Online US Passport renewal

[UTTransplant]

An Enhanced DL has an embedded RFID chip which is scanned when coming into the country similar to a passport. Does a military ID have that? They didn’t years ago, but maybe they have added it since.

 

[Tulecreeper]

An Enhanced DL has an embedded RFID chip which is scanned when coming into the country similar to a passport. Does a military ID have that? They didn’t years ago, but maybe they have added it since.

Yes, all military ID cards issued since 2022 have the chip. Looks like this now.

 

[DonTom]

it is the US that cares what you use to get back.

I have always noticed it is much more difficult to get back into the USA than to leave it. For example, going into Canada, just a few questions about guns or whatever, takes about one minute and we are in.

Coming back into the USA, our RV was searched every time, with no exceptions and that was probably a dozen or so times Tom & I have been to Canada. Often takes around an hour. We are usually checked out on their computers as well. IOW, we had to go inside as our RV was searched. With dogs and all. One time they found an orange that rolled under a seat. They made a real big deal out of that, even though the orange came from the USA on the way up to Canada.

But I have not been back to Canada since Tom died (2016). Perhaps this summer I will go up there after I renew my passport. See if one person makes a difference than two males of different races (Tom was Chinese).

-Don- (Flagstaff Denny's again)

 

[Tom]

... getting back again can be problematic.

Only that, like (almost) every other port of entry into the US, you need appropriate documentation (for US citizens, a US passport or passport card). On one of our return crossings at Los Algadones, we were accompanied by a couple of forum members who had 'green cards' (i.e. they were US 'resident aliens', and had been for many years); There was some glitch in the system showing their green cards had been lost or canceled (don't recall the details), but they were stuck at the immigration desk for a long time. It eventually got resolved and they were allowed through.

Oh, one other issue - if you arrive at the Los Algadones crossing noon or later, be prepared for a very long line. If we just needed to visit a pharmacy down there, we'd go in early and leave before 9.00am; No line.

 

[Tom]

... (Tom was Chinese).

Aye, and my failing memory said he was from Hong Kong; If so, just curious if he was entitled to have a UK passport. Probably wouldn't need it anyway, since I suspect he was a naturalized US citizen.

 

[UTTransplant]

Oh, one other issue - if you arrive at the Los Algadones crossing noon or later, be prepared for a very long line. If we just needed to visit a pharmacy down there, we'd go in early and leave before 9.00am; No line.

We usually go to Algodones for meds too. We try to be at the crossing by 8:00 and back into the US by 9:00. Once we had breakfast in Algadones and made it to the line into the US about 10:00. Took an hour until we got to the desk. We haven’t made that mistake since.

 

[Tom]

Took an hour until we got to the desk. We haven’t made that mistake since.

One time the line we were in went up the street and into the next block.

 

[DonTom]

Aye, and my failing memory said he was from Hong Kong; If so, just curious if he was entitled to have a UK passport. Probably wouldn't need it anyway, since I suspect he was a naturalized US citizen.

When we met in 1974, he only had an "Overseas British Passport". The "overseas" part means you can not live permanently in Britain.

He went to high school in Armagh, Northern Ireland, but his last year of high school was in San Francisco. Then later he had a work visa for the USA. And a couple of years later they said if he could prove he lived in the USA on a certain date, he could become a US permanent resident. He was able to prove it. A little later is when we met, and I was his "witness" at the INS for him and both of his parents for them to all become naturalized US citizens.

-Don- Cinder Hills, Coconino Forest, AZ

 

[old_toys]

I have always noticed it is much more difficult to get back into the USA than to leave it. For example, going into Canada, just a few questions about guns or whatever, takes about one minute and we are in.

something I never thought about but back in 73 we shot over into Canada for the **** of it and the questions going in were the same but when we returned on top of all the searching they wanted my 1.5yr old daughters birth certificate. we were there for an hour with my wife wanting to fight.

 

[Firstime RVer]

On a trip back to Detroit from Toronto, in 2004, we had more problems on the canadian side with them being more interested in collecting duties on any intellectual property we may have potentially sold to one of their major chem companies.
Crossing the US border was a snap.

Safe travels and all the best

 

[Tulecreeper]

something I never thought about but back in 73 we shot over into Canada for the **** of it and the questions going in were the same but when we returned on top of all the searching they wanted my 1.5yr old daughters birth certificate. we were there for an hour with my wife wanting to fight.

In Nov 1995, I flew from Sacramento, CA to Vancouver, BC for a week to see relatives. Getting into Canada was, "Welcome to Canada. Have a great time, eh!"

Coming back, I checked my bag then went to customs. The American customs guy asked for ID, so I gave him my drivers license. He said, "I need more than that." I told him that was all I had.

He asked, "What did you use to enter Canada last week?" I said, "You're holding it."

He replied, "No, you had to have either a passport or a birth certificate. (At the time, a DL was all that was required) Do you have another picture ID?" I said, "Yes, my military ID, but it's in the seat pocket in my truck in the Sacramento parking lot."

He responded, "OK, this depends on whether or not I believe you."

