EXPIRED PASSPORT NORTHBOUND

Just because a quote came out of a custom agent's mouth, doesn't automatically make it official US policy. I once had a custom agent tell me "Have a good day" after getting some dental work and then I proceeded to stop at the Casino just inside the US border near Yuma and lost about $1500.00. I didn't have a good day. Should I call my congressman and ask them to recover my losses and get me some compensation for the tooth pain?. BTW, if he said "exactly" what the OP said, "We could care less", that means there are issues that are of less importance to Customs and Immigration than expired passports, so that issue does have some significance. If they truly weren't concerned, the exact quote would have been "we couldn't care less".

"Once upon a time there was a little girl named Alice"

Ya never want to tell fish-whoppers in a place where the people know the fish...

MM49 thats BS. There is no room for a large fine.

On edit I will add........3 weeks ago I was told by a US border agent at the Lukeville Port of Entry when I asked...."can we move the barriers for this caravan of 19 rigs so we don't have to snake through the super tight "s" curves" please? His response was priceless, "#1 he said, I can fine you for bringing these large rigs through this crossing, these are considered by me to be commercial vehicles and this is a tourist crossing, and #2 you will have to speak to my supervisors about the moving of the barriers". That was BS too.

#1, All of the barriers were removed for us, none of the coaches were searched and #2 what part of RV doesn't say Tourist (recreational vehicle)? But he had the badge and the gun so it made him the ruler in his mind. At the end of the day though his little cocky butt was shot down by reason - point is don't believe everything you hear from the man. Sometimes it is made up on the fly. Be reasonable my friends.

"Ah did not have --- with that woman! It depends on the meaning of the word 'is' "

My interest was to quote verbatim what a US Customs Special Agent told me. Wasn't intended to appear to be a ruling by the ninth circuit court of appeals...

MM49 wrote:

mexicoruss wrote:

paulcardoza wrote:
The issue is - WHERE DOES IT END? Rules state you must carry a valid US Passport to re-enter the country. If yours expired one day ago or 5 years ago, why should you get a pass around the rules? Who decides what is reasonable and what is not? You? :R

Bumpyroad wrote:

paulcardoza wrote:
so much for heightened security......... :h

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Quote U.S. Customs, Special Agent...

"We could care less if the passport is expired. All we're interested in is proof that you are a US citizen"

Live & Learn Dept...

why the worry? Just because my passport expired yesterday it does not affect my citizenship today. I thought it was foolish not to accept one. what is the issue?
bumpy

As a USA citizen you will be allowed to reenter your country of origin with or without papers to prove it. This is a guarantee in the US Constitution. If that was not the case what would happen if you were in Europe and got your passport stolen? Would you then have to live in Europe for the rest of your life because you don't have the proper papers to reenter the USA?

I cross the USA border regularly from Mexico, sometimes I have my passport sometimes not. They will ask for my drivers license and my SS number and in a few clicks on the computer they determine who I am and in I go. This having to carry a birthright is ridiculous and out dated in my opinion.

Very bad information. My passport is out for visa work. I checked at US immigrations to see if I could enter back into US with a birth certificate or a copy of the passport. They said yes with a large fine and a day in the immigration office.
MM49

Ehh.....In this age of Obama haven't we have learned that laws are not always laws.

mexicoruss wrote:

paulcardoza wrote:
The issue is - WHERE DOES IT END? Rules state you must carry a valid US Passport to re-enter the country. If yours expired one day ago or 5 years ago, why should you get a pass around the rules? Who decides what is reasonable and what is not? You? :R

Bumpyroad wrote:

paulcardoza wrote:
so much for heightened security......... :h

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Quote U.S. Customs, Special Agent...

"We could care less if the passport is expired. All we're interested in is proof that you are a US citizen"

Live & Learn Dept...

why the worry? Just because my passport expired yesterday it does not affect my citizenship today. I thought it was foolish not to accept one. what is the issue?
bumpy

As a USA citizen you will be allowed to reenter your country of origin with or without papers to prove it. This is a guarantee in the US Constitution. If that was not the case what would happen if you were in Europe and got your passport stolen? Would you then have to live in Europe for the rest of your life because you don't have the proper papers to reenter the USA?

I cross the USA border regularly from Mexico, sometimes I have my passport sometimes not. They will ask for my drivers license and my SS number and in a few clicks on the computer they determine who I am and in I go. This having to carry a birthright is ridiculous and out dated in my opinion.

Very bad information. My passport is out for visa work. I checked at US immigrations to see if I could enter back into US with a birth certificate or a copy of the passport. They said yes with a large fine and a day in the immigration office.
MM49

The "special" drivers license is called a Passport Card, only good for land or cruise ship entries. Costs about $40, and makes returning at Tijuana fast. Well worth the money!

paulcardoza wrote:
The issue is - WHERE DOES IT END? Rules state you must carry a valid US Passport to re-enter the country. If yours expired one day ago or 5 years ago, why should you get a pass around the rules? Who decides what is reasonable and what is not? You? :R

Bumpyroad wrote:

paulcardoza wrote:
so much for heightened security......... :h

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Quote U.S. Customs, Special Agent...

"We could care less if the passport is expired. All we're interested in is proof that you are a US citizen"

Live & Learn Dept...

why the worry? Just because my passport expired yesterday it does not affect my citizenship today. I thought it was foolish not to accept one. what is the issue?
bumpy

As a USA citizen you will be allowed to reenter your country of origin with or without papers to prove it. This is a guarantee in the US Constitution. If that was not the case what would happen if you were in Europe and got your passport stolen? Would you then have to live in Europe for the rest of your life because you don't have the proper papers to reenter the USA?

I cross the USA border regularly from Mexico, sometimes I have my passport sometimes not. They will ask for my drivers license and my SS number and in a few clicks on the computer they determine who I am and in I go. This having to carry a birthright is ridiculous and out dated in my opinion.

The issue is - WHERE DOES IT END? Rules state you must carry a valid US Passport to re-enter the country. If yours expired one day ago or 5 years ago, why should you get a pass around the rules? Who decides what is reasonable and what is not? You? :R

Bumpyroad wrote:

paulcardoza wrote:
so much for heightened security......... :h

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Quote U.S. Customs, Special Agent...

"We could care less if the passport is expired. All we're interested in is proof that you are a US citizen"

Live & Learn Dept...

why the worry? Just because my passport expired yesterday it does not affect my citizenship today. I thought it was foolish not to accept one. what is the issue?
bumpy

For those who aren't worried, the procedure for reentering from Canada was either a regular passport or one of their special shorter documents (I believe one is a very special driver's license). If you didn't have that the border agent could send you to a US Consulate office where THEY would determine your citizenship. You'll get in, but is it worth the gamble of time and effort?

Of course with the garbage going on at our southern border and with the Prez, who knows?