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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3507
Registered: 8-27-2003
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Helpful? hint from ICE agent going NB
We crossed NB at Mexicali the other day, scanned our passport cards and handed the agent our passports. He seemed to take a few moments longer than
usual, staring at his computer. He finally turned to us and asked us if we had scanned our cards and we said we had. "Oh, please don't scan the cards
and hand me the passports because when I scan your passports I think there are 4 people in the vehicle with the same names."
OK, got it. Where do they find these guys?
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ehall
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Why do you have both?
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Santiago
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Well, I thought the idea was to scan your card so that when you got to the booth they would already have your info on the screen, to save time we
thought. We have always handed the passports to the officer.
Turns out that is not necessary and I get it now; just wonder why no other officer ever asked us not to do that.
Scan or passport, but not both.
Anyone else run into this?
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Udo
Elite Nomad
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Because when we try to apply for the cards, we received a letter that said the cards will only come if you renew your regular passports at the same
time.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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For those that live a long ways from the border, can you imagine only having the card with you then being told by Mexican officials they must have
their passport books (for whatever reason)?
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rts551
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Whats your point David? I understand Santiago. The Passport card was supposed to expedite your return to the USA at crowded ports of entry.
Passports still required to fly..
[Edited on 1-31-2016 by rts551]
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Desertbull
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I cross 50-75 times a year and utilize the card only...I haven't shown my passport for a few years ... haven't been to secondary in years ... even
with the camper ... when I crossed into Alaska last summer, again only using my card, the Border Agent looked at me and commented about that I should
come north instead of south more often
DREAM IT! PLAN IT! LIVE IT!
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rts551
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The passport is still the official document for travel. Currently it is the only one that has a means to get stamped.
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Whale-ista
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You still need a passport to fly. If you have an emergency and/or need to be flown out for other reasons, having a passport is a good idea.
I have both, and carry both. I have only used one or the other at the Xing- and I have SENTRI, so... full wallet! Many choices!
Sigh... let's just get chipped and be done with it...
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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gsbotanico
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The passport card can be used in the Ready Lanes. At San Ysidro this can save a lot of time because the Ready Lanes move faster and are often
shorter. I sometimes see the Ready Lanes having shorter wait times than Sentri when Sentri is backed up a long way and agents are working slow. I
was even told once by a street vendor that the Ready Lane was faster. Not true most of the time.
Passport card is only good for land crossings from Mexico and Canada and from the Caribbean and Bermuda at ports of entry. It's not good for
international air travel. I always carry passport, passport card, and Sentri Card, plus my Mexican Permanent Residency card. I'm never sure which
will be requested or most useful. If I'm asked for ID and not specifically for a passport in Mexico, I use the Mexican card. It seems to carry more
weight, especially in mainland Mexico.
The Sentri card can be used in the Ready Lane. I always hand the card I scan to the customs agent. I've never had a problem. One time I scanned 4
Sentri cards, but it only registered 3. The agent handed me my Mexican card and asked for my Sentri card. I was embarrassed, but the agent smiled
and off we went.
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David K
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Quote: Originally posted by rts551  | Whats your point David? I understand Santiago. The Passport card was supposed to expedite your return to the USA at crowded ports of entry.
Passports still required to fly..
[Edited on 1-31-2016 by rts551] |
Ralph, in the OP (opening post) our friend Santiago describes the problem he had by using BOTH to achieve a smooth crossing, and the opposite
occurred.
In the following reply, Ed (ehall) asked "Why do you have both?" as you only need one to return to the USA...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The passport book takes up a tiny space in the glove box or pocket and I commented what I did in the possible situation someone in Mexico will want
the book instead of the card. If you don't have both, then how miserable it would be to need to drive back home to get it when it takes so little
space to bring along.
Does that de-mystify my reply enough for you?
