Get Your Family's Passports Ready for Spring Break Travel

Are you taking the family on an international vacation for spring break? Awesome! You’re going to have a great time. You might be busy with planning excursions and figuring out what to pack, but don’t forget to check to make sure everyone in the family has a valid passport before your trip.

It’s especially important to check your children’s passports before your spring break trip. Adult’s passports are valid for 10 years, but passports issued to kids under age 16 are only valid for five years! If it’s been a while since your last big family trip, your children’s passports might be closer to expiring than yours.

Today, we’ll review some of our top tips for passports for family vacation travel.

Tip 1: Check the Passport Validity Requirements for Your Destination

Spring break is the perfect time to pack up the family and head to a sunny destination like Mexico, Jamaica, or the Bahamas! Keep in mind that everyone in the family needs to have a valid passport book any time you are flying out of the United States. But just how much validity does your passport need to have? Some countries require you to have a minimum of six months validity left on your passport in order to enter, but other countries will let you enter even if your passport is closer to the expiration date. Not sure of the passport requirements for your destination? Check out PassportInfo.com’s page on popular destinations, or review the State Department’s Country Information.

Here are the passport validity requirements for some of the most popular destinations for spring break travel:

• Bahamas: passports must be valid at the time of entry.
• Bermuda: passports must be valid at the time of entry.
• Costa Rica: passports must be valid for the full duration of your stay.
• Jamaica: passports must be valid at the time of entry.
• Mexico: passports must be valid for six months past the end of your stay.

Make the Most of Your Caribbean Resort Vacation

In the dark days of February, nothing sounds better than an escape to a Caribbean resort! It’s the classic definition of a vacation – sunny skies, white sand beaches, palm trees, and tropical cocktails. When you’re feeling energetic, there are plenty of activities available, like snorkeling and tennis. And if you just want to chill out, no shame in that game, there’s a lounge chair on the beach waiting for you! If you are ready to make your dreams of a Caribbean resort vacation a reality, check out our tips to make the most of your trip.

Tip 1: Make Sure Your Passport is Up to Date

At PassportInfo.com, we get a lot of questions about what kind of passports are needed for travel to the Caribbean. Passport cards can be used if you are entering many Caribbean countries by sea, but let’s face it — not many of us have the luxury of sailing our yacht to a Caribbean paradise! If you are flying to any country, including all the countries of the Caribbean, you will need a valid passport book.
But wait, you say, I actually am planning to sail my yacht around the Caribbean! If that’s the case, you can use a US Passport Card to enter the following Caribbean nations by sea: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Turks and Caicos. These countries are all part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
There are some Caribbean destinations you can visit without a passport at all. As a US citizen, you don’t need a passport to enter Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands. These islands are US territories! You will need to have identification to board your flight, though.

Tip 2: Choose the Caribbean Resort That’s Right For You

These days, you can find resorts that cater to just about every type of traveler!

• Families with kids will enjoy a trip to a family-friendly
  resort. Look for a resort that has a kid’s club where you can drop off the kids — they’ll have fun, while you have a chance to relax on your own! All-inclusive resorts are a great choice for families. With all meals and snacks included, it means that Mom actually gets a vacation from doing all the cooking and cleaning up! Some family-friendly resorts even have over-the-top amenities like water parks on site.
• Fitness fanatics can consider a trip to a yoga retreat. If you’d rather burn your calories enjoying the sun and surf rather than doing sun salutes, look for an all-inclusive resort that doesn’t charge for activities like windsurfing, paddleboarding, and snorkeling.
• Lovebirds looking for a romantic escape will find it at an adults-only resort. You’ll be able to hold hands and watch the sunset, and enjoy decadent dinners uninterrupted by noisy kids!
• Nature lovers can explore the rich tropical environment at an eco-resort.

Tip 3: Find Out What’s Included in Your “All-Inclusive” Resort

 

A lot of Caribbean resorts advertise themselves as being all-inclusive, but read the fine print before you book! Some resorts may charge extra for amenities like:

• Specialty dining
• Alcoholic drinks
• Child care
• Activities like golf or sailing
• Beach chairs or loungers
• Tips and gratuities
• Airport transfers

Take these possible hidden costs into consideration when you compare the prices of resorts. What looks like a great bargain might not be, if you have to pay extra for things that other resorts include in their base price.