I told him, "Well, make a decision because you already took my bag and sent it down the conveyor belt. If you won't let me in, I'll have to call someone to come pick me up, then take me to my grandmother's house so I call someone in Napa, CA to go break into my house and dig through my filing cabinet to find my birth certificate. Then they will have to overnight it to me so I can get back to CA. In the meantime, I have to call my supervisor at the Regional Fish & Wildlife Office and tell them I can't get out of Canada."

He let my through. Idiot.

 

[workinonit]

It's a real pain now to go to Canada to work. You have to have a briefcase of documents to take in and as always they look at very few of them. Mostly the LOI and PO.

 

[Firstime RVer]

In Nov 1995, I flew from Sacramento, CA to Vancouver, BC for a week to see relatives. Getting into Canada was, "Welcome to Canada. Have a great time, eh!"

Coming back, I checked my bag then went to customs. The American customs guy asked for ID, so I gave him my drivers license. He said, "I need more than that." I told him that was all I had.

He asked, "What did you use to enter Canada last week?" I said, "You're holding it."

He replied, "No, you had to have either a passport or a birth certificate. (At the time, a DL was all that was required) Do you have another picture ID?" I said, "Yes, my military ID, but it's in the seat pocket in my truck in the Sacramento parking lot."

He responded, "OK, this depends on whether or not I believe you."

I told him, "Well, make a decision because you already took my bag and sent it down the conveyor belt. If you won't let me in, I'll have to call someone to come pick me up, then take me to my grandmother's house so I call someone in Napa, CA to go break into my house and dig through my filing cabinet to find my birth certificate. Then they will have to overnight it to me so I can get back to CA. In the meantime, I have to call my supervisor at the Regional Fish & Wildlife Office and tell them I can't get out of Canada."

He let my through. Idiot.

Had the same experience on a business trip to Calgary many years ago. it was just after they had changed the regs.
We went thru the USA immigration check at the Calgary airport for a direct flight to NY and was told my drivers license was not suitable for ID.
After answering some questions and the officer using his computer, I was told that I could proceed, but be sure to bring a passport next time. Go figure ??

Safe travels and all the best.

 

[Tom]

Some years ago we were walking by the US side of Rainbow Bridge (Niagara Falls); We were thinking of crossing (by car) for an hour or two. I saw a CPB officer leaving after his shift, and asked him if I needed anything more than a drivers license to get back into the US. His response: "With an accent like that, if you think we're not going to ask for a passport ...". We went back to the coach, picked up our (US) passports, and drove across the bridge.

 

[CharlesinGA]

I have always noticed it is much more difficult to get back into the USA than to leave it. For example, going into Canada, just a few questions about guns or whatever, takes about one minute and we are in.

Coming back into the USA, our RV was searched every time, with no exceptions and that was probably a dozen or so times Tom & I have been to Canada. Often takes around an hour. We are usually checked out on their computers as well. IOW, we had to go inside as our RV was searched. With dogs and all. One time they found an orange that rolled under a seat. They made a real big deal out of that, even though the orange came from the USA on the way up to Canada.
-Don- (Flagstaff Denny's again)

In May I tagged along with my travel buddy and his wife on a trip to Door Co Wisconsin, and then to Duluth and up to Grand Portage. We stayed at Grand Portage for two nights I think it was, and on a whim, we decided to drive up to Thunder Bay, Canada. We all had passports but the Canadians asked every question in the book and finally asked up to pull into a shed and get out and stand to the side. They searched the entire vehicle (Pick up with Leer topper and the back was full of stuff). After about 20 minutes or so they finally finished and one asked Suki (she is Korean) what was in a bottle in the back seat area. Some kind of real strong spices for Kimchee if I recall and they sent up on our way.

Returning later in the day, the lady at the US CBP building asked a few questions, poked our info from the passports in the computer (the Canadians never did stamp them, dang it) and we were on our way.

Knowing what we know now, we would not have stayed at the Casino RV park at Grand Portage, but rather stayed at the campground at Ft William at Thunder Bay. We had a short, last tour of the day, of Ft William and could have stood to spend a whole day there. It was there opening weekend of the year. Ft William is a reconstruction of the Ft William trading post and the reconstruction is now over 50 years old.

Charles

 

[CharlesinGA]

In the UK you have to surrender your passport. They cut a corner off and return it to you. To stop fraudulent use probably.

My old passports have always been sent in with the renewal application and returned separately from the new passport, with a two holes punched thru the front cover and page with the pic bonded to it.

I've kept the passport current as I was working for an airline, but have never used it. GF transited Singapore enroute to Penang, Malaysia to visit family and later I looked at the passport and asked why it had Singapore entry stamps in it. Turns out it was a long layover and she got bored and decided to leave the airport and wander about sightseeing. She keeps trying to get me to travel overseas, and I've told her I won't until I see some of this great country I live in.

Charles

 

[rvlifer]

Just renewed online. For $130 it should be made out of gold

 

[Tom]

Just renewed online. For $130 it should be made out of gold

Agreed. We paid the extra $30 and got the passport cards also.

 

[rvlifer]

I know printing is expensive but does anyone know why it costs so much?

 

[DonTom]

why it costs so much?

When everything seems to be expensive, it is what is called inflation.

But gasoline here is half the price I am used to paying in Reno and CA.

-Don- Tucson, AZ