Do I need a passport to float the river?

[seahawk]

Will be visiting in a few weeks any info will be helpful.

[RichardM]

News Release from NPS Big Bend.

http://www.nps.gov/bibe/parknews/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative.htm

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
Date: July 28, 2009

The National Park Service is providing this information as a courtesy to visitors. The following is from the Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is committed to working with travelers to ensure they have access to and can obtain appropriate travel documents. U.S. and Canadian citizens who lack WHTI-compliant documents are encouraged to continue with their travel plans and to obtain WHTI travel documents as soon as possible to further expedite future border crossings. more...

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative became effective June 1, 2009. This law affects all recreational boaters floating the Rio Grande. Boaters should be aware that float trips may be considered as trips that have left and re-entered the country. This is due to the fact that the international border is the middle of the deepest part of the river channel and as such varies from location to location. Boaters may be asked by representatives of the Department of Homeland Security to provide proper identification as required by law. The required identification types needed to be presented when landing on the US side of the Rio Grande and include the acceptable forms of identification as follows:

U.S. Passport:
This is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies a person’s identity and nationality. It is accepted for travel by air, land and sea.

U.S. Passport Card:
This is a new, limited-use travel document that fits in your wallet and costs less than a U.S. Passport. It is only valid for travel by land and sea.

Enhanced Driver's License (EDL):
Several states and Canadian provinces are issuing this driver’s license or identification document that denotes identity and citizenship. It is specifically designed for cross-border travel into the U.S. by land or sea.

Trusted Traveler Program Cards:
NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST enrollment cards can speed your entry into the U.S. and are issued only to pre-approved, low-risk travelers. The cards are valid for use at land or sea; the NEXUS card can be used in airports with a NEXUS kiosk.

Special Groups:
Information for Children, Groups of Children, Native Americans, "Closed Loop" Cruises, U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents, U.S. Military, Merchant Mariners, Ferries and Small Boats, and Boaters.

For more information, please see the following DHS website.

http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/index.html

[SHANEA]

short answer is yes, to be legal.

[jeffblaylock]

getyouhome-dot-gov ... Priceless! Right up there with ready-dot-gov.

[Terlingua50337]

http://www.nps.gov/bibe/parknews/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative.htm

[seahawk]

Thanks for the info. I suppose I will be spending my money elsewhere.

[SHANEA]

Why?  You have to have a passport to go into Canada or Mexico or anywhere else outside of the Continental US.  I travel on mine all the time, makes it much easier for DHS to verify who I am and get me on a plane quicker instead of fumbling around with a TDL.

[RichardM]

Thanks for the info. I suppose I will be spending my money elsewhere.

Why?  You have to have a passport to go into Canada or Mexico or anywhere else outside of the Continental US.  I travel on mine all the time, makes it much easier for DHS to verify who I am and get me on a plane quicker instead of fumbling around with a TDL.

But if he doesn't already have one and is going in a few weeks...

Will be visiting in a few weeks any info will be helpful.

[seb75013]

I believe you can get an expedited passport application... for a premium fee...
Also, it might be pretty fast for you to get a passport if you were already delivered one, which is now expired. In that case, you will not have to provide your birth certificate etc...

[SHANEA]

Yep, you can get an expedited passport no problem.  Toss money at the problem, problem goes away.  I don't think it is that much more expensive.  I got my new passport 3 years ago and paid the expedite fee and the FedEx both ways.  Wasn't too bad.  Probably cheaper than a tank of gas for the Avalanche - based on gas prices at the time.

http://tinyurl.com/yb5a5e5

[Tone]

Having done quite a bit of travel in Mexico, I highly recommend the Passport Card.  It's $20.  If you are a first-time Passport owner, then they hit you another $40 or $50, I forget how much.

Anyway, it's as big as a credit card.  It's always in my wallet.  I use it as my principle form of ID for banks or whatever.  I never forget it.

[rgibson]

NO!    Though all info presented above is technically correct, you only have to answer, "are a US citizen?", to go on a trip with one of the River Companies or to get your permit from the BBNP if it is a self-guided trip.

After Sept 1986 and again after the infamous raid at the Lajitas Trading Post on 5/10/02 (affectionately called "Five Ten"), the river companies worked with all agencies concerned to be certain they could even continue trips.  Final approval was worked out in Washington, btw while trips were still being done.  One problem about middle of the river is most of the pull outs for a suitable break, lunch, or overnite are on the Mexican side.

A passport is not needed by a US citizen.  It is always good to have a photo ID, however.  btw, the Border Patrol has never  been involved and it is a non issue with them.  The last Customs agent known to be seen in the Bend was a long time ago.

[aggiehiker]

I just did a 5 day trip in Boquillas over Spring Break and no one even looked at our boats much less asked if I had a passport. A park ranger did come by camp one evening-the first one I've seen in 6 trips down the canyon-and all he wanted to see was the permit and our potty system.

BTW, the new ramp at Rio Grande Village is wonderful! It's made of blocks and goes into the river like a regular boat ramp.

[Lorax]

Wow!  I wrote many permits this winter / spring and never suggested a passport.  Floaters could use the same photo ID for a permit and identification within the flood plane of the Rio.  I also provided a Declaration Form to be sent in if any purchases were made.  ???In the flood plane?  Well, it was to keep HLS happy.  As a volunteer, I do what the ranger I work for wants.  I'll check again next winter,
I don't want to cause anyone a problem.  My best guess is that AggieHiker's experience is what commonly happens.