Tip 4: Don’t Be Afraid to Leave the Resort

Hey, we don’t blame you if you don’t want to stray any farther than the resort’s beach or the swim-up bar… but you’re also free to explore beyond the gates of the resort! If you want to shop for souvenirs, you’ll find way more options in town than in the resort gift shop. You might also want to check out nearby attractions, try some authentic restaurants, or go to hear live music from local bands!

Tip 5: Pack Like a Pro

It’s worth it to do a bit of research before you leave to find out what you should pack. Check out your resort’s website as well as forums like TripAdvisor to get advice from other guests. There, you’ll be able to find out if you need to pack your own hairdryer, or if you need jackets or cocktail dresses for the more upscale dining options at your resort.
Another thing to decide is whether you need to bring your own sports equipment. Does your resort charge to rent snorkeling equipment? If it does, you might want to pop your mask and fins in your suitcase! Avid golfers and tennis players will also need to decide if you’ll use the resort’s equipment or bring your own.
You may also want to consider bringing your own beach toys for the kids, if the resort doesn’t supply them. It’ll be a lot cheaper to pick them up at the dollar store at home than to buy pails and shovels at the resort store! Best of all, you won’t feel guilty leaving them behind, which gives you more room in your suitcase so you can shop for treasures.

Source: https://passportinfo.com/caribbean-resort-vacation-tips/

Immigration Raids: What Identification Should You Show?

This past weekend, people across the US were alarmed by reports of immigration raids in many cities. US Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed that they arrested more than 600 undocumented immigrants last week. ICE officials stated that raids occurred in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and North and South Carolina. However, reports of additional raids in cities across the country have been rampant on social media. Immigration activists and individual witnesses have reported immigration checkpoints and raids in locations including suburban Washington, DC, Plant City, FL, and Austin, TX. Some of these unconfirmed reports state that ICE has been stopping large numbers of people in public places such as shopping center parking lots or public transportation, demanding to see identification, and detaining anyone who can’t show appropriate identification.

If you get caught up in an immigration raid, would you know what type of identification to show to prove your US citizenship or legal residency?

Are the Recent Immigration Raids “Business as Usual”?

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, last week’s arrests were just routine enforcement. Indeed, 600 arrests in one week is far from a record. During just one week in 2015, 2,000 illegal immigrants were arrested by ICE. Typical enforcement activities conducted by ICE target specific undocumented immigrants who have criminal records, with the goal of arresting and deporting them. ICE officials state that they’re not in the habit of going into public places and attempting to round up any illegal immigrants who may be there.

However, many people believe that the raids last week were not just the type of enforcement activity that was common under the Obama administration. They may be connected to an executive order signed by President Trump on January 25. This executive order focused on public safety, expanded the categories of immigrants considered a high priority for deportation. Instead of focusing on what we might think of as “criminals” — thieves, rapists, drug dealers, and the like — the executive order defined “criminal” undocumented immigrants as anyone who had broken any sort of law. This includes both felonies and misdemeanors, as well as the types of laws that just about every illegal immigrant has broken, such as crossing the US border unlawfully or providing a false Social Security Number to get a job.

President Trump added to this plausible connection with a Sunday morning post on Twitter. “The crackdown on illegal criminals is merely the keeping of my campaign promise. Gang members, drug dealers & others are being removed!”

Coming on the heels of the recent travel ban executive order, many people are nervous that these immigration raids are only the beginning. What if the unconfirmed reports are true, and ICE really is doing things like boarding buses and demanding to see everyone’s papers? If you are a US citizen or legal US resident, what kind of identification should you carry to prevent you being arrested by mistake?

Prove Your US Status With the Right Identification

What’s in your wallet? Whether you are a US citizen or not, some forms of identification will prove your residency status and others will not.

Non-US Citizens

The American Civil Liberties Union recommends that all non-US citizens should carry proof of their legal status in the US at all times. According to the ACLU, non-US citizens are required to show their immigration papers to immigration officers upon request. If you are stopped in an immigration checkpoint, and you don’t proof of your legal status in the US, you could find yourself detained by ICE!