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sancho
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| Quote: Originally posted by Udo | | Because when we try to apply for the cards, we received a letter that said the cards will only come if you renew your regular passports at the same
time |
I did not know that, my passport is a few yrs. old, was going to get the card for the ready lane, which seems to be a bit quicker
coming back, there are more than a few doc's they accept in the ready lane,
so not sure of the benefit. But according to the letter you recieved,
which is a lot better than something said, I can forget about the
card
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weebray
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The last time my wife entered the US and handed the agent her passport he looked at it and asked "do you have another form of id? She was entering
with our dog. She was so startled by the question she asked "for me or for the dog?
Every beautiful beach in the world needs a few condo towers - NOT.
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
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| Quote: Originally posted by weebray | | The last time my wife entered the US and handed the agent her passport he looked at it and asked "do you have another form of id? She was entering
with our dog. She was so startled by the question she asked "for me or for the dog? |
Old passport photo maybe?
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | | Quote: Originally posted by rts551 | Whats your point David? I understand Santiago. The Passport card was supposed to expedite your return to the USA at crowded ports of entry.
Passports still required to fly..
[Edited on 1-31-2016 by rts551] |
Ralph, in the OP (opening post) our friend Santiago describes the problem he had by using BOTH to achieve a smooth crossing, and the opposite
occurred.
In the following reply, Ed (ehall) asked "Why do you have both?" as you only need one to return to the USA...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The passport book takes up a tiny space in the glove box or pocket and I commented what I did in the possible situation someone in Mexico will want
the book instead of the card. If you don't have both, then how miserable it would be to need to drive back home to get it when it takes so little
space to bring along.
Does that de-mystify my reply enough for you?
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No. It does not. You know you should have your passport. Mexico makes the rules. Before I travel to ANY country I know what the rules are. I
recommend that to any one. Passcards are only good for getting BACK into the country.
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David K
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That's what I have been saying from the beginning Ralph, why having both makes sense.
[Edited on 2-3-2016 by David K]
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BajaBlanca
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showing the same ID one scanned seems logical. and yes, bring the passport and keep the visa with it at all times....for those who are not citizens.
By the same token, dumb system that does not recognize that the names are the same?
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Pappy Jon
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Scanners are not always working. I crossed at Lukeville in October and still had to present my VISA ... after scanning my card. Lady made it clear
that the card reader was no-workie. I presented my card at the booth, and she asked for my book.
In Algodones, the IMM fella was stopping folks going south to issue FMM's. More of a shake down, really. He insisted on the paper book, and would not
take my card.
[Edited on 2-3-2016 by Pappy Jon]
"The association of flowers and warm-blooded love is more than a romantic convention; it is based upon one of the great advances in the evolution
of life." Ed Abbey
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BigBearRider
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| Quote: Originally posted by rts551 |
No. It does not. You know you should have your passport. Mexico makes the rules. Before I travel to ANY country I know what the rules are. I
recommend that to any one. Passcards are only good for getting BACK into the country. |
I'm all for knowing the rules (although it is not possible to know all the rules given the complexity and ever-changing nature of laws.)
You says that "Passcards are only good for getting BACK into the country." I wonder if that is correct.
You can get the FMM with a passport card. I did it this weekend when I realized halfway down to the border that I had forgotten my passport. I keep
the passport card and Global Entry (including SENTRI) card in my wallet at all times (you never know when you'll find yourself with an excuse to go to
Baja). There was a family ahead of me in line at the SAT office also using passport cards for getting the FMM.
The Mexican website for getting the FMM online also gives you the option of using the passport card number for the FMM. I have done this successfully
as well.
Finally, I was stopped by the marine police outside of Ensenada this fall. I was asked for my FMM and passport. I had both in my car, but had my
passport card. They didn't seem to mind the passport card (they didn't like that the FMM was in my car though).
So, based on the above, I would tend to think that Mexico accepts the passport card, at least for some purposes. Of course, you may find a particular
officer who disagrees on a particular day. It is always good to carry both. Just in case.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64746
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Location: San Diego County
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WHY BRINGING BOTH is a good idea!
| Quote: Originally posted by Pappy Jon |
In Algodones, the IMM fella was stopping folks going south to issue FMM's. More of a shake down, really. He insisted on the paper book, and
would not take my card.
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