passport needed or not for Caribbean cruise?
in [Cruise Ship]
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From: Charles on 11 Jun 2010 20:48 In article <5ri516lubttn661plq4cqdubatv1gsr9rn(a)4ax.com>, Jack Hamilton <jfh(a)acm.org> wrote: > On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:56:31 -0400, Charles > <fort(a)his.com.remove.invalid> wrote: > > >In article <9ch316pctbqauee5019du1ssha3h9odafb(a)4ax.com>, Jack Hamilton > ><jfh(a)acm.org> wrote: > > > >> Also Bermuda and some Caribbean islands. Oddly, the passport card isn't > >> valid for sea entry into France even though France is closer to the US > >> than are some of the Caribbean islands for which the card is valid. > > > >It seems odd to you because you misunderstand the purpose of the > >passport card. > > "The passport card is the wallet-size travel document that can only be > used to re-enter the United States at land border-crossings and sea > ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. The card > provides a less expensive, smaller, and convenient alternative to the > passport book for those who travel frequently to these destinations by > land or by sea." > > The restriction to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and some islands in the > Caribbean (not all of them) is entirely arbitrary. > > There is regular ferry service (in the summer) between Canada and France > - it takes about an hour. So why should the passport card not be good > for that? For the same reason it can't be used for air flights. "The passport card was designed for the specific needs of northern and southern U.S. border communities with residents that cross the border frequently by land. The passport book is the only document approved for international travel by air." That is the context of why the card exists. It is not intended for general use to replace passports. The card is intended for residents of border areas that frequently travel back and forth over the border. The border can be over land or water. Of course there will always be smart alecks who look for loopholes and to stretch it beyond it's intended use but don't be surprised if doing that comes back and bites you. By the way saying there is one hour ferry service between Canada and France because there are ferries to the French islands of Saint-Pierre & Miquelon that are off the coast of Newfoundland is cute but cute is all it is. -- Charles
From: Bill on 11 Jun 2010 21:13 On 6/11/2010 5:56 AM, Charles wrote: > In article<9ch316pctbqauee5019du1ssha3h9odafb(a)4ax.com>, Jack > Hamilton <jfh(a)acm.org> wrote: > >> Also Bermuda and some Caribbean islands. Oddly, the passport card >> isn't valid for sea entry into France even though France is closer >> to the US than are some of the Caribbean islands for which the card >> is valid. > > It seems odd to you because you misunderstand the purpose of the > passport card. There was a story on the local (NYC) news last week about a musician who needed an emergency passport renewal because his had expired and he had a last minute job to get to. So they hooked the guy up with a passport expediting company who did it for the normal $135 State Department expedite fee (I assume they normally charge a sizable fee which was not disclosed). What I found strange was that they recommended getting the passport card IN ADDITION to the passport. This was their explanation: > The U.S. Passport Card was created by the State Department for those > looking to travel to Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean, by land or sea > only. You do not need a passport if you're driving there or taking > the cruise. You cannot fly with the passport card. It also serves as > a valid form of identification and proof of citizenship. So if you're > abroad and God forbid you lose your passport, you will be able to go > to a U.S. Embassy and submit your U.S. Passport Card as your proof of > citizenship. That's extremely helpful in your obtaining a replacement > passport." There is an extra $20 fee for that. The guy paid for it. Has anyone out there ever gotten a passport card for this purpose? Here's the link to the story: http://weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward/2010/06/jazz_musician_stranded_without_1.html Bill
From: Charles on 11 Jun 2010 21:45 In article <huumvc$p0t$1(a)news.eternal-september.org>, Bill <billrubin(a)prodigy.net> wrote: > There was a story on the local (NYC) news last week about a musician who > needed an emergency passport renewal because his had expired and he had > a last minute job to get to. So they hooked the guy up with a passport > expediting company who did it for the normal $135 State Department > expedite fee (I assume they normally charge a sizable fee which was not > disclosed). What I found strange was that they recommended getting the > passport card IN ADDITION to the passport. This was their explanation: They got an extra $20 fee for that. That is the explanation..... -- Charles
From: Jack Hamilton on 11 Jun 2010 22:34 On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:13:08 -0400, Bill <billrubin(a)prodigy.net> wrote: >There was a story on the local (NYC) news last week about a musician who >needed an emergency passport renewal because his had expired and he had >a last minute job to get to. So they hooked the guy up with a passport >expediting company who did it for the normal $135 State Department >expedite fee (I assume they normally charge a sizable fee which was not >disclosed). What I found strange was that they recommended getting the >passport card IN ADDITION to the passport. This was their explanation: > >> The U.S. Passport Card was created by the State Department for those >> looking to travel to Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean, by land or sea >> only. You do not need a passport if you're driving there or taking >> the cruise. You cannot fly with the passport card. It also serves as >> a valid form of identification and proof of citizenship. So if you're >> abroad and God forbid you lose your passport, you will be able to go >> to a U.S. Embassy and submit your U.S. Passport Card as your proof of >> citizenship. That's extremely helpful in your obtaining a replacement >> passport." There is an extra $20 fee for that. > >The guy paid for it. Has anyone out there ever gotten a passport card >for this purpose? It's one of the reasons I got one. And the fact that having both means I always have proof of citizenship, even when one or the other is in for renewal. And really, it's cheap I took it ashore in Europe on my last cruise; why lug my passport around to places where it might get stolen when I have another picture ID whose loss would not be critical? I was never asked for an ID at any of the ports, but I did use it to join FC Barcelona, which requires a national ID. Ignore Charles; there's no room in his black and white thinking for multiple correct answers.
From: Bill on 11 Jun 2010 22:52
On 6/11/2010 9:45 PM, Charles wrote: > In article<huumvc$p0t$1(a)news.eternal-september.org>, Bill > <billrubin(a)prodigy.net> wrote: > >> There was a story on the local (NYC) news last week about a musician who >> needed an emergency passport renewal because his had expired and he had >> a last minute job to get to. So they hooked the guy up with a passport >> expediting company who did it for the normal $135 State Department >> expedite fee (I assume they normally charge a sizable fee which was not >> disclosed). What I found strange was that they recommended getting the >> passport card IN ADDITION to the passport. This was their explanation: > > They got an extra $20 fee for that. That is the explanation..... The $20 went to the State Department. Presumably they normally charge extra when doing it for paying (to them) customers. Bill |