Do you need US passport to exit St.Thomas

[dioxide45]

When traveling between the mainland USA and USVI or PR, do you even pass through Customs and Boarder Protection? I sure didn't on our recent trip to Puerto Rico. That being the case, a passport or other proof of citizenship is not necessary. Just proof of identity is. Once you are in the USA, you can move freely between the states and territories.

 

[Tia]

Every time we leave the USVI we go through Customs been doing this for better then 20 years.

Looks like PR has different guidelines then the USVI from reading http://welcome.topuertorico.org/tinfo.shtml

 

[dioxide45]

Every time we leave the USVI we go through Customs been doing this for better then 20 years.

Looks like PR has different guidelines then the USVI from reading http://welcome.topuertorico.org/tinfo.shtml

The customs requirement must be due to the different customs zone the USVI is in than the mainland USA. Perhaps PR is not? I know that there are additional alcohol allowances if returning from the USVI. PR has an agricultural inspection, but nothing more.

 

[slabeaume]

When we were coming back from St. Thomas in 2013, we did have to go through customs and they asked for our passports. I asked them why since we are Americans and they said it goes easier and faster if you have a passport, but it's not required. We had them with us, so used them and were through quickly, but I don't know how much more time it would take otherwise.

 

[Ron98GT]

When traveling between the mainland USA and USVI or PR, do you even pass through Customs and Boarder Protection? I sure didn't on our recent trip to Puerto Rico. That being the case, a passport or other proof of citizenship is not necessary. Just proof of identity is. Once you are in the USA, you can move freely between the states and territories.

The following is from Frommers:

"U.S. citizens do not need to clear Puerto Rican Customs upon arrival by plane or ship from the U.S. mainland."

"What You Can Take Home from Puerto Rico -- U.S. CUSTOMS -- On departure, U.S.-bound travelers must have their luggage inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ..."

So, a passport is not required for US citizens traveling to, or in, Puerto Rico, and I assume the USVI, nothing is stated about returning to the mainland.


This paragrapgh (again, from Frommers) sounded a little interesting and confusing:

"Virtually every air traveler entering the U.S. is required to show a passport. All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America are required to present a valid passport. This includes most of the Caribbean except Puerto Rico. Note: U.S. and Canadian citizens entering the U. S. at land and sea ports of entry from within the western hemisphere must now also present a passport or other documents compliant with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI; visit www.getyouhome.gov for details). Children 15 and under may continue entering with only a U.S. birth certificate, or other proof of U.S. citizenship."

So, although they (Frommers) start out by stating that a US passport is not required, they go on to say that a pasport is required becuase of the "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" (WHTI)?



http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/whti-program-background

"WHTI was successfully implemented on June 1, 2009 for entry into the U.S. by land and sea. U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry are required to present a WHTI-compliant document such as a valid passport, U.S. passport card, Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI, Global Entry or FAST), or an Enhanced Driver’s License."

So, clearly it does state that US citizens re-enterying the US MUST show a passport a equivalent document, per the WHTI.


Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) standing:

http://www.dhs.gov/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative


DHS definition of an Enhanced Drivers License (EDL):

http://www.dhs.gov/enhanced-drivers-licenses-what-are-they



So, per WHTI & DHS, I see no Caribbean/Puerto Rico/USVI exceptions stated. To re-enter the mainland USA, a passport, or acceptable equivalent document (EDL), is required.

 

[Ron98GT]

When we were coming back from St. Thomas in 2013, we did have to go through customs and they asked for our passports. I asked them why since we are Americans and they said it goes easier and faster if you have a passport, but it's not required. We had them with us, so used them and were through quickly, but I don't know how much more time it would take otherwise.

Could be because of the WHTI. See my post (#30) above regarding the WHTI.

 

[Talent312]

I worried coming back from the USVI. I had a passport, but I also had one too many bottles of Cruzan Rum -- IMHO, the smoothest rum, period -- but they didn't even bother to count.

