USA Passports

[gopbroek]

If memory serves me correctly on January 1 2007 the US government started requiring passports for all citizens returning to the USA, by air. At that time there was a large surge and delay getting applications processed in the fall 0f 2006 and first half of 2007. The passports issued during that time frame will all becoming due for renewal this fall and spring when they expire 10 years after issue. If you have one coming due it might be a good idea to get it renewed early and beat the rush.

 

[Damselfish]

Memory serves correctly, I've started to see this mentioned in various media. Turnaround seems pretty good for now, I renewed mine in January and it took about 2-3 weeks, even though they said 4-6.

 

[Cali_diver]

They have been talking it up on local news here in CA. UPS just announced that they will be be expanding their passport services to meet the demand.

 

[rongoodman]

I just renewed mine and it only took about 3 weeks. Now seems like a good time if you're going to need to renew.

 

[tursiops]

And don't forget your passport expiration needs to be at least months after the time you are using it. So renew it 7-8 months before it runs out.

 

[gypsyjim]

Memory serves correctly, I've started to see this mentioned in various media. Turnaround seems pretty good for now, I renewed mine in January and it took about 2-3 weeks, even though they said 4-6.

My gf had similar results last month. It took far less than the predicted time, but....
I would suggest renewing well in advance of the need to do so, just in case a backlog does develop.

 

[Kharon]

One other thing to keep in mind. Many destinations advertise - "you don't even need a passport to get here" US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and others. Guess what - you ain't got your passport, you ain't getting on the plane. Those days are gone.

 

[Lorenzoid]

One other thing to keep in mind. Many destinations advertise - "you don't even need a passport to get here" US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and others. Guess what - you ain't got your passport, you ain't getting on the plane. Those days are gone.

If an airline agent tells you that, they are incorrectly telling you their airline's policy. As far as I know, no US carrier requires a US passport from US citizens to board a flight to Puerto Rico or most if not all other US territories. (For some reason I vaguely recall hearing of an odd issue with Guam.)

From Delta's website:

Traveling to a U.S. Territory

If you are a U. S. citizen and want to travel to one of its territories, you will not need a U. S. Passport. Sufficient ID would be a U. S. driver's license or other valid photo identification, the same as if you were flying to New York or Seattle. However, U.S. residents with foreign passports would be subject to the same entry procedures in one of the territories that they would be on the mainland.

From United's website:

U.S. Territory Travel Document Requirements
Passengers 18 years of age or older are required to have a valid, current U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID that contains name, date of birth, gender, expiration date and a tamper-resistant feature for travel to or from a U.S. Territory (Guam, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands).

 

[tursiops]

If an airline agent tells you that, they are incorrectly telling you their airline's policy. As far as I know, no US carrier requires a US passport from US citizens to board a flight to Puerto Rico or most if not all other US territories. (For some reason I vaguely recall hearing of an odd issue with Guam.)

From Delta's website:

Traveling to a U.S. Territory

If you are a U. S. citizen and want to travel to one of its territories, you will not need a U. S. Passport. Sufficient ID would be a U. S. driver's license or other valid photo identification, the same as if you were flying to New York or Seattle. However, U.S. residents with foreign passports would be subject to the same entry procedures in one of the territories that they would be on the mainland.

From United's website:

U.S. Territory Travel Document Requirements
Passengers 18 years of age or older are required to have a valid, current U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID that contains name, date of birth, gender, expiration date and a tamper-resistant feature for travel to or from a U.S. Territory (Guam, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands).

In some ways it is even WORSE that that. See Real ID Public FAQs | Homeland Security. "Starting January 22, 2018, passengers with a driver’s license issued by a state that is still not compliant with the REAL ID Act (and has not been granted an extension) will need to show an alternative form of acceptable identification for domestic air travel to board their flight." Right now, ONLY Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington are currently complaint with REAL ID. So even if you are only traveling domestically, you might still need a passport to board an airplane if your state's driver's licenses are not yet compliant.

 

[Cert1967]

One other thing to keep in mind. Many destinations advertise - "you don't even need a passport to get here" US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and others. Guess what - you ain't got your passport, you ain't getting on the plane. Those days are gone.

From US Customs and Border Protection 20JAN2016

Needing a passport to enter the United States from U.S. territories

U.S. territories need to present a passport to enter the United States?

U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR's) who travel directly between parts of the United States, which includes Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), without touching at a foreign port or place, are not required to present a valid U.S. Passport or U.S. Green Card.
​

American Airlines

"U.S. citizens can use any government-issued form of identification to travel between the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands."​