Does the TSA accept foreign driver licences?
Jan 26, 2008 | 5:08 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 419
Simple answer NO
Only US citizens may use US drivers licenses. Now if I get one from Ontario Canada, or Australia(where my wife originates), I will accept it because I know what they look like. Everyone else needs to show a passport. No i don't check if everyone with American drivers licenses are American citizens. It also keeps someone out of selectee status if they have a "BAD" passport, but has a "good" American drivers license.
Jan 26, 2008 | 5:14 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Soon to be LEGT
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There should be a rule of what's accepted or not accepted, and not up to the individual screener to decide.
Last edited by graraps; Jan 26, 2008 at 5:15 am Reason: punctuation etc
Jan 26, 2008 | 5:16 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
Only US citizens may use US drivers licenses. Now if I get one from Ontario Canada, or Australia(where my wife originates), I will accept it because I know what they look like. Everyone else needs to show a passport. No i don't check if everyone with American drivers licenses are American citizens. It also keeps someone out of selectee status if they have a "BAD" passport, but has a "good" American drivers license.
And how are pax supposed to know about it?
Jan 26, 2008 | 6:50 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily(CTA)/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston(IAH)/Red Stick, La.(BTR)/airborne in-between
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Only US citizens may use US drivers licenses. Now if I get one from Ontario Canada, or Australia(where my wife originates), I will accept it because I know what they look like. Everyone else needs to show a passport. No i don't check if everyone with American drivers licenses are American citizens. It also keeps someone out of selectee status if they have a "BAD" passport, but has a "good" American drivers license.
Is the entire American TSA leadership organisation that comes up with this nonsense full of feckless hacks?
Ciao,
FH
Jan 26, 2008 | 7:57 am
#20
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
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Posts: 9,386
There is no way to check and see, with most US licenses, if the holder is a citizen (I have plenty of non-citizen friends and family with US licenses). What would you do to check, ask? Then they say yes with some accent you find odd so you ask for a passport.... That is the most inane thing I've read on here in a while. You can go to google an type 'fakeid' and see the various companies that will produce one a drivers license with all security features "as a novelty item only". The passport is slightly more secure than that.
Is the entire American TSA leadership organisation that comes up with this nonsense full of feckless hacks?
Ciao,
FH
Is the entire American TSA leadership organisation that comes up with this nonsense full of feckless hacks?
Ciao,
FH
Jan 26, 2008 | 11:02 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
I think so, too.
If anything the rule would be "only US driver's licenses are accepted", not only US citizens may use driver's licenses.
Think about it...would it make sense to allow me to use my German driver's license but forbid a German from using their US driver's license? (and how would you know who is entitled to use what...)
(Note: I am not convinced that using foreign licenses is actually prohibited.)
If anything the rule would be "only US driver's licenses are accepted", not only US citizens may use driver's licenses.
Think about it...would it make sense to allow me to use my German driver's license but forbid a German from using their US driver's license? (and how would you know who is entitled to use what...)
(Note: I am not convinced that using foreign licenses is actually prohibited.)
Jan 26, 2008 | 11:44 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily(CTA)/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston(IAH)/Red Stick, La.(BTR)/airborne in-between
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Posts: 3,870
I think so, too.
If anything the rule would be "only US driver's licenses are accepted", not only US citizens may use driver's licenses.
Think about it...would it make sense to allow me to use my German driver's license but forbid a German from using their US driver's license? (and how would you know who is entitled to use what...)
(Note: I am not convinced that using foreign licenses is actually prohibited.)
If anything the rule would be "only US driver's licenses are accepted", not only US citizens may use driver's licenses.
Think about it...would it make sense to allow me to use my German driver's license but forbid a German from using their US driver's license? (and how would you know who is entitled to use what...)
(Note: I am not convinced that using foreign licenses is actually prohibited.)
But my first question still stands. One cannot tell from looking at a license what nationality someone is or if they are US citizens. So the poster that says only citizens can use licenses is non-sense. I am a citizen without a US license so I use other ids and passports, as I have noted in other threads.
None of this is prohibited by the TSA.
Plenty of states issues licenses to people here in B or J or K visa.
There is no way to tell someone's nationality. You don't even have to be a citizen to get social security number.
I feel safer already...
Ciao,
FH
Jan 26, 2008 | 11:55 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
The new ones (EU format) do...
still no expiration date, though, so I guess that could get the TSA bent out of shape
The ID stuff is such a waste of resources, time, and money.
There are some people that want US driver's licenses to show citizenship and some states will only issue limited time validity licenses to non-citizens (until the expiration date on the visa).
If/when REALId takes effect, I think that the TSA says that they will accept from passengers 18-40 all passports (from all countries) but only driver's licenses from US states with REALId implemented.
still no expiration date, though, so I guess that could get the TSA bent out of shape
But my first question still stands. One cannot tell from looking at a license what nationality someone is or if they are US citizens. So the poster that says only citizens can use licenses is non-sense. ...