The best documents for non-US citizens to carry are:

• Alien Resident Card (“green card”)
• Foreign passport with valid US visa.

US Citizens

Yes, you’re a US citizen. But can you prove it? Most of us just carry around our driver’s licenses as proof of identification. However, your driver’s license doesn’t necessarily prove that you are a US citizen!

Documents that will prove your US citizenship beyond a shadow of a doubt include:

• US Passport Book
• US Passport Card
• Enhanced Driver’s License

What About Driver’s Licenses?

We’ve talked a lot about REAL ID here on PassportInfo.com.
Unless you’re a resident of Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Washington state, you may already have a REAL ID driver’s license. You can check by looking at the top of your driver’s license. Do you see a star? If you have a star, great! Your license is REAL ID. If your license was issued a few years ago, and you don’t see a star, your license is still a valid driver’s license… but it isn’t REAL ID.

The reason REAL ID matters now is that states can only issue REAL ID driver’s licenses or non-driver IDs to people who are either US citizens or legal US residents. Most states will still issue driver’s licenses to people who can’t prove their residence status, but those licenses will be the non-REAL ID version. They won’t have the star!

If you show your driver’s license to an ICE officer, they will be looking to see if your license is REAL ID. A REAL ID license will indicate that you are either a US citizen or a legal resident (green card or visa holder). But what if you’ve got an old license without a star? It doesn’t prove your residency status. If you are a US citizen concerned about the possibility of immigration raids, you might want to either update your driver’s license to REAL ID or start carrying your passport book or passport card.

We’ll be watching this story closely and will bring you updates on any political actions that impact citizenship, immigration, or travel.

Source: https://passportinfo.com/immigration-raids-protect-yourself/

Passport Cards – Your Top Questions Answered

Do you have any questions about passport cards, passport renewals, or any other travel document issue? PassportInfo.com is here to help! You can send us a private message on our contact form or post a question or comment on any of our pages. Recently, many of you have posted questions about passport cards on our pages about how to get a passport card and the difference between passport books and passport cards. Today, we’ll take a closer look at passport cards and answer your most pressing questions!

Q. What is a Passport Card?
Answer. Passport cards are a card-sized version of a US passport. A passport card serves as official identification and proof of your US citizenship. It can be used for land or sea travel to Canada, Mexico, and many Caribbean islands, but it is not valid for any international travel by air.

Q. Will my passport card have the same number as my passport book?
Answer. No, your book and card will have two completely different numbers. The US State Department uses different number formats for books and cards. Passport book numbers are 9 numerals long, and passport cards start with the letter C followed by 8 numerals. Each passport book and card has a completely unique number. The State Department never reuses them – after a number has been used once, it is never used again!

Q. Do I have to apply for a passport book and a passport card at the same time?
Answer. No, you can apply for them separately, at your convenience. You don’t need to wait for one to expire to apply for the other.

Q. I have a valid passport card, but now I want to get a passport book. How can I apply for a passport book?
Answer. You’ll be able to use your passport card to apply for a passport book using Form DS-82 and the same procedure that is used for passport renewals. You’ll submit your passport card as part of the package, instead of submitting a passport book. We recommend that you put a sticky note on your passport card that says "Do Not Cancel." Please note that this applies only to people who currently hold only a passport card. If you have been issued a passport book in the past, you need to submit that with your request for a new passport book.

Q. Can I apply for a passport card using an expired passport book?
Answer. Yes, as long as your passport book was issued no more than 15 years ago, you can use it to apply for a passport card. The requirements and procedure will be the same as for travelers who hold a valid passport book.

Q. I lost my passport card, and need to get a new one. What do I do?
Answer. You can replace your lost passport card using the same procedure that is used for a lost passport book. If you also hold a passport book – valid or expired – you can submit that as your proof of US citizenship. However, if you submit a valid passport book, you should definitely put a sticky note on the front that says "Do Not Cancel."

