[princessnicchia]

How are you getting to Vancouver? Are you driving or flying? A passport is required for international air travel. For land travel, a passport is not required for US citizens traveling to Canada. Hopefully this link will help you.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/...ons/alaska-passport-and-travel-documentation/

 

[KatieMill]

Flying into Vancouver. ugh! scary. Thank you all for the input...it was much easier to post here and get my "friends" input that I know will be spot on than try to figure it out on my own. I wonder where an actual passport agency would be? I guess if it's that or don't go he better buck up and get to a passport office.

He said that the person he spoke to on the phone said it shouldn't be long...but of course they can't guarantee.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Flying into Vancouver. ugh! scary. Thank you all for the input...it was much easier to post here and get my "friends" input that I know will be spot on than try to figure it out on my own. I wonder where an actual passport agency would be? I guess if it's that or don't go he better buck up and get to a passport office.

He said that the person he spoke to on the phone said it shouldn't be long...but of course they can't guarantee.

Where is he located? The US Dept of State has a list of passport agencies:
http://www.travel.state.gov/content...orts/information/where-to-apply/agencies.html

 

[Maggie'sMom]

If you are within two weeks of sailing, you can follow these instructions to expedite:

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/where-to-apply.html

 

[Mrs Green]

When is your trip? Keep us posted!

 

[Ofinn]

We got our passports in 10 days. I didn't pay the expedite fee. A lot quicker than I expected.

 

[KatieMill]

Thanks everyone! He mailed the corrected picture back on May 18th...right as he rec'd it. His son's passport had been mailed to him the day before. They were both processed at same time. It should be here. After quizzing him just now, he said the man today told him it should be close to being processed and to my brother with time to spare. egads! There isn't a tracking # as of today so it wasn't in the mail earlier today. Surely, surely it will get in the mail tomorrow. We live in rural Texas. If not, guess my brother will be pulling out all the stops come Monday morning!

 

[LKShep]

Have him call the state office of one of his US Senators. The staff there have contacts and ways to expedite and track passports that are not available to the public. They can help explore all the options to get the passport into his hands on time. I worked in the US Senate for 21 years and we did this on a regular basis.

 

[emilyann415]

FWIW mine didn't show it had shipped on the website until AFTER I received my passport!

 

[bumbershoot]

There isn't a tracking # as of today so it wasn't in the mail earlier today. Surely, surely it will get in the mail tomorrow.

They don't always show as shipped, they don't always track, until after they are there.

Senators can't find individual USPS employees and make them scan a package so it's tracked; it's either scanned or it's not, and if it's not you just don't know where it is.

 

[jtba]

Thanks everyone! He mailed the corrected picture back on May 18th...right as he rec'd it. His son's passport had been mailed to him the day before. They were both processed at same time. It should be here. After quizzing him just now, he said the man today told him it should be close to being processed and to my brother with time to spare. egads! There isn't a tracking # as of today so it wasn't in the mail earlier today. Surely, surely it will get in the mail tomorrow. We live in rural Texas. If not, guess my brother will be pulling out all the stops come Monday morning!

when is your brother's cruise?

 

[Tara619]

I sent away for my passport 5/9 and received it 6/3. I would check its status on the gov websites and it always said processing. However I remember there was a phone number to call if you needed the status and it was within two weeks of your travel dates.

 

[KatieMill]

Have him call the state office of one of his US Senators. The staff there have contacts and ways to expedite and track passports that are not available to the public. They can help explore all the options to get the passport into his hands on time. I worked in the US Senate for 21 years and we did this on a regular basis.

GREAT advice!! Contacted them that very day after lunch. As of Fri afternoon, they were still in contact with my brother and hadn't much info yet...but surprisingly, the passport was in the mail that afternoon and delivered yesterday. May be coincidence...but once we contacted our senator's office...suddenly the passport people were much more knowledgeable. Whatever the case, crisis averted! Whew!! Thank you all so much for the information and guidance!!

 

[GatorMomInNC]

Great! Enjoy your cruise!