Passport Question

[RDC1]

Now the following is for arriving at air ports of entry

 

Bureau of Customs and Border

Protection

8 CFR Parts 212 and 235

[uSCBP 2006–0097]

RIN 1651–AA66

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

22 CFR Parts 41 and 53

RIN 1400–AC10

Documents Required for Travelers Departing From or Arriving in the United States at Air Ports-of-Entry From Within the Western Hemisphere

 

Under this final rule, beginning January 23, 2007, United States citizens and nonimmigrant aliens from Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico entering the United States at air ports-of-entry will generally be required to present a valid passport. Accordingly, all aviation passengers and crew, including commercial flights and general aviation flights (i.e., private planes), who arrive at air ports-of-entry in the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere will be required to possess a valid passport beginning January 23, 2007. The only exceptions to this requirement would be for United States citizens who are members of the United States Armed Forces traveling on active duty; travelers who present a Merchant Mariner Document traveling in conjunction with maritime business; and travelers who present a NEXUS Air card used at a NEXUS Air kiosk.

 

 

The regulation does list three reasons that the state department might waive the requirement for a passport (Note that the same person responsible for making the decision to waive the requirement is the same person that sent me the response saying that it would be waived only in life and death situations). The language humanitarian generally applies to natural disasters, war, etc. that create a crisis for large numbers, not dealing with individuals.

 

IRTPA provides for situations in which documentation requirements may

be waived on a case-by-case basis for unforeseen emergencies or

‘‘humanitarian or national interest reasons.’’ See section 7209©(2) of

IRTPA.

 

When the Department of State waives, pursuant to EO 13323 of December 30, 2003, Section 2, the requirement with respect to the U.S. citizen because there is an unforeseen emergency; or

 

(10) When the Department of State waives, pursuant to EO 13323 of December 30, 2003, Sec 2, the requirement with respect to the U.S. citizen for humanitarian or national interest reasons; or

 

(11) When the U.S. citizen is a child under the age of 19 arriving from contiguous territory in the following circumstances:

 

(i) Children under age 16. A United States citizen who is under the age of 16 is permitted to present either an original or a copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services when entering the United States from contiguous territory at land or sea ports-of-entry; or

 

(ii) Groups of children under age 19. A U.S. citizen who is under age 19 and who is traveling with a public or private school group, religious group, social or cultural organization, or team associated with a youth sport organization may present either an original or a copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services when arriving in the United States from contiguous territory at all land or sea ports of entry, when the group, organization or team is under the supervision of an adult affiliated with the organization and when the child has parental or legal guardian consent to travel. For purposes of this paragraph, an adult is considered to be a person who is age 19 or older. The following requirements will apply:

 

(A) The group, organization, or team must provide to CBP upon crossing the border on organizational letterhead:

 

(1) The name of the group, organization or team, and the name of the supervising adult;

 

(2) A list of the children on the trip; and

 

(3) For each child, the primary address, primary phone number, date of birth, place of birth, and the name of at least one parent or legal guardian.

 

(B) The adult leading the group, organization, or team must demonstrate parental or legal guardian consent by certifying in the writing submitted in paragraph (b)(11)(ii)(A) of this section that he or she has obtained for each child the consent of at least one parent or legal guardian.

 

© The procedure described in this paragraph is limited to members of the group, organization, or team who are under age 19. Other members of the group, organization, or team must comply with other applicable document and/or inspection requirements found in 8 CFR parts 211, 212, or 235.

 

[73 FR 18419, Apr. 3, 2008]

Edited December 13, 2014 by RDC1

[RDC1]

The bottom line is that one can travel on cruise ships just fine with the appropriate documentation without a passport. For the majority, where everything goes as planned it all works out well.

 

But for those that encounter a problem and need to leave the ship (or miss the ship) and return home by air, lets just say their sense of urgency, might not agree with the state departments sense of urgency (or definition of emergency) and they might just find themselves waiting for a few days while their emergency passport application gets processed. A period during which they will have to bear the associated expenses, in addition to the cost of the passport.

