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I am, hopefully, traveling to St Thomas this weekend for a job interview and do NOT have a passport. I have checked on various government websites - including the Dept. of Homeland Security, which indicates that since the USVI is US territory - that I can fly from Philly to St Thomas with my birth certificate and drivers license. I could be "up the creek without a paddle" if this is wrong. I'm afraid my ticket is already purchased.
I need some feedback as soon as anyone who might know about the procedures can get back to me. Thanks SO SO much!
you are fine without a passport in STT
Make sure you have a birth certificate
Picture ID form the government - driver license
The more ID you have the bettter
And get a PASSPORT when you get back wether you need one or not for the job!
good luck
Thanks so much for the info and the advice. You guys are always so very helpful....
Yeah in this day and age, TomB is right, a passport will help you much. I noticed that I was always waved right through airport security with a valid passport...
That's all ya need and good advise re. passport. To be on the safe side I would get a raised seal copy of your birth Certificate. The small wallet size are fine. They rarely ask for it, but some times they do. Shortly after 9-11 it was a must ( absent a passport) but that requirement has been relaxed for the most part.
oh yeah and don't try to slip over to BVI for a Full Moon Party or Soggy Dollar PainKiller in celebration after the interview...
That is the BVI and the B standing for British is the keyword
You are safe only in the USVI without a passport
Not true re the BVI, TomB. Although the majority of charter boat operators are jumping the gun in anticipation of new laws going into effect, a US Citizen can STILL legally enter the BVI by boat as long as they have a raised seal birth certificate and a government issued photograph ID such as a stateside driver's license. If you go into BVI by AIR, you MUST have a passport. Cheers!
I thought 1 Jan 2009 was the date
I stand corrected.
Ooops I didn't see this topic...
I was told we only need a valid US drivers licence in and out...
Technically yes. BUT you MAY be required to show BOTH a raised seal birth certificate AND such as a state driver's license upon departure from the USVI to the US mainland so should have both in any case. If you have a passport then no worries.
Here we are currently, subject to change (possibly 01 JUNE 2009) due to the WHTI—Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative:
"However, this passport requirement has not applied to U.S. citizens who depart from or enter the United States from within the Western
Hemisphere other than from Cuba. United States citizens have been required to satisfy the inspecting officers of their identities and
citizenship. Accordingly, U.S. citizens have not been required to present a valid passport when entering the United States by air from within the Western Hemisphere other than Cuba."
U.S. Citizens traveling to and returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the U.S. territory and do not need to present a passport.
U.S. territories include American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Swains Island and U.S. Virgin Islands.
