Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

Hi Everyone,

I recently became a US citizen and applied for my US passport at the end of July. Obviously due to COVID there seem to be delays in the issuing of passports. Just wondered a couple of things -

a) What are people's experience of receiving a new US passport which you applied for in the last ~6 months. Is it way in excess of the original (pre COVID) 8 weeks estimates? The COVID related passport issuance data on the State Department website gives some detail and perhaps implies a current time of 8 - 10 weeks (dividing "passports awaiting issuance" by "Passports issued").

b) Has anyone found a (completely legal) way to travel on their existing valid foreign passport while waiting for their US passport (in my case, a UK passport)? To caveat that statement, I understand that US Citizens are supposed to leave and enter the US on a US passport. However, some detail on the USCIS website implies some flexibility. For example -

"A passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality is required in order to enter or re-enter the United States." (Search for "US Citizens travelling internationally" on the USCIS website)

I've also seen mentioned "most US citizens.." must enter or leave on a US passport - with the emphasis on *most* (although I'm struggling to find a clear original source at the moment).

Steve

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

The issue that you'll run in to when trying to travel back to the US without a US passport will be airlines refusing to let you board - they check for valid documentation and you can't get an ESTA, don't have a visa and don't have a permanent resident card.

If you arrive at a land border they would eventually let you in after confirming your identity.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

The law says that US citizens must enter and leave the US bearing a US passport, except when using other documents as allowed under the WHTI (mostly dealing with trusted traveler cards and children crossing land borders, etc., which probably don't apply to your case). However, there is no penalty for violating this law. The US doesn't have exit checks, so the "leave" part of the rule is essentially meaningless. And for entering, if you make it to a US port of entry, and you can satisfactorily demonstrate your US citizenship, they cannot deny you entry (though they can temporarily detain you to check it out and give you lots of hassle). So the main issue is the airline refusing to let you board when you return to the US.

It is possible to get passports within days at a passport agency, but it seems that currently that is limited to life-or-death emergencies. If you cannot get a US passport and are in a hurry to go abroad for some urgent matter, and you are not in a hurry to get back to the US, you can just leave without a US passport and apply for a US passport in the foreign country where you will be, or have someone in the US mail you the passport when they send it to your address.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

I applied for a 1st US passport on 8/1 (that was the date I went to the Post Office, anyway) and received it in the mail on 9/5.

I am surprised you haven't got yours yet.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

I also recently applied for my first US passport after naturalization and received it in the mail this week.
Total time from appointment at my local post office was 12 weeks.
My application apparently went through the Charleston office and it seems that different offices around the country complete at different rates.
I now await my naturalization certificate back which I’m expecting to be around a week.
I was also expecting my wait time to be around 8 weeks but just as I was starting to get antsy, it arrived.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

State.gov has similar guidance:

https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...tionality.html

I assume you don’t have your N550 anymore as it was sent with your passport application.

I have observed a USC entering with an N550 and foreign passport at EWR airport, he was in the next booth over, from what I could hear he kept doing it and the office had a note in the system that he had been told to get a US passport. I assumed based on his attire the fact that the flight to land before mine was TLV he was a dual national of Israel, I was through quickly so did not see what happened but it did not seem pleasant and as others say your biggest issue will be getting on a plane, ans with the travel ban that will likely be an even bigger issue now...

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

So for some reason taking my wife’s car to the dealership for its service reminded me I still need to go to the DMV to update my realID DL so they know I am a USC. Probably won’t help if your waiting for your passport as you need your cert or passport to prove USC, and also with CV19 travel restrictions. But under more normal times if you went to the DMV before sending away your passport application you could leave the US on your other Citizenship passport. Then in your way home fly to Canada or Mexico, enter with your realID passport at a land border and the make your way home. I only ever did this with my GC when we drive over the rainbow bridge, but we barely flashed my wife’s passport and my GC out the window and we’re on our way.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

Wait, is that a thing? The internets tell me nothing.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

The driver's license RealID will show your immigration status in the US. Here are the requirements:

Visit your state's driver's licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required to obtain a REAL ID. At a minimum, you must provide documentation showing: 1) Full Legal Name; 2) Date of Birth; 3) Social Security Number; 4) Two Proofs of Address of Principal Residence; and 5) Lawful Status

Since your status is part of the RealID information on the license, yes, you want to update it.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

I don’t think it actually shows the way immigration status. I already have it in CT from when I was an LPR... it only has the gold star. I thought it had rfid or was tied to a data base, but maybe it doesn't even do that, but maybe it’s state by state.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

I am like tht -- already have my realID from when I was an LPR. I had to show my green card to get it, but I thought that was just an ID requirement, not that it was somehow stored information that needed to be kept updated.