Plenty of states issues licenses to people here in B or J or K visa.
There is no way to tell someone's nationality.
Plenty of states issues licenses to people here in B or J or K visa.
There is no way to tell someone's nationality.
There are some people that want US driver's licenses to show citizenship and some states will only issue limited time validity licenses to non-citizens (until the expiration date on the visa).
If/when REALId takes effect, I think that the TSA says that they will accept from passengers 18-40 all passports (from all countries) but only driver's licenses from US states with REALId implemented.
Jan 26, 2008 | 12:24 pm
#26
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily(CTA)/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston(IAH)/Red Stick, La.(BTR)/airborne in-between
Programs: United Plat (1MM), AA ExecPlat, ITA/AZ Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG gold
Posts: 3,870
The new ones (EU format) do...
still no expiration date, though, so I guess that could get the TSA bent out of shape
The ID stuff is such a waste of resources, time, and money.
There are some people that want US driver's licenses to show citizenship and some states will only issue limited time validity licenses to non-citizens (until the expiration date on the visa).
If/when REALId takes effect, I think that the TSA says that they will accept from passengers 18-40 all passports (from all countries) but only driver's licenses from US states with REALId implemented.
still no expiration date, though, so I guess that could get the TSA bent out of shape
The ID stuff is such a waste of resources, time, and money.
There are some people that want US driver's licenses to show citizenship and some states will only issue limited time validity licenses to non-citizens (until the expiration date on the visa).
If/when REALId takes effect, I think that the TSA says that they will accept from passengers 18-40 all passports (from all countries) but only driver's licenses from US states with REALId implemented.
Real ID is a farce as has been noted on other threads so I won't beat the dead horse again.
Showing citizenship on driver's licenses is absurd IMO. I can continue to drive around with an International license as could many others. I have never tried the International License (like the AAA kind) at the TSA. I might have to try that next just for fun and to be contrarian. I have the time
Ciao,
FH
Jan 26, 2008 | 3:13 pm
#27
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: Vanishing
Posts: 1,681
Only US citizens may use US drivers licenses. Now if I get one from Ontario Canada, or Australia(where my wife originates), I will accept it because I know what they look like. Everyone else needs to show a passport. No i don't check if everyone with American drivers licenses are American citizens. It also keeps someone out of selectee status if they have a "BAD" passport, but has a "good" American drivers license.
Jan 26, 2008 | 3:59 pm
#28
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Upstate NY or FL or inbetween
Programs: US former CP Looking for a new airline to love me
Posts: 1,694
Only US citizens may use US drivers licenses. Now if I get one from Ontario Canada, or Australia(where my wife originates), I will accept it because I know what they look like. Everyone else needs to show a passport. No i don't check if everyone with American drivers licenses are American citizens. It also keeps someone out of selectee status if they have a "BAD" passport, but has a "good" American drivers license.
And the mere fact that he tries to contribute here probably means he's one of the smarter ones.
Jan 26, 2008 | 4:12 pm
#29
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London, England.
Programs: BA
Posts: 8,777
Showing a UK driving licence (note the spelling) in the US is a real blast. I love doing it.
"ID".
"Is my driving licence alright ?"
"Yeah".
"Here we are"
"What the heck's this. There's no goddam photograph".
I hear (above and elsewhere) that German licences are the same. Fortunately this has been a key issue in preventing the spread of "ID, ID" at every point you go to, as most people in the UK do not have any ID on them. You are not even obliged to carry the licence with you when driving - another fact that some from overseas find surprising.
"ID".
"Is my driving licence alright ?"
"Yeah".
"Here we are"
"What the heck's this. There's no goddam photograph".
I hear (above and elsewhere) that German licences are the same. Fortunately this has been a key issue in preventing the spread of "ID, ID" at every point you go to, as most people in the UK do not have any ID on them. You are not even obliged to carry the licence with you when driving - another fact that some from overseas find surprising.
Jan 26, 2008 | 6:44 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Free checked in bag on UA & DL. Free icecream at Marriott checkin.
Posts: 2,862
As if you can recognize a fake foreign passport. I bet you have never seen a passport from Tanzania or for that matter Bhutan. So being a selectee negates the requirement of an official ID?
This entire charade at the airport just makes me wonder how people could have lost their minds so badly
This entire charade at the airport just makes me wonder how people could have lost their minds so badly
Only US citizens may use US drivers licenses. Now if I get one from Ontario Canada, or Australia(where my wife originates), I will accept it because I know what they look like. Everyone else needs to show a passport. No i don't check if everyone with American drivers licenses are American citizens. It also keeps someone out of selectee status if they have a "BAD" passport, but has a "good" American drivers license.