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Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: julia Huff (199.198.220.---)
Date:   03-26-07 11:44

Guys, there are rumors that you need a passport now to fly to Puerto Rico from the mainland US. Is it true?
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Re: Do you need to have a passport to travel to Puerto Rico from the mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.aurorasys.com)
Date:   03-26-07 11:53

No.
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Re: Do you need to have a passport to travel to Puerto Rico from the mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: R. Emmett (---.maine.res.rr.com)
Date:   03-26-07 13:07

No.

Owlihoot2
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Re: Do you need to have a passport to travel to Puerto Rico from the mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David Dupre (---.sea.siemens.com)
Date:   03-26-07 13:49

no again.
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Re: Do you need to have a passport to travel to Puerto Rico from the mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: julia Huff (199.198.220.---)
Date:   03-26-07 14:40

thank you very much!
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Re: Do you need to have a passport to travel to Puerto Rico from the mainland US
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: MJ (---.prtc.net)
Date:   03-26-07 15:37

The answer no is correct.
However, in my opinion, it is always good to have a passport when you come down here (not this time, I know you leave soon), just in case some cool opportunity comes up for you to go to the BVI's. Neat things happen here, people meet up, boats are going back and forth and it's great to not have to say no if the magic happens. Or if you win the lottery and think HEY! I'm going to take the...oops, no Concorde now, I'm going to Paris for dinner!
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Re: Do you need to have a passport to travel to Puerto Rico from the mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: julia Huff (199.198.220.---)
Date:   03-26-07 15:39

We are coming for 3 days only, and we are definately not going anywhere else--we dont have enough time for Culebra itself
We have passports, just dont want to take them with us, afraid we will loose them, since we are camping.
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Re: Do you need to have a passport to travel to Puerto Rico from the mainland US
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: MJ (---.prtc.net)
Date:   03-26-07 16:46

Your three days will be great then. Enjoy the sound of the waves!
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: hillman (---.prw.net)
Date:   03-27-07 05:45

Further Passport Info for the Future, posted on PRWOW.com;


Cruise passengers will need passports as of January
Posted: Monday, March 26, 2007 - 06:15 PM

PONCE (AP) – Secretary of State Fernando Bonilla said Monday Puerto Rican cruise passengers will need their passports to come back to the island as of January 2008.

Bonilla explained right now Puerto Rican cruisers don’t need passports to come back to Puerto Rico.

"Puerto Ricans really enjoy traveling on cruise ships and it is not until January 2008 that they will need their passports for that purpose,” he said.

The State secretary also said the Dominican Republic and other islands in the Caribbean still accept birth certificates for those who travel from Puerto Rico.

According to the official, Puerto Ricans haven’t faced any trouble when they come back from the Dominican Republic by air after the establishment of the new passport requirement went into effect.

"I haven’t heard of specific problems regarding passports. The information I have is about the amount of people who visit our offices, as well as the U.S. Postal Service, to submit their passports applications has been increasing more each day,” he said.

Bonilla said the State Department’s offices are still receiving more people than before for that purpose.

He reiterated Puerto Ricans who travel to the mainland U.S. and the U.S. Virgin Islands don’t need a passport to come back to the island. They just need a photo I.D. that confirms the ticket belongs to the person who has it.
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.res.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-27-07 16:28

in the past I found if you have a passport, take it, you don't really need it, but sometimes the airport crew are picky and they take it more seriously than a DL, it can speed up gate check-in. (plus there are always those huge student groups lacking proper ID and no idea how to deal with a security check at Munoz </age snob>)

if you can, I would ask: why give yourself a delay at the last minute?
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: julia Huff (199.198.220.---)
Date:   03-28-07 09:00

Richard, what about if you dont have it? We have freinds who are in the uS illegaly, and they want to go to PR.
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: bosie (---.ulmer.com)
Date:   03-28-07 09:52

Julia,
Do your illegal "friends" have valid albeit illegal US driver's licenses? If so, they can get into Puerto Rico.
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.res.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-28-07 12:04

Julia - A driver's license is sufficient. And technically they're not leaving the US, but I really can't say what might happen.

If I were in those shoes, I'd be super cautious and prob. just stay home until my status changed.
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: julia Huff (199.198.220.---)
Date:   03-28-07 14:04

Kathy, why did you put Friends in quotation marks? We are personally US citizens and taking our passports with us. My only consern is, i am afraid to loose it.
but we have a couple of friends who were too afraid to go with us, they think they need passports to come back. they do not have driver's licences, of course...they only have russian passports.
Richard, thanks, thats why they are staying home, but we really want them to come with us
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: bosie (---.ulmer.com)
Date:   03-28-07 15:12

Julia,
I understand why you wouldn't want to bring your passports. When you mentioned friends who are in the USA illegally, it just sent up a red flag to me, but you have explained that they have Russian passports. I suppose they are welcome in Puerto Rico, but they would have to bring passports unlike you.
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.ny5030.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-28-07 15:48

It is not illegal to have a US driver's license, even if you are here illegally. I would not risk it though ..