Q. My passport book was issued two years ago and has eight years validity remaining. If I apply for a passport card now, how long will it be valid?
Answer. Your new passport card will be valid for 10 years from the date that it is issued. It’s not tied to the validity of your passport book.

Q. I applied for both a passport book and a passport card. I just got my new passport book in the mail, but my passport card wasn’t in the envelope. What happened? Is it lost?
Answer. No need to worry! The State Department always ships back passport books and passport cards in separate envelopes. Typically, you’ll get your passport book first in a Priority Mail envelope, and your passport card will arrive within a week in a regular business-size envelope. If you applied for expedited service for your passport book, you might have a longer time between the receipt of your passport book and your passport card.

Q. I travel between the US and Mexico every week, and my passport book is expiring in about a year. Can I get a passport card now so I can use that for my weekly trips into Mexico when I send in my passport book for renewal?
Answer. In this scenario, it is a good idea to get a passport card – passport cards are perfect for people who frequently cross the US border by land. However, there’s no way to get around sending in the passport book for processing, which leaves you without a passport to use for your weekly travel! What we’d recommend instead is to apply for an expedited passport renewal using a passport expediting service. A good passport expediting company can process a passport book renewal in as little as 24 hours, so you could have your passport processed with minimal disruption to your normal travel schedule. You can apply for a card at the same time, just by checking the "book and card" box on the DS-82 application form. That way, you’d have a passport back in your hands very quickly, and you’ll also now have both a passport book and a passport card to allow you flexibility in your travels.

Source: https://passportinfo.com/passport-card-questions/

I Got My Passport – Where’s Everything Else?

One of the little secrets of US passport processing is that if you send in for passport service by mail, you’re going to get an envelope with your new passport in it… and nothing else. You might find yourself wondering if the State Department forgot to give you back your birth certificate or cancelled passport. Don’t panic! Your other documents will arrive in a separate envelope.

When you apply for passport service by mail, you are given two options for return shipping. Your new passport can be sent to you via Priority Mail, at no additional charge, or by Express Mail for a fee of approximately $16. However, that Priority or Express Mail will arrive holding only your new passport and a few informational pamphlets. Your proof of citizenship (birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or old passport) will be sent back in a separate envelope via standard First Class mail. If you ordered a passport card in addition to a passport book, your new passport card will also be mailed in another envelope.

Passport Requirements for Travel to Canada

Roughly 300,000 people cross the US-Canadian border every day. That adds up to more than 20 million trips by Americans to Canada every year, and closer to 40 million trips by Canadians to the United States. With so many trips made between our two countries, you’d think there wouldn’t be any confusion about passport requirements to cross the border, but there are unique factors that our guide will discuss in depth.

Flying Between Canada and the United States

All travelers flying between the United States and Canada – or the United States and any international destination – must have a valid passport book. The requirement for passport books for all international air travel is part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and has been in effect since January 2007. Even newborn babies must have a passport book in order to board an international flight!

Scoring Bargains on Last Minute Travel

Somewhere in the world, right this minute, there is an empty beach chair overlooking crystal blue water, waiting for you. All you need is a bit of free time, a valid passport, and the know-how to get a great bargain on last minute travel.
Savvy travelers have long known that the best deals on flights, hotels, and cruises are often available at the last moment. The reason for this is simple. If hotel beds, airline seats, or cruise cabins go empty, the company isn’t making any money on them. It’s more profitable to sell it to you at a steep discount than to leave it vacant and make nothing!

So how can you take advantage of last minute travel bargains? Read on for our top tips.

Enhanced Driver’s Licenses and REAL ID

If you have had to get a driver’s license recently, you may have noticed that you were required to bring in a lot more documentation to prove your identity, residence, and citizenship. You may have been asked to bring documents like your passport, birth certificate, Social Security Card, utility bills, and lease agreement – even if you already hold a valid driver’s license!

The reason you need to bring so much more documentation is because of the Federal REAL ID act, which is intended to set national standards for state-issued identification cards like driver’s licenses and non-driver IDs. In certain states, you may also have to bring additional documentation if you want to acquire an Enhanced Driver’s License which may be used like a passport card to cross land borders between the US, Canada, and Mexico.