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Hi there,
I will flying in from the Boston area in 2 weeks to STX going thru San Juan. was just wondering if i can get opinion of people who had just made the trip in the last month or so. I am getting really confused with the passport issue , do i or do i not need a passport. and i f i don't( for people who travelled recently) , apart from a valid drivers license did u need to carry a Birth certificate, if you did not, they bother you at San Juan or was it just fine?.
Cos here on the mainland, i could fly to Florida, but in Florida, i won't be checked again for Id, is it the same?. any helpful info would be appreciated.
Posted : May 23, 2007 9:08 pm
You do not need a passport to travel to the USVI. However, in order to travel BACK to the continent you need to be able to prove you have a right to do so - that you are either a US citizen or a resident alien. That means either a passport or a drivers license and birth certificate or a green card. You may get lucky and they will not ask for a BC, but they may.
Evidently this is because we are a "port of entry", a place where non-citizens can come to easily and then go on to the continental USA.
Posted : May 23, 2007 9:37 pm
You do not need a passport to go to the USVI.....at least not yet. Some people say it's smart to carry the Birth Certificate along with the Drivers License. When you are in San Juan, if you do not leave the secure area, you will not be checked for any ID. Come ahead and enjoy St. Croix.....................
Posted : May 23, 2007 9:38 pm
You do not have to have a passport to travel to stateside or come back from it all you need is a govt issued id like a driver's license. The airlines may try to tell you otherwise, but they are wrong. Airlines get huge fines if they make a mistake so they really try to cover their rear's.
Posted : May 24, 2007 12:50 am
Betty is right, however if you have a passport bring it, it makes things faster and easier.
Posted : May 24, 2007 1:09 am
And if you don't have a passport, why not get one? You will wish you had one, one day. Probably can't get that done in two weeks, though. STX is not as close to the BVI as STT, of course, but you may decide you would like to visit other islands while you are here. You will need a passport or a BC and government issued picture ID to get back into USVI. Next time you visit, that may have changed to passport, period, no other option.
Posted : May 24, 2007 2:05 am
"Some people say it's smart to carry the Birth Certificate along with the Drivers License. "
To re-enter the states from the USVI adults need a photo id and proof that they have the right to be in the U.S, which means either a raised seal U.S. birth certificate, a green card, or a visa. A passport does dual duty as photo id and proof of citizenship.
Posted : May 24, 2007 3:08 am
Hello,
Traveling from the states to the USVI... id at check-in, id and boarding pass at TSA screening, boarding pass at boarding, arrive/get luggage.
Traveling from the USVI to the states there is an extra step between check-in and TSA screening; customs and immigration. At check-in they usually give you the customs form that you need to complete. For immigration check you must show proof of citizenship.
I called the customs and immigration office at STT airport to double check what proof of citizenship they accept for Americans and they listed: passport, DL (or other government issued photo id) & Birth Certificate, Permanent Resident Card or Certificate of Naturalization (issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service).
--Islander
Posted : May 24, 2007 4:10 pm
