Passports Required for Flying WITHIN the US?

[*NikkiBell*]

Did anyone hear this? I was told it by a few friends the other day and am concerned for our upcoming trip in April. They said starting in January you'd need a passport to fly from one state to another.

 

[Booyakasha]

Somebody has been hitting the eggnog a litte early!

B.

 

[Evil Princess]

False.

 

[Robo]

They said starting in January you'd need a passport to fly from one state to another.

That would be a "no."

 

[DisneyDadNY]

Somebody has been hitting the eggnog a litte early!

B.

Perfect response - as stated above there is absolutely no truth to this.........yet?

 

[zdesiree]

Check the US Department of State website, for what I understood if you are traveling within the US or it's territories you don't need a passport. But go to the website and check for yourself.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

A passport is identification to allow you to return to the United States as a citizen. You CAN leave the US without a passport, you just can't get back in.

When you get off a flight to another state, you do not have to go through any type of customs, which would be the people who check passports. So no.

 

[Melissa_E]

I would think the only states this might ever happen with are Alaska and Hawaii.

 

[bradk]

it won't happen within the US.

the only recent changes are requiring them to visit countries which we already had agreements with: Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean. As it is, a passport actually isn't necessary - for the time being, they'll accept a sworn statement that you're an American citizen.

That's expected to change as part of the WHTI, but the truth is, the WHTI is just to make way for REAL ID which presumably everyone will have (if they government gets their way) anyway which will once again render passports unnecessary in those cases.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I mentioned this to my mom while on the phone a little while ago. She said it doesn't surprise her that someone might think that, since one of the girls she worked with thought Canada was a state.

They were talking about the new passport requirements, since a group from work goes up to Bingo in Fort Erie once a month. This girl said she thought it was just ridiculous that they needed passports just to go to another state.

 

[dioxide45]

Imaging how long it would be taking to get passports back if this were true.

 

[darby01_2007]

That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!!!!LOL

 

[TDS'93]

My understanding of the REAL ID bill is, if your state chooses not to comply(which they can) then when this bill goes into effect, sometime in 2008, you will need a passport to fly or take a train within the US, your driver's license will not comply with the new law. Those states that choose to comply will issue new driver's licenses and state id's. IF you google Real ID you will find several sites with varying opinions on this bill. It was passed post 9/11.

 

[verticalchaos]

You CAN use your passpport for your ID at the airport if you want instead of your driver's license, but at this point it's not required.

 

[bdcp]

A passport is identification to allow you to return to the United States as a citizen. You CAN leave the US without a passport, you just can't get back in.

When you get off a flight to another state, you do not have to go through any type of customs, which would be the people who check passports. So no.

Not entirely true. You could leave illegally, but not legally without one. You won't be allowed to board an international flight without a passport (and sometimes a visa depending on where you are going) and you cannot enter a foreign country without one either. Other countries use them to track visitors and ID you just as we do for foreign visitors here. The purpose of a U. S. passport is that it is proof that you are a resident or citizen of the US just as a foreign passport is for those from other countries. As for flights in the US, you are not required to have a passport. Passports are for international travel only. You can use it as ID, but you will not be required to have one to travel within the US and that includes Alaska and Hawaii.

The Real ID bill only requires that states verify that when someone applies for a state ID that they are who they say they are. It has nothing to do with passports. Do a search on Snopes.com for Real ID and it will tell you what is and isn't part of the bill.

 

[Booyakasha]

My understanding of the REAL ID bill is, if your state chooses not to comply(which they can) then when this bill goes into effect, sometime in 2008, you will need a passport to fly or take a train within the US, your driver's license will not comply with the new law. Those states that choose to comply will issue new driver's licenses and state id's. IF you google Real ID you will find several sites with varying opinions on this bill. It was passed post 9/11.

Might want to read that one more time.

B.

 

[bradk]

- (non-)driver's licenses are a state issued document

- a REAL ID is a state-issued document to federal government regulations.

- the federal government can't force a state to do anything, but it can withhold funding (which is normally how it co-erces states to do things)

- it's probably easier to get a passport than it is a REAL ID

- a REAL ID document will be necessary by law for flying within the US or for getting a job

- a REAL ID will act for the same purpose a passport currently acts under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).

 

[CanadianGuy]

This topic is really a much better fit on the Transportation Board and that's where you'll find it from here on out. I'm moving it over there.

Thanks!

Knox

 

[Lewisc]

Might want to read that one more time.

B.

If the real ID law isn't changed, and I suspect it will any resident of a state that doesn't comply will find a passport will be the only acceptable form of ID.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REAL_ID_Act

 

[paxsarah]

If the real ID law isn't changed, and I suspect it will any resident of a state that doesn't comply will find a passport will be the only acceptable form of ID.

But if I'm reading correctly, not at least until 2010. No need to panic next year.