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Don't have Passport-how does it work with Birth Cert?


manchak99

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We're probably not getting a passport-now that the cruise (our first time) is less than 8 weeks away.......

 

For those of you who have taken your birth certificates and drivers license, does this cause problems?

I don't know why they're telling you that there's "no problem"! The only time you DON'T need a passport is if you are going on a cruise that starts and ends in the US, and you're not wanting to get off the ship in foreign ports.

 

The turn-around time for a passport is about 3 weeks these day, so there is still time.

 

But you really should go to the US government passport website and see if your particular cruise matches the descriptions there. And call your cruise line, as some of them require a passport even when legally it's not necessary.

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I thought passports WERE a requirment now as of June 1st. The rules change so often There is a couple I know that were denied boarding to an Alaskan cruise because they didn't have passports and were entering Canada..

 

I would suggest checking into it quickly. It all depends on where you are going. I would call the cruise line too.

 

http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/

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From http://getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/eng_sa.html ...

 

"Closed Loop" Cruises: U.S. citizens who board a cruise ship at a port within the United States, travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship may present a government issued photo identification, along with proof of citizenship (an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization). Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the foreign countries your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents.

 

 

Just keep in mind that if your travels fit the above parameter and you do not have a passport ... if you have an emergency need to fly home, that travel will be delayed while you jump thru hoops getting an emergency passport at the nearest U.S. Consulate/Embassy.

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Checking in for a cruise is not as important as getting back into the USA. Upon return from a foreign country, you will have to prove to the US immigration officer that you are a USA citizen. While you may eventually be able to convince them to allow you to enter the USA, it could take time and a lot of grief. Passports solve the problem. Present your valid passport, they will check it and you are back in the country without delays.

 

A certified BC is simply a copy of your birth record issued by your birth state or in some states, county. Mine is issued by the county.

 

A problem not addressed so far is when the name on your BC does not match the name exactly on your DL. This is your full name which usually is first, middle and last. If you are a married female, adopted as a child, had a legal name change or the DL simply has a different spelling, you may be asked to present official documentation (e.g. original marriage license, court adoption papers, etc) to authenticate that the name on the BC and DL are in fact the same individual. While you may be able to convince the US immigration officer that the two documents are in fact yours, it will take some talking to get it accomplished. They do not have to let you back into the country and can in fact refuse you entry which means that you will be deported.

 

If you have never talked to a questioning US immigration officer, you are in for an experience. They have absolutely no sense of humor and can have you put in a detention center (jail) while you wait to appear in a US Immigration court. You do not have any rights at this point and are considered an alien.

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Another problem would be if your cruise is to Alaska or Canada and you depart or return from your cruise in Canada and have to fly in or out of a Canadian airport. If so, you absolutely need a passport.

 

BTW, if you're doing a closed loop cruise, one for example that starts and ends in Ft Lauderdale, and you don't have a passport, you most certainly CAN get off the ship in any port of call. I don't know where another poster on this thread got the idea that you can't get off the ship. There's not one port of call in the Caribbean that looks at passports or birth certificates when you leave the ship for a tour or whatever.

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Guest TropicOne
Checking in for a cruise is not as important as getting back into the USA. Upon return from a foreign country, you will have to prove to the US immigration officer that you are a USA citizen. While you may eventually be able to convince them to allow you to enter the USA, it could take time and a lot of grief. Passports solve the problem. Present your valid passport, they will check it and you are back in the country without delays.

 

A certified BC is simply a copy of your birth record issued by your birth state or in some states, county. Mine is issued by the county.

 

A problem not addressed so far is when the name on your BC does not match the name exactly on your DL. This is your full name which usually is first, middle and last. If you are a married female, adopted as a child, had a legal name change or the DL simply has a different spelling, you may be asked to present official documentation (e.g. original marriage license, court adoption papers, etc) to authenticate that the name on the BC and DL are in fact the same individual. While you may be able to convince the US immigration officer that the two documents are in fact yours, it will take some talking to get it accomplished. They do not have to let you back into the country and can in fact refuse you entry which means that you will be deported.

