AK - Samantha Koenig, 18, Anchorage, 1 Feb 2012 - #4

[SmoothOperator]

No one has to have a passport to travel within the US..continental US or otherwise.. including all islands of Hawaii.. so what is there such a disagreement about traveling outside of Alaska and/or about the US continental or otherwise?? ?????????????..there is no passport necessary!

 

[GutFeeling!]

They can also pass through with a birth certificate and drivers license.

There is a notation on the license though isn't there? I think the birth certificate and drivers license went out a few years ago, happened with Mexico too.

I know Michigan has a special license for travellers and I was sure Alaska had one too. Federal laws changed stopping the birth certificate thing. I had a passport so never looked into it. Texas has a special license for Mexico too.

Just found this: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127--213322--,00.html

 

[hydranc]

No one has to have a passport to travel within the US..continental US or otherwise.. including all islands of Hawaii.. so what is there such a disagreement about traveling outside of Alaska and/or about the US continental or otherwise?? ?????????????..there is no passport necessary!

sorry this went so off topic

The problem with the WHTI program is how do you refuse a US Citizen entry into their country if they don't have a passport but other forms of ID. You can't! But that was not really the point of any of this. I was just was reemphasizing a point made by "GutFeeling" earlier as to why it is unlikely she is out of Alaska.

Compliance with the program has been successful, but there are still folks who show up without a Passport or enhanced ID. But hey if illegals can vote without showing ID....

 

[GutFeeling!]

No one has to have a passport to travel within the US..continental US or otherwise.. including all islands of Hawaii.. so what is there such a disagreement about traveling outside of Alaska and/or about the US continental or otherwise?? ?????????????..there is no passport necessary!

Because it is necessary lol See above, the laws changed. I went to both places on my greencard originally and then had to take my passport on trips last year (to Canada) and 2010 (to mexico)

 

[hydranc]

Because it is necessary lol See above, the laws changed. I went to both places on my greencard originally and then had to take my passport on trips last year (to Canada) and 2010 (to mexico)

But I work for them.

 

[GutFeeling!]

http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatraveloverview/qt/uscitizenborder.htm

The NEXUS card was the name that escaped me.

 

[GutFeeling!]

But I work for them.

For who ? Border Patrol? Where? I'll organize to get the latest laws up there lol I am just going by what I know from travelling there. My girlfriend had the special license cause she lived in Alaska and travelled down here a lot.

 

[Fishermom]

No one has to have a passport to travel within the US..continental US or otherwise.. including all islands of Hawaii.. so what is there such a disagreement about traveling outside of Alaska and/or about the US continental or otherwise?? ?????????????..there is no passport necessary!

But there is the little problem of Canada...in between us and the lower 48! No problem traveling between Alaska and Hawaii, or AK and the lower 48 AS LONG AS YOU DONT STOPOVER in Canada...which usually you would not if you flew... but if you drive (or in some cases, boat), you will need to show a passport, passport card or Nexus card at the Port of Entry. As far as I know, a birth certificate and a license are no longer acceptable.
http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatraveloverview/qt/uscitizenborder.htm

"Bottom line: Since June 2009, everyone from every country arriving in Canada by air, land and sea has needed a passport or equivalent travel document. (Some exceptions apply to children's passport requirements). Besides an up-to-date passport, visitors may instead have an equivalent travel document, such as a NEXUS Card."

 

[hydranc]

http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatraveloverview/qt/uscitizenborder.htm

The NEXUS card was the name that escaped me.

The word nexus (link or tie) use to just refer to your proximity to the border for legal purposes and to make arrest at the border. The card is the result of an agreement between the US and Canada and it means you have been cleared and can process through the border quicker. It does not mean you can't be chosen for a secondary referral at anytime though.

I am also not a real fan of but that's for my own personal reasons. Oh and I also worked at that border in Alaska many years ago.

 

[SmoothOperator]

But there is the little problem of Canada...in between us and the lower 48! No problem traveling between Alaska and Hawaii, or AK and the lower 48 AS LONG AS YOU DONT STOPOVER in Canada...which usually you would not if you flew... but if you drive (or in some cases, boat), you will need to show a passport, passport card or Nexus card at the Port of Entry. As far as I know, a birth certificate and a license are no longer acceptable.
http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatraveloverview/qt/uscitizenborder.htm

"Bottom line: Since June 2009, everyone from every country arriving in Canada by air, land and sea has needed a passport or equivalent travel document. (Some exceptions apply to children's passport requirements). Besides an up-to-date passport, visitors may instead have an equivalent travel document, such as a NEXUS Card."

Thanks for dummying it on down for me fishermom!.. my brain might be a tad "pickled" with the margaritas I indulged in :tipsy: ... I do appreciate your refreshing my brain with the logistics.. thanks a bunch:blowkiss:

Eta: and thanks as well to hydranc for clarifying

 

[GutFeeling!]

