<p>When we travel domestically I take our passports (and keep them all myself) because it is the easiest way for me to supply photo ID to the airport security people. </p>
<p>It should be obvious that a passport is not required for domestic travel because most Americans don’t even have a passport. I wonder if some people that maybe don’t look anglo are hassled when they only show a drivers license as photo id. Is there racial profiling (gasp!) going on? A passport, unlike a DL, is proof of citizenship. Sushi, does your family look like terroristas?</p>
<p>my D just got hers and she is 17 and its good for ten years…</p>
<p>I still recommend anyone going off to college get one. It can be a hassle otherwise, with mail, appointments etc.</p>
<p>And I tell ya, if you have a common name, a passport does help at checkin time even for domestic flights.</p>
<p>As I said, my H when he travel domestically usually just shows his DL and every time he has to go to the counter, and wait while they check him out. If he has his passport, that scrutinty goes much much quicker.</p>
<p>My kids have always had a Cal ID card, as soon as they started middle school. It just stops having to carry around birth certificates, etc when traveling.</p>
<p>CGM, I am not sure the issue is having a common name. My name is only slightly less common than John Smith and I have not been singled out for special treatment since I was in college. (Back then I used to buy last minute one-way plane tickets with cash. Even in the 70s that practice got me pulled out of line and patted down) </p>
<p>I believe the problem occurs if your name is shared by someone who is on the master list of suspected terrorists.</p>
<p>Getting a passport is a good idea–within a few years, it will be needed just to get into Canada or Mexico.</p>
<p>Also, a passport is a convenient way to demonstrate citizenship or permanent residency status when they are gettting a new job. (Social Security card plus driver’s licence also works for that, but a lost SS card presents identity theft issues which can be a worse hassle than replacing a lost passport.)</p>
<p>My recommendation–when a kid is 16, get a passport–it will be good for 10 years. (Before that age, it’s only good for 5 years.)</p>
Not to hijack the thread further, but amusing/outrageous story re passports and Mexico. We just bought a second home in Mexico (Baja California, just 12 mi. south of US border). On our first crossing back into the US, we got tapped for the “random” secondary inspection. Drove our car over to the secondary area, handed the inspector our passports. He looked a little non-plussed, handed them back and asked for our drivers licenses instead. Direct quote from this government official as we handed him the DL’s: “If I lose these, it won’t cost me so much.” !!! … as he wandered off inside the building and kept us waiting, cooling our heels for 20 minutes, wondering if our next stop would in some DMV line trying to replace lost drivers’ licenses! Sheesh.</p>
<p>I don’t really think the passport requirement will hold for Canada and Mexico. neither wants it one bit.
Since I was born overseas I actually have a green card from my entry at age 3 or so. When I go to Canada I use it as proof of legal US residence to come back in–complete with picture at age 3. The border guys love it.</p>
<p>I hope you’re right, barrons! Canada definitely doesn’t want it because it will affect the number of American tourists who visit. The majority of U.S. citizens do not have a passport which means that they can get into Canada but they won’t be able to get back into the U.S.! Canadian politicians, including the PM, have been pressuring the White House to not impose the change, but Bush seems to be standing firm, including last week’s visit by Harper to D.C. It’s not just a matter of Canada not wanting it, it’s the U.S. who needs to stop it! :)</p>
<p>I can see it happening…why not? To come back in, you need ID, and if we get stricter on our borders, why shouldn’t they? If we push, it will happen</p>
<p>cgm, you’re missing the point. It’s not Canada that’s instituting this policy, it’s the U.S. It’s not only Canadians who will need passports to enter the U.S., it’s Americans, too. Canada has no desire to institute such a policy and, as I said, has been lobbying Washington to rethink it.</p>
<p>Driver’s Licenses work fine for moving around in-country.</p>
<p>Alwaysamom: Canada (and Mexico) already won a one year reprieve until Jan '07. Not likely to happen again, but if it does, it’ll be short, say six months. </p>
<p>btw: Even Jimmy Carter believes in a national ID card.</p>
<p>always, i guess I wasn’t clear, it is the US, and if we do it I would bet Canada will need to do the same…i am not saying i like it, i am saying that is what the powers that be in WDC want to happen, and then what choice does Canada have</p>
<p>slightly off point, but to add to cgm’s earlier, excellent points, parents should keep their passports current as well. There can be nothing worse than little Johnny or Susie going on a foreign study program, and getting into an accident. As a parent, we want to be on the first flight out - but, only if passport is current. And, starting next year, it holds true for a student attending any college near the border – say, a NE school and the kids go to Montreal for a weekend. If in an accident, momma and poppa will need a passport to get back – but, the airlines won’t let you on the exit plane to even get there if you can’t get back in.</p>
<p>Oh my gosh, bluebayou. My D has been to Europe three times in the last few years and I don’t have a current passport. I never thought that I might have to go there to help her. What a good point.</p>
<p>the airliner requires a government issued ID - she only has a passport, but the passport is from 10 years ago. will this work? or should she go to the DOL to get an ID card?</p>
<p>Expired U.S. passports are generally considered to be valid ID within the U.S. However, children’s U.S. passports need to be renewed more frequently than adults. They’re only good for 5, as opposed to 10 years, as the appearance changes so dramatically. I’m not sure how someone would react to an old passport with the picture of a two-year-old on it! In this day and age, I think it’s a good idea for everyone to keep an updated passport for general ID purposes. It just saves a lot of hassle.</p>
<p>We just got back from Florida this month. My 16-year-old handed the guard her driver’s license. He looked at her and said, “You’re under 18; you don’t need ID.”</p>