 

If you have never talked to a questioning US immigration officer, you are in for an experience. They have absolutely no sense of humor and can have you put in a detention center (jail) while you wait to appear in a US Immigration court. You do not have any rights at this point and are considered an alien.

 

Was this scare story really necessary ? To the OP,if it meets the definition of a closed loop cruise you will be fine with a DL & BC.

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Was this scare story really necessary ? To the OP,if it meets the definition of a closed loop cruise you will be fine with a DL & BC.

Unless one has to fly home or be med-evacced.

 

Individuals traveling on a DL and BC need to know that there could be issues that will impact their ability to travel freely and immediately.

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To be fair, that was not a scarey story. It is reality. No one should be traveling out of the country without a passport. The name issue is also becoming a big deal.

 

It is not difficult to obtain a passport. Hope CC members continue to stress the importance of obtaining a passport -- for children and babies as well as adults.

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We just applied for first-time passports a couple of weeks ago. (7 weeks before our upcoming Alaska cruise). We paid the additional "expedite" fee and we had the issued passports delivered on day 13. (They say 2-3 weeks for expedited, so we were pleasantly surprised!) We may not have needed to pay the extra fee, but we wanted to be able to get off the ship in Victoria BC and if the passports hadn't arrived in time, we'd have been kicking ourselves. It was a painless process and it certainly didn't take long. We downloaded the application forms and had them filled out and took certified copies of our birth certificates and our current driver licenses. Couldn't have been easier. And... they're valid for 10 years.

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Ya know, I'm so sorry the Feds waffled on the passport requirement for closed loop cruises.

 

Would've been so much easier all the way around if the newly revised WHTI rules had mandated passports for all persons entering the U.S. by land, sea, and air. That would have removed any false sense of security about leaving and re-entering the country with only a DL and BC.

 

Turnaround times, as evidenced above, are really rather brief. And the process is pretty painless.

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Ya know, I'm so sorry the Feds waffled on the passport requirement for closed loop cruises.

 

Would've been so much easier all the way around if the newly revised WHTI rules had mandated passports for all persons entering the U.S. by land, sea, and air. That would have removed any false sense of security about leaving and re-entering the country with only a DL and BC.

 

Turnaround times, as evidenced above, are really rather brief. And the process is pretty painless.

 

 

You are 100% correct!!!!!

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Just because people in Caribean ports may not have previously asked for proof of US citizenship (a passport), doesn't mean that it won't change tomorrow...or the next day. Rules change, circumstances change, world terror levels change...

 

Better to have a passport than not; better to not take chances. Stuff happens. Even to ordinary citizens.

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Just because people in Caribean ports may not have previously asked for proof of US citizenship (a passport), doesn't mean that it won't change tomorrow...or the next day. Rules change, circumstances change, world terror levels change...
They won't change the rules tomorrow. Why? Because these countries depend upon tourists for their living, and they wouldn't do anything to, um, kill the golden goose. IF they changed the rules, they'd allow a good, long period of time to allow people to get passports.

 

Likewise, the cruise lines don't want to turn people away at the port -- think of the negative publicity -- so they would let you know far in advance. IF you're unable to board, they don't want it to be their fault.

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They won't change the rules tomorrow. Why? Because these countries depend upon tourists for their living, and they wouldn't do anything to, um, kill the golden goose. IF they changed the rules, they'd allow a good, long period of time to allow people to get passports.

 

Likewise, the cruise lines don't want to turn people away at the port -- think of the negative publicity -- so they would let you know far in advance. IF you're unable to board, they don't want it to be their fault.

 

They most recently changed the rules with 6 months notice. So indeed it can happen again. If everyone here who already has a different interpretation of the rules, reads what the government site says, they'll be even more confused because the government site is not clear either.