I can't find any information about updating upon naturalization (for any state).

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

I was told somewhere here I had to do DMV and SSA, figured I would wait on the DMV to delay jury duty... but now I have register to vote (waited for the same reason) it probably makes no difference. Will juts update at my renewal next year... never going to the DMV unless I actually have to.... have a passport card and global entry card for non air travel anyway. Although I actually carry the passport card (and ordered it as proof of citizenship given my proximity to so many airports and the ocean which is also part of the 100 miles boarder zone (which I believe gives CBP authority to ask for proof of citizenship in a much wider area).

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

Is a passport card considered as an official Real ID ? I have just received my brand new passport card along with my naturalization certificate back after successfully going through application for a first US passport.
The thought of making an appointment at my local Virginia DMV is comparable to a trip to the dentist for root canal treatment.
Virginia is asking for Real ID by the last day of October..... I hope upon hope that I can get by using the new passport card ... anyone know if I can ?

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

It is federal ID and proof of USC, and you can enter the country with it, so one would hope so, in a federal sense it is more “Real” than a state DL. I assume government issued, i.e passport, military etc should be “better” than state.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

The only difference between REAL ID and non-REAL ID state driver's licenses or ID cards is that non-REAL ID driver's licenses and ID cards can no longer be used to pass TSA airport security checkpoints and enter certain federal buildings after October 1, 2021 (not 2020). Some other types of documents can be used to pass TSA airport security checkpoints, both before and after October 1, 2021, including US and foreign passports (including passport cards), green cards, EADs, enhanced driver's licenses, etc., but they are not referred to as REAL ID.

I am not sure what you mean by "Virginia is asking for Real ID" -- whether a driver's license or ID card is REAL ID only matters for federal purposes (TSA, federal buildings, etc.). Non-REAL ID driver's licenses and ID cards continue to be valid for driving and other state purposes, even after October 1, 2021.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

That’s a good detailed reply, thanks Newacct. I’ve reread my state DMV website, that has been updated since I was last on there, they now confirm exactly what you have wrote on Real ID which is from next October, not this one, my mistake, we will require Real ID in some federal buildings and domestic airline travel.
so, we can rest easily that it’s not mandatory to obtain one but any future driving license renewal will be automatically Real ID .... I’m delighted to hear that I don’t need to go through the arduous process of an appointment and my dreaded DMV.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

It will not automatically get converted to RealID. The whole point of RealID is that you have to have shown a bunch of different ID. There is no way to do this remotely/automatically, so you will have to go into the DMV at some point. I would suggest doing it well before next October, since that is when everyone else will be doing it.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

After October 2021 without a READ-ID driving licence you would have to show your passport/passport card together with your driving licence is travel within the US.

You have to apply for a REAL-ID driving licence; your current one won't be automatically upgraded to one.

You say that you have a passport card - you cannot fly internationally with a passport card.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

is it worth taking the risk and going through all that hassle - and risk - of being denied boarding because you have no US passport ? Can you not wait until post-virus to travel ? Or until you get a valid US travel document ?

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

why would you have to to show your DL as well if you have a passport card? If what you are saying is true anyone who can’t drive can’t fly anymore....

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

Original Poster here - received my passport 9 weeks after visiting the Post Office.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

Should have said it more clearly...... you won't be able to show just your (non REAL-ID) driving licence as proof of identity to travel internally in the US (as one can do now).

So if you don't drive, in the future you will need to show a passport card or passport

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

I thought they had stopped that after 9/11. Thought everyone had to produce a PP in order to fly.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

Not for domestic flights.

Rene

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

Thanks. I knew you needed PP to fly internationally...obviously. But I thought after 9/11 it was required for internal flights. Perhaps that was for flights leaving the NYC/NJ...or perhaps it was the case nationally, but has reverted back to DLs.

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

I don't know. I've flown domestically many times since 9/11 and have always used just my DL.

Rene

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

....me too.....

Re: Travel during COVID times while waiting for US passport
 

Apart from anything else and regardless of your politics I would wait until the election. One thing is for sure there is a very significant chance of severe social upheaval, the likes of which have not been seen in the US for a very long time. It maybe nothing and everything progresses as normal, but there is a bigger change than ever before that it won't be that straightforward. At least you will know if you ever want to return to US after that has all cleared out!