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: julia Huff (199.198.220.---)
Date:   03-29-07 09:07

Michael, if you are in the US illegaly, you cannot get a driver's licence. They wont give it to you, you have to have a Social Security number to apply for a driver's licence, and you have to have a proof of your legal status in the US.
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.ny5030.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-29-07 09:09

Then things have changed since a lot of my NYC friends have gotten licenses ..

If you read all the proofs one may bring, it is rather easy to supply 6 points of ID as a tourist (which if you stay longer becomes illegal, but before that runs out you get the license ..) - even tourists might want to drive a car!

http://www.nysdmv.com/idlicense.htm

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: julia Huff (199.198.220.---)
Date:   03-29-07 10:11

well, if things changed now, it is too late for people who are already here illegally. All my friends have expired visas, they did not just get here....Our roommate has been illegal for 7 years, and he cant get a licence, he is walking around with his russian passport everywhere, poor guy....
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.ny5030.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-29-07 12:19

I never envied the people who had to go through that ordeal and constant fear ..
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: julia Huff (199.198.220.---)
Date:   03-29-07 13:27

Michael, it is their choice, you know. they could go back home, it is not like they have no life there, most of them could have great life at home. (i am not talking about Mexicans)
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.ny5030.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-29-07 14:34

If you have been living someplace for 7 years the prospect of going back isn't really that appealing. Trust me, I tried.

And 'home' most likely already is wherever their center of life is; not necessarily their birth place!

Growing up in Austria you could not go anywhere within a 1 to 3hr drive without passing a border. The EU has changed that completely and it is more like the US today.

Imagine you had to show your passport (and might not be permitted) if you wanted to drive from Maine to NY!

Yes it is their choice, but just because people are not fortunate to be born with a certain passport, does that mean they should not be allowed to experience the beauty of Culebra?

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: julia Huff (199.198.220.---)
Date:   03-29-07 15:48

well, our roommate actually can get a green card, he is just too lazy to do it, so i totally do not feel sorry for him. But for some people, yes, it is hard, especially since they do not have health insurance..
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: MJ (---.prtc.net)
Date:   03-29-07 22:01

Oh dear! No health insurance??? This is why my brother says I'd never make it living in America anymore...I am starting to understand it all too well.
I can't even figure out what this thread is about now...my passport is in my backpack all the time like id in the wallet - it doesn't fit in my wallet. Illegal people I met in the VI"s usually try to marry someone to get it figured out. America, god bless her.
Maybe this is why I never had a roommate?
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.washdc.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-29-07 23:08

ok now that we're getting into health insurance, this is going to go way off topic. (universal healthcare! - it's actually cheaper in the long run)

but back to visas and all, even the folks I know going the legit route find it an ordeal (and can't go anywhere until the State dep't. and INS make it final)
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.ny5030.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-30-07 09:35

universal healthcare IS cheaper! but that would mean that the CEOs of the big insurance companies would not have the budget for lobbying anymore - wouldn't it?!

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.washdc.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-30-07 12:14

there was an interesting article in the New Yorker last year that researched the basis of our current HC system and it appears large manufacturers esp. auto, wanted to keep the health plans private as a tool to keep workers intimidated and not agitate for reforms - no HIPA provisions in those days.

economists even then said the greater the pool of risk, the lower the cost.
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.ny5030.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-30-07 14:11

not only HC bit also pension system, if I remember correctly. the promise of health and retirement should be a contract with society, not a single company that might go bust (or fire you)!

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.res.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-30-07 14:56

I'm saddened when I hear my senior relatives scandalized by rescinded pension arrangements. part of me says (internally) "told you so" but they really believed their efforts would be rewarded. It's weird, 'cause they always taught me to be cynical, take nothing for granted and know that nothing lasts for ever. Eggs - one basket I guess.

I've learned the lesson: believe nothing and assume I'll never retire:

"Welcome to Wal-Mart!"

of course I'll prob. be saying that with 3 days of stubble and reeking of cheap vodka...

but back on topic, can a person precluded from leaving the US while in naturalization paperwork go to a territory like PR? or does it limit one to actual states? and what does that say about DC? (state rights! taxation w/o representation! go Eleanor!)

but seriously, residents of PR have more vote than we do.

sorry. </high-horse>
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.ny5030.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-30-07 16:12

come to think of it. I believe the authorities never checked my green card travelling between the US and PR. which means they used my passport simply for ID purposes, not for immigration status or any such thing - still would not risk it though ..

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date:   03-31-07 11:39

As I was boarding the plane home at SJU, a couple weeks ago, there was a uniformed official outside the hatch asking each passenger what his citizenship was. I wished I had noted what agency it was, because that was a first.

Doug
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.ny5030.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-31-07 21:10

Doug, I noticed that already years ago, but not every single flight.

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: julia Huff (199.198.220.---)
Date:   04-03-07 15:06

Doug, did that officer as for a passport, or just asked?

We just got back, and I used my russian passport on purpose, to check (I have dual citizenship). And it was fine, even though there is no visa in my passport and no stamps about entering the US, my russian passport is completely blank. So it looks like it is fine, as long as you have any ID.
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Re: Passport needed to Puerto Rico from mainland US?
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.aurorasys.com)
Date:   04-03-07 16:00

He just asked, "Your citizenship?", and when I and everyone near me said U.S., he merely said "Thank You". Don't know if he looked at non-citizens' passports.

Doug
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