I got yelled at at the border once for not having my passport (not my fault). Turns out there's a database and they have to let you in if you're a citizen.
They don't have to make it pleasant tho, so I'd say Christo is right
It's... annoying. I have done it, post 9/11 even, because of a mix up at a con game rental where they held your ID and they gave mine to someone else and that person didn't return it by the time the con was over. You may want to call the airport and ask about the procedure, and if you don't do that show up SUPER early and expect a lot of hassle.
and Hah Anna... I've done /that/ too. I was coming back from Canada and didn't have a passport because I'd never needed one before. But before had always been via land. And I'd just flown into the US from Canada. I couldn't go /back/ and the police officer didn't want to let me /in/. It was.... an uncomfortable time of me showing him everything I did have, like my license and my Social Security Card, and credit cards... he eventually relented but not before seriously fucking with my day, since the person i'd traveled with had already passed through security and couldn't get back to me.
I also literally just now realized that I have an in no one else reading this is going to have: I work for the largest travel agency consortium in the US (at least). I'm a registered travel agent, and have a travel agent card
That should help. We'll see. I also have access to some fantastic travel agents, so hopefully?
I was detained pre-mandatory state ID laws by the TSA for not having a state ID. My suggestion would to be avoid plane travel if you can get away with it.
William Nichols Also, if you have enough time, maybe you can report the ID missing and get something from VA's DMV that shows it's reported as missing. If you decide to play a Bard at TSA that is. If nothing else, I'm sure you'll get a great story out of this.
William Nichols: My experience is an outlier: My wife lost her ID for a domestic flight, and while we hit up the police station for a police report, and VA-gov website for what records we could, the sum total of the grief she got was "Yeah, it happens. We're a touristy sort of place. Somebody will probably mail it to you. What else have you got with your name on it?"
Best of luck to you! Andrew G. Schneider's mom flew with her nurse's id this year (when she also lost her ID); apparently that's sufficiently government issued? If you have any other identification at all, like that travel agency card, you may be pleasantly surprised by what they'll accept when you've lost your ID. But that does place you at the whim of the TSA, definitely. (Vivian, that's awful!)
Update: I got through just fine. Turns out, my IATA card (picture + photo), plus a CC (name) work out. That, plus the usual secondary security: nekkid x-ray machine + search.
Oh shit. Take the train or bus?
ReplyDeleteIs that your personal experience, Christo?
ReplyDeleteI got yelled at at the border once for not having my passport (not my fault). Turns out there's a database and they have to let you in if you're a citizen.
ReplyDeleteThey don't have to make it pleasant tho, so I'd say Christo is right
It's... annoying. I have done it, post 9/11 even, because of a mix up at a con game rental where they held your ID and they gave mine to someone else and that person didn't return it by the time the con was over. You may want to call the airport and ask about the procedure, and if you don't do that show up SUPER early and expect a lot of hassle.
ReplyDeleteand Hah Anna... I've done /that/ too. I was coming back from Canada and didn't have a passport because I'd never needed one before. But before had always been via land. And I'd just flown into the US from Canada. I couldn't go /back/ and the police officer didn't want to let me /in/. It was.... an uncomfortable time of me showing him everything I did have, like my license and my Social Security Card, and credit cards... he eventually relented but not before seriously fucking with my day, since the person i'd traveled with had already passed through security and couldn't get back to me.
ok. Makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI also literally just now realized that I have an in no one else reading this is going to have: I work for the largest travel agency consortium in the US (at least). I'm a registered travel agent, and have a travel agent card
That should help. We'll see. I also have access to some fantastic travel agents, so hopefully?
I was detained pre-mandatory state ID laws by the TSA for not having a state ID. My suggestion would to be avoid plane travel if you can get away with it.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Nichols Not mine, but people that have needed to travel without ID, for whatever reason. And there can be many reasons in this day and age.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Nichols Also, if you have enough time, maybe you can report the ID missing and get something from VA's DMV that shows it's reported as missing. If you decide to play a Bard at TSA that is. If nothing else, I'm sure you'll get a great story out of this.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Nichols: My experience is an outlier: My wife lost her ID for a domestic flight, and while we hit up the police station for a police report, and VA-gov website for what records we could, the sum total of the grief she got was "Yeah, it happens. We're a touristy sort of place. Somebody will probably mail it to you. What else have you got with your name on it?"
ReplyDeleteI have nothing to offer but sincere hope that the return is not so painful for you.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to you!
ReplyDeleteAndrew G. Schneider's mom flew with her nurse's id this year (when she also lost her ID); apparently that's sufficiently government issued?
If you have any other identification at all, like that travel agency card, you may be pleasantly surprised by what they'll accept when you've lost your ID.
But that does place you at the whim of the TSA, definitely. (Vivian, that's awful!)
I have a printed out letter from the TSA saying it'll be OK.
ReplyDeleteSo ... I'm doomed.
Yeah, that level of preparation is awfully suspicious.
ReplyDeleteUpdate: I got through just fine. Turns out, my IATA card (picture + photo), plus a CC (name) work out. That, plus the usual secondary security: nekkid x-ray machine + search.
ReplyDeleteAlso: I went drinking in texas without ID. Multiple times.
ReplyDeleteI'm old
Or very charming.
ReplyDeleteOr they don't card in Texas.
ReplyDeleteConfidence and privilege.
ReplyDelete