The most comprehensive travel document would be a U.S. Passport. A passport is easy to obtain with the required documents. According to the U.S. Department of State travel website, the following documents can be presented to prove citizenship: previously issued undamaged passport; certificate of birth issued by a city, county or state; consular report of birth abroad or certification of birth; naturalization certificate; or certificate of citizenship. They also list the acceptable forms of identification needed to obtain a passport, which include a previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, valid driver's license, current government ID (city, state or federal), or current military ID (military and dependents). An adult passport costs $135, as of 2010. The applicant must also present two identical approved passport photos.
Passport cards are an economical alternative to regular passports. The U.S. Department of State travel website states, "The U.S. Passport Card can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air." If the traveler only needs to travel the North American continent, a passport card is an economical alternative to a regular passport, at $55, as of 2010.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initiated the Trusted Traveler program on June 1, 2009. The DHS website states that "U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Trusted Traveler Programs provide expedited travel for pre-approved, low risk travelers through dedicated lanes." Several programs are approved for the Trusted Traveler program. First, the NEXUS card allows for faster travel verification between the U.S. and Canadian borders for land, sea and air travel. The SENTRI card does the same as the NEXUS for all modes of travel between the United States and Mexico. Finally, the Global Entry card expedites screening for travelers from all other continents into the U.S.
The TSA accepts identification cards issued to U.S. Military and Transportation workers as approved air travel documents. Members of the military, both active and retired, their family members, and also members of the Department of Defense are issued a special document that identifies them as members of the United States Armed Forces.
Those employed by the Transportation Security Administration are also issued a worker identification credential that is approved as a travel identification document. According to the TSA, airline and airport employees may also travel with a valid employee ID if issued under a TSA approved security plan.
A permanent resident card is also referred to as a green card in the U.S. According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, "A permanent resident is someone who has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, a person is granted a permanent resident card." Green cards are only valid for 10 years, and must be current when presented as a travel document.
Border Crossing Cards (BCC) are issued to Mexican citizens for the purpose of visiting the United States. Mexican citizens can apply for a Border Crossing Card with a valid Mexico passport. The U.S. State Department travel site states "A BCC may be issued as a laminated card, similar to the size of a credit card, or as a visa in a passport. They are valid for travel until the expiration date on the front of the card or on the visa, usually ten years after issuance." Again, always be aware of the expiration date of any of these important documents.
A state driver's license is an form of identification useful for domestic travel. Before Sept. 11, a DMV- issued identification was sufficient to travel throughout North America. However, The Department of Homeland Security now monitors intercontinental travel more closely. According to an ABC news report from May 31, 2009, a passport or other approved document is required to travel back into the United States from Mexico and Canada. The article describes the new guidelines for documents accepted for North American continental travel: "A regular passport, a new passport card, a trusted traveler card or an enhanced driver's license, which states the person's nationality." Enhanced Drivers Licenses (EDL) are a new option for travelers. EDL's contain special technology, and store electronic biographical data that can be scanned from a distance. The Department of Homeland Security states, "State-issued enhanced drivers licenses (EDLs) provide proof of identity and U.S. citizenship, are issued in a secure process, and include technology that makes travel easier." DMV Answers.com explains that at this time only four states offer the enhanced license option, they are Michigan, New York, Washington, and Vermont, with at least eight other states slated to offer them in the near future.
Since the advent of tighter air travel security, the TSA and the National Congress of American Indians have worked together to make Native American tribal photo identifications part of the accepted travel document list. Along with the Native American ID, the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card (the Canadian equivalent) is also a part of the TSA list. This approval process took several years and work by Homeland Security along with the NCAI. An article on the NCAI website states that "The NCAI Homeland Security Working Group has been working vigorously to ensure Tribal ID cards receive the same respect accorded to all governmental identification." Tribal identification cards can be obtained by anyone able to prove Native American ancestry, and this can be done through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
