Will we need a passport?

[sparks1093]

19 minutes ago, john watson said:

Were they not complaining about huge numbers of Canadian citizens without passports trying to get across the border for short break weekend holidays?

 

Regards John

Not sure who the "they" is, but we've never had an issue with our neighbors coming over for a short break, it's an oral declaration made at the border is not a secure way of running things so now folks need to present a secure form of documentation proving their citizenship (usually passport, but other forms exist). The fact remains that there are no provisions in US law to deny entry to a US citizen, whether they have documentation or not. Many US citizens are in a good number of databases and it is fairly easy for this to be confirmed in secondary inspection. 

[SoloAlaska]

On 5/14/2024 at 1:45 PM, john watson said:

Were they not complaining about huge numbers of Canadian citizens without passports trying to get across the border for short break weekend holidays?

 

Regards John

Most Canadians have passports. It’s about 70%. I won’t even date someone who doesn’t have a passport lol.

[chengkp75]

On 5/13/2024 at 2:13 PM, ToneBarone said:

they'll ask you a few questions, check some things and you'll be on your way home in no time.

"in no time" may be a couple of hours,  and may result in a missed flight.

[BSwarenson]

It’s official. My wife and I finally have our U.S. passports. We are recent retirees that spent years as RVer’s and are now looking to do more international travel. The passport make us feel “Fully Grown” lol.

[Elaine5715]

On 5/13/2024 at 2:13 PM, ToneBarone said:

Just in case someone is reading this and is freaked out.  The US will never prohibit a US citizen from coming home passport or not.  Obviously having one certainly makes things easier but going to a port of entry (Canada or Mexico) or visiting an American embassy/consulate (everywhere else) they'll ask you a few questions, check some things and you'll be on your way home in no time.

How do you get to that border?  You will need to get yourself to an American Consulate and apply for an emergency passport.  

[Elaine5715]

5 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

"in no time" may be a couple of hours,  and may result in a missed flight.

Days... also closed on weekends, holidays..

[sparks1093]

8 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

How do you get to that border?  You will need to get yourself to an American Consulate and apply for an emergency passport.  

Since the poster mentioned a port of entry in Canada or Mexico presumably via vehicle. It happens a couple times per year around here (8 miles from the border)- someone (usually young but not always) goes up to Canada and loses their documentation. They present themselves to CBP at the border and after spending some time in secondary inspection they are allowed on their way.

 

And even on cruises if one is left behind and/or has to leave during the cruise it isn't necessary to proceed to a Consulate and obtain an emergency passport. The regulations covering closed loop cruises contain provisions for the waiver of the passport requirement for emergencies and for humanitarian reasons. There will be a delay while things get sorted out (and the passenger is not typically involved in the sorting out process). 

[john watson]

On 6/10/2024 at 8:34 PM, SoloAlaska said:

Most Canadians have passports. It’s about 70%. I won’t even date someone who doesn’t have a passport lol.

 

I was talking about people from another country and using "Canadians" as a euphemism.

 

Regards John

[Elaine5715]

On 6/11/2024 at 5:49 AM, sparks1093 said:

Since the poster mentioned a port of entry in Canada or Mexico presumably via vehicle. It happens a couple times per year around here (8 miles from the border)- someone (usually young but not always) goes up to Canada and loses their documentation. They present themselves to CBP at the border and after spending some time in secondary inspection they are allowed on their way.

 

And even on cruises if one is left behind and/or has to leave during the cruise it isn't necessary to proceed to a Consulate and obtain an emergency passport. The regulations covering closed loop cruises contain provisions for the waiver of the passport requirement for emergencies and for humanitarian reasons. There will be a delay while things get sorted out (and the passenger is not typically involved in the sorting out process). 

I have yet to see US regulations on this exception.  Please post your source.  

A personal emergency is not a humanitarian crisis.

[sparks1093]

3 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

I have yet to see US regulations on this exception.  Please post your source.  

A personal emergency is not a humanitarian crisis.

