No longer using passport as ID for TSA - here's why
Nov 23, 2009, 3:36 am
#31
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,006
State Law
Texas state law does not require that a person over 21 provide any identification to purchase alcohol in Texas. There is nothing in the law that declares specific forms of ID as “valid” for an alcohol purchase.
However, a person who sells a minor an alcoholic beverage does NOT commit an offense if the minor falsely represents himself to be 21 years old or older by displaying an apparently valid proof of identification that:
* contains a physical description and photograph consistent with the minor's appearance;
* purports to establish that the minor is 21 years of age or older; and
* was issued by a governmental agency.
The proof of identification may include a driver's license issued by any state, a U.S. passport, a military identification card or any other ID issued by a state or the federal government.
For that reason, since store clerks, wait staff, and bartenders can be held criminally liable for selling alcohol to a minor, they often require a photo ID issued by a governmental agency, to prove that the person really is 21.
A store, bar or restaurant might or might not sell alcohol to a person with an expired driver's license, a foreign passport or other ID. What's acceptable in any establishment is a matter of that establishment's private business policies.
If the patron is obviously over 21, the establishment may not require any ID at all.
Texas state law does not require that a person over 21 provide any identification to purchase alcohol in Texas. There is nothing in the law that declares specific forms of ID as “valid” for an alcohol purchase.
However, a person who sells a minor an alcoholic beverage does NOT commit an offense if the minor falsely represents himself to be 21 years old or older by displaying an apparently valid proof of identification that:
* contains a physical description and photograph consistent with the minor's appearance;
* purports to establish that the minor is 21 years of age or older; and
* was issued by a governmental agency.
The proof of identification may include a driver's license issued by any state, a U.S. passport, a military identification card or any other ID issued by a state or the federal government.
For that reason, since store clerks, wait staff, and bartenders can be held criminally liable for selling alcohol to a minor, they often require a photo ID issued by a governmental agency, to prove that the person really is 21.
A store, bar or restaurant might or might not sell alcohol to a person with an expired driver's license, a foreign passport or other ID. What's acceptable in any establishment is a matter of that establishment's private business policies.
If the patron is obviously over 21, the establishment may not require any ID at all.
Nov 23, 2009, 3:37 am
#32
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I started using my US PortPASS (photo, dob, PP no on front, chevron info on back) but this is now expired, so I generally use my Swiss ID card (5 languages and chevron info) but at least it has a photo and dob so must be OK.
I'd like to use my London Oyster card (self-laminated photo and handwritten name) but won't as it doesn't confer public transportation rights in the US. It worked in Mexico when I refused to let the security person retain my passport when visiting a Government building. English language and photo, must be OK.
Pointless, really.
Nov 23, 2009, 4:17 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
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Nov 23, 2009, 4:50 am
#34
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Paris
Posts: 577
Same. I have visas and/or stamps from Yemen, Oman, UAE (including a residence permit), Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Sudan... all that Arabic writing almost always leads to questions. For some reason the Bahrain one always gets asked about. No idea why.
Nov 23, 2009, 6:11 am
#35
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657
So, I could see a scenario in which an official passport earns you less respect rather than more respect ...
Nov 23, 2009, 6:29 am
#36
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More likely, they'll study it to try to figure out how it turned brown.
It shouldn't be accepted, but it might-- look at the Red Team results for more information.
It shouldn't be accepted, but it might-- look at the Red Team results for more information.
Nov 23, 2009, 6:34 am
#37
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Assuming that the TDC recognizes the "official passport" as a genuine document. As I'm sure you're aware, there are far fewer official passports than regular passports, making it slightly more likely that the TDC won't be familiar with it and will question its authenticity.
So, I could see a scenario in which an official passport earns you less respect rather than more respect ...
So, I could see a scenario in which an official passport earns you less respect rather than more respect ...
Nov 23, 2009, 6:44 am
#38
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Have a look at this thread for one such example.
Nov 23, 2009, 5:59 pm
#39
Join Date: Jun 2008
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And yes - they are in English too.
Nov 24, 2009, 3:54 am
#40
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Assuming that the TDC recognizes the "official passport" as a genuine document. As I'm sure you're aware, there are far fewer official passports than regular passports, making it slightly more likely that the TDC won't be familiar with it and will question its authenticity.
So, I could see a scenario in which an official passport earns you less respect rather than more respect ...
So, I could see a scenario in which an official passport earns you less respect rather than more respect ...
BTW, I once had a US immigration officer say to me "oh no, not one of those" when I presented him my official passport. I looked at him quizzically but got no reply. I have no idea what he meant as he processed my passport just as any other passport.
Nov 24, 2009, 7:58 am
#41
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: DTW
Programs: Dirt Status w/ All
Posts: 5,040
My experience is that if you do OLCI and print a boarding pass at home you can proceed directly through security. You should not have a problem clearing security with a DL or other acceptable non-passport ID. Just don't show them the connecting boarding pass heading out of the country to avoid them trying to make the "big catch" of an international pax without a passport.
You will have to show your passport at the gate on your international segment. If you did OLCI there will be something printed on the BP indicating that the airline needs to verify your passport, so they will do this at the gate. Worst case is they take care of it right there by swiping it or typing some stuff into the computer.
Nov 24, 2009, 9:21 am
#42
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 739
Nov 24, 2009, 9:38 am
#43
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Nov 24, 2009, 9:42 am
#44
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id say about 60% of the time its denied, mainly because the bouncers/bar tenders haven't seen one, or are not sure about them. they gladly take state id's or drivers licences because there listed in their book of state ID's.
Nov 24, 2009, 9:48 am
#45
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Assuming that the TDC recognizes the "official passport" as a genuine document. As I'm sure you're aware, there are far fewer official passports than regular passports, making it slightly more likely that the TDC won't be familiar with it and will question its authenticity.
So, I could see a scenario in which an official passport earns you less respect rather than more respect ...
So, I could see a scenario in which an official passport earns you less respect rather than more respect ...
Slightly OT: The major benefit to an official passport is that you and the country you're visiting don't have to worry about work permits. You may still need an entry visa, but, they know you're not going to take a job from one of their citizens.