 

[dioxide45]

The following is from Frommers:

"U.S. citizens do not need to clear Puerto Rican Customs upon arrival by plane or ship from the U.S. mainland."

"What You Can Take Home from Puerto Rico -- U.S. CUSTOMS -- On departure, U.S.-bound travelers must have their luggage inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ..."

So, a passport is not required for US citizens traveling to, or in, Puerto Rico, and I assume the USVI, nothing is stated about returning to the mainland.


This paragrapgh (again, from Frommers) sounded a little interesting and confusing:

"Virtually every air traveler entering the U.S. is required to show a passport. All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America are required to present a valid passport. This includes most of the Caribbean except Puerto Rico. Note: U.S. and Canadian citizens entering the U. S. at land and sea ports of entry from within the western hemisphere must now also present a passport or other documents compliant with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI; visit www.getyouhome.gov for details). Children 15 and under may continue entering with only a U.S. birth certificate, or other proof of U.S. citizenship."

So, although they (Frommers) start out by stating that a US passport is not required, they go on to say that a pasport is required becuase of the "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" (WHTI)?



http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/whti-program-background

"WHTI was successfully implemented on June 1, 2009 for entry into the U.S. by land and sea. U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry are required to present a WHTI-compliant document such as a valid passport, U.S. passport card, Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI, Global Entry or FAST), or an Enhanced Driver’s License."

So, clearly it does state that US citizens re-enterying the US MUST show a passport a equivalent document, per the WHTI.


Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) standing:

http://www.dhs.gov/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative


DHS definition of an Enhanced Drivers License (EDL):

http://www.dhs.gov/enhanced-drivers-licenses-what-are-they



So, per WHTI & DHS, I see no Caribbean/Puerto Rico/USVI exceptions stated. To re-enter the mainland USA, a passport, or acceptable equivalent document (EDL), is required.

The WHTI is with regard to entering the USA. Not just the mainland USA. So entering the mainland USA from the USVI isn't governed by WHTI. Just like entering Georgia from Florida isn't. You do apparently go through customs because the USVI is in a different customs zone from the , but it doesn't indicate that a Passport is required. It may be recommended, but not required. The USVI is a US teritorry and thus not governed by the WHTI. If you are entering the USVI from the BVI, you would need a passport, but seemingly moving between the USVI and mainland USA doesn't require one.

If the WHTI was with regard to only the mainland USA, one would then think a Passport is required to travel between Hawaii and the mainland. It isn't.

The district contains separate customs zones. When persons leave the Virgin Islands, they are required to clear U.S. Customs. Goods purchased in the Virgin Islands are duty free up to $1,200. Duties paid are retained by the Territory of the Virgin Islands.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/vi/district.html

 

[csxjohn]

...So, per WHTI & DHS, I see no Caribbean/Puerto Rico/USVI exceptions stated. To re-enter the mainland USA, a passport, or acceptable equivalent document (EDL), is required.

What Dioxide said.

When you return to the mainland from PR or the USVI you are going from the US to the US so your example does not apply.

 

[LisaRex]

Just returned from St. John, traveling through St. Thomas, USVI. FYI, airlines are now advising that you arrive at the airport 3 hours ahead of time. Know that you have 3 lines to deal with now-- check-in/baggage, Customs, then TSA. We arrived very early (9:45am or 3.75 hours ahead of time), and it took us 1.75 hours to get through all 3 lines. Thank goodness we arrived just before a bus of ~25, or we'd have been delayed another half hour. The line can get extremely long, especially on heavy travel days such as Saturday, and especially in the late morning, as many flights depart to the mainland in the early afternoon.

FYI, when we got to the Customs Agent, my husband handed the agent his driver's license. The agent asked him if he had a passport. He said, "Yes, but I don't need one, do I?" The agent said, "No, but it will be a lot faster if you do." He handed over his passport.

So, for the sake of yourself and others traveling through STT, if you have a passport, please bring it. It's enough of a headache getting through Customs and TSA on STT without agents being slowed down even further.