Maybe not, but it is still a US citizen having an emergency and that is part of what the government is there for (and getting someone home who is having difficulty of some sort can certainly be seen as humanitarian). Here are the regulations that give us the closed loop exception (para 2). See paragraphs 9 and 10 for the waiver provisions:

22 CFR § 53.2 - Exceptions. | Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute (cornell.edu)

 

 

[Elaine5715]

3 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

Maybe not, but it is still a US citizen having an emergency and that is part of what the government is there for (and getting someone home who is having difficulty of some sort can certainly be seen as humanitarian). Here are the regulations that give us the closed loop exception (para 2). See paragraphs 9 and 10 for the waiver provisions:

22 CFR § 53.2 - Exceptions. | Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute (cornell.edu)

 

 

Not even close to being applicable. 

This is

Emergency Passports (including emergency travel)

Home | U.S. Citizen Services | Passports | Emergency Passports (including emergency travel)

An emergency passport is limited to one year or less and does not have an embedded electronic chip.

CAUTION: Some countries may not accept an emergency passport and you could be refused entry by immigration officials or denied boarding by airline personnel. We strongly recommend that you research the entry and exit requirements of your destination before you travel. Country specific information can be found on the Department of State website.

Submitting the Application

The Embassy/Consulates can issue emergency passports under very specific and limited circumstances. Emergency passports are normally limited in validity and cannot be extended. Furthermore, you must appear at the Embassy or Consulate in person, during business hours, to apply. In most cases, emergency passports can be issued on the same day. If you believe you have a qualifying circumstance, please book an appointment from here.

Required Documents

The documents and fee necessary to apply for an emergency passport are the same as those for a regular passport. Please click here to return to the requirements for all passport types.

Notes

For customers who are applying for an emergency passport at the Embassy/Consulate, please note that:

The Embassy/Consulates do NOT store laptops or large luggage. Visitors carrying unauthorized objects will not be granted entry. Please see the full list of prohibited items.

Replacing an Emergency Limited Validity Passport

If you have already been issued an emergency limited validity passport and you need to replace it for a full validity passport, please follow the instructions below. Please note that this application can be submitted by mail. Your emergency limited validity passport must have been issued within the last year.

Required Documents

• Form DS-5504 available online
• Your emergency limited validity passport
• One passport photograph
• Courier Delivery Fee

 

Edited Friday at 11:10 PM by Elaine5715

[Elaine5715]

4 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

Maybe not, but it is still a US citizen having an emergency and that is part of what the government is there for (and getting someone home who is having difficulty of some sort can certainly be seen as humanitarian). Here are the regulations that give us the closed loop exception (para 2). See paragraphs 9 and 10 for the waiver provisions:

22 CFR § 53.2 - Exceptions. | Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute (cornell.edu)

 

 

 

[sparks1093]

47 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

Not even close to being applicable. 

This is

Emergency Passports (including emergency travel)

Home | U.S. Citizen Services | Passports | Emergency Passports (including emergency travel)

An emergency passport is limited to one year or less and does not have an embedded electronic chip.

CAUTION: Some countries may not accept an emergency passport and you could be refused entry by immigration officials or denied boarding by airline personnel. We strongly recommend that you research the entry and exit requirements of your destination before you travel. Country specific information can be found on the Department of State website.

Submitting the Application

The Embassy/Consulates can issue emergency passports under very specific and limited circumstances. Emergency passports are normally limited in validity and cannot be extended. Furthermore, you must appear at the Embassy or Consulate in person, during business hours, to apply. In most cases, emergency passports can be issued on the same day. If you believe you have a qualifying circumstance, please book an appointment from here.

Required Documents

The documents and fee necessary to apply for an emergency passport are the same as those for a regular passport. Please click here to return to the requirements for all passport types.

Notes

For customers who are applying for an emergency passport at the Embassy/Consulate, please note that:

The Embassy/Consulates do NOT store laptops or large luggage. Visitors carrying unauthorized objects will not be granted entry. Please see the full list of prohibited items.

