Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
#1
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Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 614
Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
I have heard that statement going around a few times over the years. I am just wondering how true it is.
#2
Re: Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
Who knows and who cares?
I have one. My daughters have theirs. My son-in-laws have theirs. My sister and brother-in-law have theirs. My niece and nephew and their spouses have theirs. I don't give a rat's arse about the rest of Americans.
Perhaps you need to think WHY would such a large percentage not have passports? Off the top of my head I can think of many.
I have one. My daughters have theirs. My son-in-laws have theirs. My sister and brother-in-law have theirs. My niece and nephew and their spouses have theirs. I don't give a rat's arse about the rest of Americans.
Perhaps you need to think WHY would such a large percentage not have passports? Off the top of my head I can think of many.
#3
Re: Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
It seems in 2019 there were 146,775,089 US passports in circulation.
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...tatistics.html
About 44%
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...tatistics.html
About 44%
Last edited by lansbury; Jan 11th 2020 at 6:17 pm.
#4
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Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 614
Re: Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
It seems in 2019 there were 146,775,089 US passports in circulation.
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...tatistics.html
About 44%
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...tatistics.html
About 44%
#5
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
It seems in 2019 there were 146,775,089 US passports in circulation.
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...tatistics.html
About 44%
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...tatistics.html
About 44%
#6
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Joined: Jul 2010
Location: North East Ohio, USA
Posts: 1,933
Re: Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
#7
Re: Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
Not sure if you live in the US and if you are here, not sure how long you've been here. Americans don't travel the way the Brits do - they take shorter vacations and most of those are domestic. I believe this is partly due the size of this country (don't feel the need to go overseas) and partly due to the work culture here (less vacation time). I know a few of my co-workers only got passports after 9/11 because they couldn't go to Canada any more with just a driver's license.
I knew a load of french people who only had identity cards and no passports. Didn't need them for most of EU getaways.
Brits on the other hand, need a passport to go, well, anywhere really since it's needed to get back in.
#8
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Re: Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
If I didnt live in Canada and married to a Canadian, I wouldnt fuss with a passport. I only have one because I live In Canada and need it to cross the border without issues.
I only got my passport originally in 2000 as I was going to Australia for 2 weeks. Other then that trip in April 2000, I have only travelled between Canada and California.
Reminds me I need to renew my passport it expires in March.
I would travel overseas if I could as I like to see new countries but to get from North America to just about anywhere else is expensive.
I only got my passport originally in 2000 as I was going to Australia for 2 weeks. Other then that trip in April 2000, I have only travelled between Canada and California.
Reminds me I need to renew my passport it expires in March.
I would travel overseas if I could as I like to see new countries but to get from North America to just about anywhere else is expensive.
Last edited by scrubbedexpat091; Jan 12th 2020 at 7:24 am.
#9
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,544
Re: Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
It seems in 2019 there were 146,775,089 US passports in circulation.
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...tatistics.html
About 44%
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...tatistics.html
About 44%
#10
Re: Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
Also, there are beaches, mountains, wilderness areas, puerto rico and I think 3 other US caribbean islands, Hawaii and Alaska. All make for a fabulous holiday without the need for a passport.
I knew a load of french people who only had identity cards and no passports. Didn't need them for most of EU getaways.
Brits on the other hand, need a passport to go, well, anywhere really since it's needed to get back in.
I knew a load of french people who only had identity cards and no passports. Didn't need them for most of EU getaways.
Brits on the other hand, need a passport to go, well, anywhere really since it's needed to get back in.
#11
Re: Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
FWIW, I don't have a state enhanced DL. Don't have one here in MS and never had one in NY. I entered Canada always with my US Passport.
#12
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,544
Re: Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
State issued enhanced drivers licenses are not used for foreign travel and I believe that is the reason why the question was originally asked.
FWIW, I don't have a state enhanced DL. Don't have one here in MS and never had one in NY. I entered Canada always with my US Passport.
FWIW, I don't have a state enhanced DL. Don't have one here in MS and never had one in NY. I entered Canada always with my US Passport.
I have a passport and an enhanced DL, just a small convenience, I travel to Canada dozens of times a year, and don’t need to get out my passport. But I know loads of people who only have an enhanced DL (folks go over to Canada for shopping, visiting family etc. where I live.)
#13
Re: Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
Exactly. Want to ski? Want to lie on a sandy beach with balmy weather? Want to climb (or look at) a 14,000 ft mountain? Want to look at massive engineering structures like the Hoover dam? Want to see amazing natural phenomenon like the Grand Canyon? If you live in the UK, you need to use a passport. If you live in the US, you don't. So that would account for a huge number of people not having passports in the US.
Beginning on the first of October 2020 NO ONE (Americans included) will be able to board any flight (domestic or otherwise) or enter any secure Federal building without what is being labelled a
REAL ID Compliant Driver License or ID card. This differs from driver licenses/ID cards issued previously.
A valid passport however is deemed to be a REAL ID Compliant document.
I learned about this when I received notification from the DMV that my driver license would be due for renewal in Feb.
Thought adding this would be helpful in case my post confuses anyone: https://www.tsa.gov/real-id
Last edited by MMcD; Jan 12th 2020 at 7:17 pm. Reason: Link added
#14
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,544
Re: Is it true that 70% of Americans don't have passports?
That's about to change however for Americans who don't have passports because...
Beginning on the first of October 2020 NO ONE (Americans included) will be able to board any flight (domestic or otherwise) or enter any secure Federal building without what is being labelled a
REAL ID Compliant Driver License or ID card. This differs from driver licenses/ID cards issued previously.
A valid passport however is deemed to be a REAL ID Compliant document.
I learned about this when I received notification from the DMV that my driver license would be due for renewal in Feb.
Beginning on the first of October 2020 NO ONE (Americans included) will be able to board any flight (domestic or otherwise) or enter any secure Federal building without what is being labelled a
REAL ID Compliant Driver License or ID card. This differs from driver licenses/ID cards issued previously.
A valid passport however is deemed to be a REAL ID Compliant document.
I learned about this when I received notification from the DMV that my driver license would be due for renewal in Feb.