 

It has nothing to do with what other countries want .. this is a US passport we're talking about, and US government rules, not some guidelines laid down by another countries tourist industry.

 

Getting a passport eliminates all the confusion. You're properly identified as a US Citizen, and have no trouble in any port, foreign or domestic.

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They most recently changed the rules with 6 months notice. So indeed it can happen again. If everyone here who already has a different interpretation of the rules, reads what the government site says, they'll be even more confused because the government site is not clear either.

 

It has nothing to do with what other countries want .. this is a US passport we're talking about, and US government rules, not some guidelines laid down by another countries tourist industry.

 

Getting a passport eliminates all the confusion. You're properly identified as a US Citizen, and have no trouble in any port, foreign or domestic.

 

You are completely correct. The US government can change the rules at any moment if there is a threat to our country.

 

Birth Certificates are difficult for anyone who has a different name on their Driver's License. This includes those who have gotten married and changed their last name.

 

It is frustrating to hear people arguing on this thread when people with experience are trying to help you avoid problems. (Note: I did have a different first name on my airline ticket and came within 5 minutes of not making our plane due to the amount of security I had to go through).

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They most recently changed the rules with 6 months notice. So indeed it can happen again.
Actually, your timing is off. The notice was published April 3, 2008, and it went into effect June 1, 2009. Well, over a year's advance notice, which is plenty of time to obtain a passport.
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Was this scare story really necessary ? To the OP,if it meets the definition of a closed loop cruise you will be fine with a DL & BC.

 

YES it WAS... There is simply no reason or excuse to not have a Passport in today's world unless you're never going to leave your country of residence.

 

Anything can happen to anyone at any time, you need to be prepared!

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You are completely correct. The US government can change the rules at any moment if there is a threat to our country.
Hmmm, not really. They CAN shut down all modes of travel, which means the passport won't help either. But they cannot arbitrarily change the Federal Regulations without notice. Has to be voted on by Congress and then published with a minimum 60 day comment period and then re-published for implementation. To do otherwise would be unconstitutional.

 

Birth Certificates are difficult for anyone who has a different name on their Driver's License. This includes those who have gotten married and changed their last name.
Not for most people, and not for most married women. The birthdate and first name are what is matched to the legal ID. It is the very rare case that there is a first name change or reason for needing a bridge document. One does even need the marriage license to apply for the passport.

 

It is frustrating to hear people arguing on this thread when people with experience are trying to help you avoid problems. (Note: I did have a different first name on my airline ticket and came within 5 minutes of not making our plane due to the amount of security I had to go through).
Look, I agree with your advice to get a passport, but the reasons should be rational ones, not some made-up or presumed difficulty. The most common reasons are that there might be a need to return home by air and that having a passport is a multi-use document. The laws are not going to change overnight. Using a birth certificate is legal, and as long as one understands the risks and accepts it, the choice is theirs to make and should not cause you frustration. The OP has already stated they are not getting passports, so this should not become a thread about advice on getting one.

 

You just made your plane, but it was because of an error you or someone made on booking your ticket with an incorrect first name. It did not match your legal ID.

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Was this scare story really necessary ? To the OP,if it meets the definition of a closed loop cruise you will be fine with a DL & BC.

 

It is not a "scare" tactic by any means. I was simply pointing out the dangers involved in using a BC/DL for ID. Telling the OP that you will be OK is not entirely true and leads to a false sense of security.

 

It has been reported several times on CC concerning problems with changed names and a skeptical immigration officer. On quite a few cruises I have been on, we have left pax that did not make the ship before it sailed. It happens. I also have watched them evacuate pax to the local hospital due to medical emergencies.

 

All it takes is another incident where someone tried a terrorist act and US security will react with stiff enforcement. Thanks to a terrorist attempt at a shoe bomb, we now all have to remove our shoes to gain access to the airline. What is next?

 

The majority of pax will not have a problem on a closed loop cruise out of a US port, but some will. You throw the dice and take your chances.

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