Wanderlust World Wanderlust World A U.S. passport is a document issued to a citizen or noncitizen national. It enables you to travel to other countries and reenter the U.S. According to the U.S. Department of State, a passport is the property of the State Department, not the citizen in whose name it was issued.
You may be asked by a business to produce a passport as proof of your identity. This is done by airlines, hotels, financial institutions or car rental agencies. It is especially true of hotels and other types of accommodations, which may ask to keep your passport during your stay.
No matter what the circumstances, your passport should never be taken from you or held in lieu of payment. Do not relinquish your passport if there is a dispute over a bill or services, but try to negotiate another solution. Remember that when you are in another country, you are governed by its laws and not by U.S. law. If an individual or business refuses to return your passport, your only recourse is to contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for help.