 

In my experience Embassy and Consulate officials are good at their job and in general try to be helpful. Especially in the case of a true medical emergency, requiring medical evacuation. (They are even somewhat sympathetic in cases where ones passport is stolen when traveling overseas, as happened with a friend of mine). But, they also must comply with their own rules and regulations. Rules that have grown much stricter since 911 and since the new regulations were put in place in 2007 and 2008. If you need to work with them you are better off being cooperative and respectful of what they can and cannot do, instead of belligerent and threatening. Or another way of putting it your lack of planning is not their emergency.

 

It is up to each individual if the relatively minor cost of a passport, good for 10 years, is worth it. Just as they make the decision to purchase travel insurance or not. In most cases they are probably fine without it, but in those cases where something goes wrong the lack can become somewhat of a crisis itself, and result in far far higher expenses.

Edited December 13, 2014 by RDC1

[sparks1093]

The bottom line is that one can travel on cruise ships just fine with the appropriate documentation without a passport. For the majority, where everything goes as planned it all works out well.

 

But for those that encounter a problem and need to leave the ship (or miss the ship) and return home by air, lets just say their sense of urgency, might not agree with the state departments sense of urgency (or definition of emergency) and they might just find themselves waiting for a few days while their emergency passport application gets processed. A period during which they will have to bear the associated expenses, in addition to the cost of the passport.

 

In my experience Embassy and Consulate officials are good at their job and in general try to be helpful. Especially in the case of a true medical emergency, requiring medical evacuation. (They are even somewhat sympathetic in cases where ones passport is stolen when traveling overseas, as happened with a friend of mine). But, they also must comply with their own rules and regulations. Rules that have grown much stricter since 911 and since the new regulations were put in place in 2007 and 2008. If you need to work with them you are better off being cooperative and respectful of what they can and cannot do, instead of belligerent and threatening. Or another way of putting it your lack of planning is not their emergency.

 

It is up to each individual if the relatively minor cost of a passport, good for 10 years, is worth it. Just as they make the decision to purchase travel insurance or not. In most cases they are probably fine without it, but in those cases where something goes wrong the lack can become somewhat of a crisis itself, and result in far far higher expenses.

I could parse what you say but it would be difficult on this phone and would be pointless because overall you have pretty much said what i have been saying all along which is everyone needs to make up their own mind. The only real area of disagreement is i feel the consulate would be more responsive in an emergency than you do and what type of document would be issued. Let's just say the consulate will do whatever they legally can to get a traveler home and the traveler needs to be prepared for a passage of time before this occurs.

[jetskier]

Apparantly the rules have changed on "certain" open loop cruises per Carnival's website. Now if it was an open loop going to a foreign port, passport required. Open loop to a US port, birth certificate and photo ID.

 

Cruises that begin and end in the same U.S port – AND – Cruises that begin and end in a different U.S port ALL guests are required to carry proof of citizenship AND proof of identification.

 

Carnival Splendor (5/24/15): New York/San Juan

Carnival Triumph (11/04/15, 1/27/16): San Juan/Galveston

Carnival Liberty (3/22/15): Port Canaveral/San Juan

Carnival Triumph (10/24/15, 1/16/16): Galveston/San Juan

Carnival Splendor (6/01/15): San Juan/New York

Carnival Pride (1/28/16): San Juan/Baltimore

Carnival Fascination (4/18/16): Jacksonville/San Juan

Carnival Pride (1/17/16): Baltimore/San Juan

Carnival Valor (3/22/15): San Juan/Port Canaveral

Carnival Liberty (3/06/16): San Juan/Galveston

Carnival Vista (11/18/16): New York/Miami

Carnival Breeze (11/27/16): Miami/Galveston

Carnival Elation (4/02/16): New Orleans/San Juan

Carnival Elation (4/13/16): San Juan/Jacksonville

 

Proof of Citizenship: A birth certificate or any of the WHTI-Compliant Documents listed below are acceptable.

 

Proof of Identification (I.D): A non-expired government-issued photo I.D is required of all guests 16 years of age and older.

 

https://www.goccl.com/~/media/Files/Irman/bookccl/sections/traveldocs.ashx

Edited March 30, 2015 by jetskier