"Proof of Citizenship" needed for cruise!

SaveUncleSam · #1 12-27-2006, 11:26 PM

I will be going on a cruise next year and was contacted by the travel agent today as to my "citizenship status". She said that I need to go into the office tomorrow and discuss "proof of citizenship". I have a passport but do not have to bring it with me so I will not be doing so. Another agent told me I needed a birth cert and DL to get on the plane and ship although I get over the Canadian border with just a DL.

My question is, What do I tell this woman? Six months back when I signed the papers, I stated that I was "born in the United States". I now know to state that I was born in Massachusetts not the US. Do travel agents know the difference? If she doesn't, how best do I go about educating her?

When boarding a ship for non-military purposes, I am assuming all are under Admiralty jurisdiction. Would it matter where each passenger was born?

Shoonra · #2 12-30-2006, 06:55 AM

In the coming month, the US govt will REQUIRE a CURRENT passport for anyone coming (or returning!) from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and a lot of other places that formerly did not require passports to visit.

A current passport means just that. Previously they would accept an expired passport for ID & proof of citizenship (assuming that your old photo was still recognizable). Now it must be a current passport. Fortunately, if you've ever been on a US passport before, it's fairly easy to get a new passport since all the proof of your citizenship was already given to the Passport Office.

It would be most sensible to have your passport with you on a cruise, even if you, personally, never set foot off the ship.

palani · #3 12-30-2006, 07:40 AM

Quote:

the US govt will REQUIRE a CURRENT passport

I believe there are exceptions. The previous post sounds like an opinion even though Shoonra has resorted to shouting.

Have your travel documents notarized and have the Mass. SoS apostile them. There will be a small charge for each apostile. Then send a copy to the State Dept and ask Connie if she sees a problem.

Carry a copy of Connies' letter with you to the travel agent and if there is a problem let them argue with the State Dept.

SaveUncleSam · #4 12-30-2006, 08:14 AM

Yes Panani, thank you for the help.
Shoona, the "regulation" state that as of January 2007, all travellers to Canada, Mexico or the Carribean by AIR must have a passport or "other" proof. As of January 2008, all LAND and SEA travel would then have the requirement. I will be leaving American soil by boat therefore I am excempt from this.

We can all see where this is going. The govt. has mandated that all new passports have a RFID tag in them which many hacking groups have already come out and said they have hacked them. Why not just make us all fly naked with our entire dossier tattooed onto our skin???

I will call her back on Tuesday and explain that I am not a "US (c)Citizen"

fighting_father · #5 12-31-2006, 04:00 AM

I would suggest looking up legal meaning of passport.

PASSPORT - Any travel document issued by competent authority showing the bearer's origin, identity, and nationality if any, which is valid for the entry of the bearer into a foreign country. 8 USC

1. An official government document that certifies one's identity and citizenship and permits a citizen to travel abroad.
2. An official permit issued by a foreign country allowing one to transport goods or to travel through that country.
3. An official document issued by an allied foreign government to a ship, especially a neutral merchant ship in time of war, authorizing it to enter and travel through certain waters freely.
4. Something that gives one the right or privilege of passage, entry, or acceptance:

Shoonra · #6 12-31-2006, 07:35 AM

The US govt has explicitly said that expired passports will not satisfy the requirement. It wants passports currently in force.

If you want to travel to another country (or a cruise that might stop at another country) you would be very well advised to do what the govt expects. Doing something else, and then having to argue with a bunch of bureaucrats and clerks at both the start and finish of your trip, seems to me to be much more trouble than it's worth.

charlesa6 · #7 12-31-2006, 08:14 AM

I agree with Shoonra, If you going out of the country, it's your best interest to have your documents in order or is going to be hassle which you don't want to experience. I been there done that, is not pretty experience at all.

palani · #8 12-31-2006, 08:53 AM

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

To those persons of a colorable nature - enjoy the path taken.

charlesa6 · #9 12-31-2006, 09:12 AM

Thanks for the poet. It's reminding me of me. I'm having my morning coffee, when I read this....

maddriver · #10 12-31-2006, 05:41 PM

I agree, have your papers in order when leaving the country. However, just to have some fun with the travel agent. Ask her to produce the laws that she is telling you that you have to follow. It is easy for people to say "you have to, it's the law" when they have never seen the law. They are just paroting what someone else told them.

I have a lot of fun with people doing just that. If it is the law, produce it. If you are unable to produce it, do you have a license to pratice law? Are you praticing law without a license?