Originally Posted by
flywithkids
Forgive me, this is a first time post.
I see that the TSA has taken over checking IDs. I have heard that they are now not only checking for valid passports (from non-US persons) but also looking at Visas. A friend, I have just learned, has overstayed his visa but was supposed to travel with us to Arizona. I have been told, travel in the US was never an issue before but now it may be. Does anybody have any insight into this?
I have seen checkers look at visas before (which has been argued on here many times is mission creep). I have seen checkers ask certain folks for resident alien cards at the checkpoint (DFW for example) after seeing a valid Mexican passport. THere are various threads on it here. As an above poster noted you can note have ID and get a secondary but AFAIK you have to have two forms of non-picture ID to do that not sure. Some airlines will not check bags without picture ID so double check.
But you are correct in theory the TSA should not be checking for visas as long as the passport is valid. Some do and some don't.
Ciao,
FH