Kinda thought that was the same link I posted lol Thanks Fishermom

 

[hydranc]

For who ? Border Patrol? Where? I'll organize to get the latest laws up there lol I am just going by what I know from travelling there. My girlfriend had the special license cause she lived in Alaska and travelled down here a lot.

I was formally US Customs and now it Customs and Border protection. I think you are missing an important point....how do you refuse a US citizen entry into the US if they can prove citizenship and also if you were not compliant there was the possibility of penalties but I'm not sure that really ever happens.

Generally if you refuse a citizen entry into their own country who can reasonably prove citizenship usually results in a congressional and probably has, That I don't know for sure.

Also a passport, NEXUS, enhanced licenses are document we require for you to pass, but if you don't have them it will cause you a considerable delay and I promise you'll have it next time.
The enhanced documents make clearance very much faster and lessens the delays in crossing. But what are the documents that you present to get the enhanced documents....a birth certificate and usually a drivers license.

And again another point, if you do not require illegals to produce a valid form of ID to vote how do you refuse a citizen entry into their own country. Now if this was TSA that's is another issue all together and usually causes my blood pressure to go up.

And as to the issue of not having to clear customs when passing over Canadian airspace, the law technically says you do. But it has never been enforced and we do "require" the stated documents but not having them will not get you refused entry.

But if you do show up without them....you will have them the next time you cross.

 

[ak81]

The child lived with her mom in AK not Texas.

I don't think I have heard why he was in Texas.

That's what I thought.. which doesn't explain why he would have her backpack with him in TX (if it WAS hers).


ETA: Sorry to throw that in there.. I know I'm off topic

 

[GutFeeling!]

I was formally US Customs and now it Customs and Border protection. I think you are missing an important point....how do you refuse a US citizen entry into the US if they can prove citizenship and also if you were not compliant there was the possibility of penalties but I'm not sure that really ever happens.

Generally if you refuse a citizen entry into their own country who can reasonably prove citizenship usually results in a congressional and probably has, That I don't know for sure.

The enhanced documents make clearance very much faster and lessens the delays in crossing. But what are the documents that you present to get the enhanced documents....a birth certificate and usually a drivers license.

And again another point, if you do not require illegals to produce a valid form of ID to vote how do you refuse a citizen entry into their own country. Now if this was TSA that's is another issue all together and usually causes my blood pressure to go up.

And as to the issue of not having to clear customs when passing over Canadian airspace, the law technically says you do. But it has never been enforced

Leave the country and try and get back in ... trust me, no passport - no entry. You can't get out of the country without a passport, and citizens don't actually have citizenship papers, just a birth certificate. I have citizenship papers and if I showed that I'd be laughed all the way to the exit lol

In any case, you cannot drive from Alaska to Texas without a passport. I have no idea why this is so important anyway.

 

[katydid23]

That's what I thought.. which doesn't explain why he would have her backpack with him in TX (if it WAS hers).


ETA: Sorry to throw that in there.. I know I'm off topic

I guess I assumed he borrowed it as a 'suitcase.' My husband often grabs one of our kids old backpacks for car trips to store things in the trunk. Kids have a zillion used backpacks around the house usually.

 

[hydranc]

Leave the country and try and get back in ... trust me, no passport - no entry. You can't get out of the country without a passport, and citizens don't actually have citizenship papers, just a birth certificate. I have citizenship papers and if I showed that I'd be laughed all the way to the exit lol

In any case, you cannot drive from Alaska to Texas without a passport. I have no idea why this is so important anyway.

Ok....if you say so....and I really didn't want it to get to this. I would suggest the next time you cross ask the officer if you can refuse a US Citizen entry into their own country.

 

[mamacita]

http://www.adn.com/2012/03/16/2375387/man-arrested-in-koenig-case-awaits.html

I'm not sure if this has been discussed yet, but the article says the car he was driving had Texas plates. So it was either a rental, a friends car.. maybe a Texas friend that went to visit him in AK and he went back to TX with them or just took their car while they stayed behind? Or he flew out or drove his car to TX and was borrowing it from a friend, or he also resides in TX and its actually his car. Id really like to know who the car is registered to and if its not IK, maybe THAT person has ties to SK.

 

[hydranc]

This has been a very sad story and I feel like some of you that it will not end well. What has it been six weeks now?

The whole story has been strange and I think the conclusion will be also.

 

[akmama]

To clear this up, I Just had to get passport cards for my young kids to drive from anchorage to Seattle, it is required, even for children.

 

[ak81]

I guess I assumed he borrowed it as a 'suitcase.' My husband often grabs one of our kids old backpacks for car trips to store things in the trunk. Kids have a zillion used backpacks around the house usually.

Yeah, but he would've had to take the (pink!) backpack on a plane first, right? I can see throwing stuff into a backpack for a local trip.. but the car it was found in had TX plates. How much stuff is a grown man gonna be able to fit in a child's backpack that makes it worth taking on a cross-country trip, as a borrowed suitcase??