Crossing the border with no passport

[cindysc 108]

Okay I have a question. Probally a no brainer but I am confused. I am gonna just use my birth certificate and id to go across the border. I am wondering about my birth certificate having my maiden name on it and my id has my married name.. Is that gonna be okay?????

[Gaiamist 0]

I'm Canadian so you can ignore my comment if it doesn't apply. First of all, the regulation is that the US asks for the passport to return to the US, not the other way round. Even if it has not been enforced yet for those of you who have commented, it is something ANY border guard can enforce at any time, on either side of the border. If I were making this trip for surgery, I would not be taking any chances.

Also somebody asked about having different names on different documents. I lived in Mexico for several years and I can assure you that Mexican bureaucracy has a very hard time with names not matching. If you have a birth certificate that is not your current name I would carry the connecting document as well (eg. your marriage certificate).

[salsha 114]

I would not let the last posters comments worry any of you. I live in Mexico and they are NOT that picky about the documents with different names. The claims are that they will be but it never happens. Also it seems that the drivers taking everyone back and forth are very well versed in this process and no one without a passport has seemed to have a problem recently. I would question your coordinator and then trust what they say, this do they daily.

[bayareanan 24]

I had surgery in December and one in my group did not have a passport. She got through the line with no problems.

[Gaiamist 0]

I would not let the last posters comments worry any of you. I live in Mexico and they are NOT that picky about the documents with different names. The claims are that they will be but it never happens. Also it seems that the drivers taking everyone back and forth are very well versed in this process and no one without a passport has seemed to have a problem recently. I would question your coordinator and then trust what they say' date=' this do they daily.[/quote']

I completely agree with your last sentence.

[Kristina J. 581]

I trust that I would probably be fine with just a birth certificate and an ID. But there's no way that I'm going to skip our passports to save money or schedule immediately, and even my coordinator told me I'm better off with a passport. If there is a complication and our passports aren't delivered, it's a good back up plan, but for me, it's a "better safe than sorry" plan for sure! Not that it's not tempting to forget this whole passport mess and head out for surgery next week!!! This wait is driving me bonkers... So ready!

[lexysdad04 43]

I went abt 2 months ago to tj when I was working in San Diego after we got off early we all just decided to go on the last minute so non of us had passports all we had was IDs and we got back fine

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[ashleyjunemitch 4]

How did it go? Were you fine without a passport??

[Kushka 36]

A lot of time has lapsed since the original posters posted.

I would get a passport since the change has been in effect for years, and my surgical coordinator told us it was required.

["Henry" 109]

Hi everyone,

We do recommend that you have a valid passport when you travel.

One very good option for U.S. citizens is that you get the Passport Card. It is less expensive and takes less time to get.