Replacing an Emergency Limited Validity Passport

If you have already been issued an emergency limited validity passport and you need to replace it for a full validity passport, please follow the instructions below. Please note that this application can be submitted by mail. Your emergency limited validity passport must have been issued within the last year.

Required Documents

• Form DS-5504 available online
• Your emergency limited validity passport
• One passport photograph
• Courier Delivery Fee

 

The sections you quote do not pertain to closed loop cruises. The regulations that I cited do.

[chengkp75]

20 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

I have yet to see US regulations on this exception. 

If a person presents themselves to a CBP station or officer, they are on US territory, and regardless of how they got there, they cannot be denied entry if they are US citizens.  So, CBP is required to check databases to see if the person presenting themselves as a US citizen matches information in US databases (photo from drivers license database, dob from state birth records, etc), and then if proven as US citizens, they cannot deny entry just because of no passport.

 

As noted, given that the OP was talking about a Canadian or Mexican port of entry, they could just walk up to the CBP checkpoint.

 

Even if a person used a US passport to board a flight in Europe, and the passport was lost or stolen while on the plane (or maybe in a transit lounge), when that person gets to the CBP station at the airport on arrival, they cannot be denied entry just because they don't have a passport, if other means proves their citizenship.  

[Elaine5715]

3 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

If a person presents themselves to a CBP station or officer, they are on US territory, and regardless of how they got there, they cannot be denied entry if they are US citizens.  So, CBP is required to check databases to see if the person presenting themselves as a US citizen matches information in US databases (photo from drivers license database, dob from state birth records, etcn if proven as US citizens, they cannot deny entry just because of no passport.

 

As noted, given that the OP was talking about a Canadian or Mexican port of entry, they could just walk up to the CBP checkpoint.

 

Even if a person used a US passport to board a flight in Europe, and the passport was lost or stolen while on the plane (or maybe in a transit lounge), when that person gets to the CBP station at the airport on arrival, they cannot be denied entry just because they don't have a passport, if other means proves their citizenship.  

Except you can't present yourself to CBP if left behind in a country that doesn't share a land border.  

The poster I was responding to has stated that if you are left behind in another country while on a cruise, you can simply present yourself at the airport, answer a few questions and you will be granted a "humanitarian" exception to International laws.  

@BruceMuzz laid out some specific situations where the lack of a passport resulted in disaster and not a return to the US.   

If you lost your passport in flight after exiting another country, you at least left that country legally.  

[chengkp75]

On 5/13/2024 at 2:13 PM, ToneBarone said:

  Obviously having one certainly makes things easier but going to a port of entry (Canada or Mexico) or visiting an American embassy/consulate (everywhere else) they'll ask you a few questions, check some things and you'll be on your way home in no time.

You'll note that they mention "going to a port of entry (Canada or Mexico)"?

On 6/10/2024 at 9:10 PM, Elaine5715 said:

How do you get to that border?  You will need to get yourself to an American Consulate and apply for an emergency passport.  

As I noted, you walk right up.

On 6/11/2024 at 5:49 AM, sparks1093 said:

Since the poster mentioned a port of entry in Canada or Mexico presumably via vehicle. It happens a couple times per year around here (8 miles from the border)- someone (usually young but not always) goes up to Canada and loses their documentation. They present themselves to CBP at the border and after spending some time in secondary inspection they are allowed on their way.

 

 

This also references arriving at a port of entry.

So, nowhere did I mention being left behind by a cruise line, I am merely rebutting your statement that you cannot reach a port of entry without a passport, or that you cannot be allowed into the country without a passport.

28 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

If you lost your passport in flight after exiting another country, you at least left that country legally. 

And, your point is?  We are talking about returning to the US, not leaving a country legally or otherwise.  And, if you entered a country on a WHTI accepted documentation, then left the ship, would a country care if you had the proper documentation to leave the country?  Most countries could care less about who leaves their borders.