In order to travel internationally, and to be allowed to embark on a plane for international travel, we should have a passport that has validity and also authorization to enter the country which is called a visa.
But for domestic travel within the United States, people need government-issued id to pass TSA checkpoints. So can you travel within the US with a Mexican passport?
If you’re a foreigner who wants to travel in the US, you’ll need a passport from your home country. However, if you have a Mexican passport, you can travel within the US without needing a visa. This is because Mexico is a visa-free country for citizens of countries that are part of the Visa Waiver Program. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe while traveling within the US with your Mexican passport.
Can You Travel Within The US With A Mexican Passport? With Tips And Tricks
Checklists For USA Domestic Flights
The TSA has a webpage with info about acceptable papers for domestic flights:
- U.S. passport;
- U.S. passport card;
TSA will not accept weapons permits as an acceptable form of id for domestic flights. A temporary driver’s license is also not an acceptable form of ID for domestic flights.
TSA accepts a diversity of forms of paper for domestic flights. Notably, for many foreign nationals, permanent resident cards plus employment approval cards are both acceptable forms of papers for domestic flights.
So you can travel domestically with only a Mexican passport. TSA does not check immigration status. Their role is to make sure the person presenting the ticket & boarding pass is the person standing in front of them.
They should NOT look through your passport outside the photo/bio page to check your status. And, if the officer tries to, you must object to that. Your travel within the US should be without issue.
Legal Resources
Yes, you can travel within the United States with a Mexican passport as long as you are not overstaying your visa. There are a few things to keep in mind, however:
- Make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months after your planned departure date.
- Always carry your passport and visa with you when traveling – if you are caught without either document, you may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment.
- If you are traveling to a destination within the United States, make sure to check the entry requirements of that destination – some require a visa, while others only require a valid passport.
- If you are traveling to any other country within the world, make sure to familiarize yourself with their entry requirements – some countries require a visa for all visitors, while others only require a valid passport for certain nationalities.
Name Requirements
The name on the Mexican Passport which is represented at the TSA checkpoint must match with the name on the airplane tickets.
Travelers who have had a name change since buying an airline ticket and do not have a legal photo ID that matches the name listed on the ticket must bring evidence of the name change to the airport along with photo identification.
This could be a marriage certificate or documentation of a court-ordered name change etc.
Forgotten ID
The TSA might still allow people who forget their valid ID to fly although persons are needed to present a definite form of papers for domestic travel.
In such a case, the TSA officer might ask the person to accomplish an identity authentication procedure.
The process might include gathering info for example the traveler’s name, present address, as well as other personal info needed for identity confirmation.
The individual will be permitted to enter the screening checkpoint on the condition that the TSA officer is capable to confirm the individual’s identity. Persons in this state might be asked different questions for additional screening.
Non-U.S. Citizens
International visitors as well as American residents who do not hold United States citizenship are still mandatory to present a government-issued photo ID to TSA agents in the airport.
A passport issued by a foreign government is a standard form of documentation for all visitors to the U.S.
Foreign citizens who have a form of photo identity card issued by the U.S. government, for example, a permanent resident card, might present their American ID in place of a passport.
It means that a Mexican passport is an acceptable form of Identification while traveling within the USA. Citizens of other countries traveling locally by air must use their passport for TSA except they hold a global entry card (Nexus, etc).
Thus even Canadians cannot use their driver’s license however must use a passport. So yes, Mexicans must use their passport for domestic travel.
Can I Fly Within The U.S. With A Mexican Passport, With No Visa?
A passport is a worldwide ID basically. Unless you run into Border Patrol, the TSA won’t check to see if you have a VISA in your passport.
They just check that your Passport name matches the name on your boarding pass and that the photo on the passport is you.
Traveling As A Guest Of The United States
A foreign national traveling in the United States needs more documents than a resident. You must have your passport with you at all times.
Losing a passport could be a huge inconvenience, so ponder investing in a hidden traveler’s wallet for carrying vital documents.
If you plan to drive, you might also need an international driver’s license, conditional on your nation of origin. You should continually have your visitor’s visa paperwork handy as well.
Can You Use An Expired Passport To Travel Nationally In The USA?
When you board a domestic flight in the United States, you are mandatory to provide a valid form of photo ID that proves you are the person recorded on the ticket.
In addition to a driver’s license, airlines furthermore accept several other forms of I.D., counting passports, both present and expired. Thus, you can travel in the United States with an expired U.S. passport.
Conclusion
It is important for persons — citizens as well as noncitizens to confirm that they have appropriate documents to pass throughout TSA checkpoints while flying. The TSA accepts a diversity of ID documents for the purpose of travelling domestic
Passengers may still be allowed to board their flight if they had disremembered to carry with them their photo ID.In such cases, passengers will have to deliver personal info so that this info could be matched with that accessible on public databases.
Only if their identity could not be verified, they might not be permitted to board the flight. I hope now you know can you travel within the US with a Mexican passport or not.
FAQs
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