Regardless of what sort of identification you use, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has standards for what information your identification documents should contain. Make sure they provide your name, date of birth, photo, gender, an expiration date and a tamper-resistant feature such as a watermark.
Driver licenses are the most common form of photo identification that domestic U.S. air travelers use. If you don't have a driver license, then another state- or federal-issued photo card, such is a military ID card, is acceptable. You need your driver's license or other photo identification to check luggage, to pick up a boarding pass at the airline ticket counter and to get through airport security.
A passport is not a requirement to travel domestically; however, it can be used at security if you do not have a driver license. You must have at least one form of photo identification, but it is better to have a safety net. In other words, if you are traveling domestically, carry a driver license, but bring a passport too. For international travel, passports are a necessity. If you are a U.S. citizen, you must have a valid passport to leave the United States. The U.S. State Department assures applicants that it usually takes four to six weeks to process a passport. But if you need one more quickly, ask for expedited service, including overnight delivery, which takes an estimated two to three weeks from the moment you hand in your application. Apply at designated post offices, or go to the State Department website and ask that an application be mailed or emailed to you.
If traveling internationally, you may be required to obtain a visa; you must check with either the State Department or the embassy of the country you wish to visit. If you are merely visiting a foreign nation, you may not need a visa. If you intend to stay for an extended period of time to work or to study, you must have a valid visa. Visas are generally not asked for when trying to board a plane, but you will need to show one when you land. Customs agents will check the validity of your visa, and an invalid visa can land you a flight home.
You must have a valid boarding pass to travel. The boarding pass can be printed on-line or at an airline kiosk near the airline's counter at the airport. Although it is time-consuming, you can also get a boarding pass at the airline's airport ticketing and check-in counter. Show your boarding pass and a photo ID to get through the security checkpoint. You need just your boarding pass to get on your plane. Your boarding pass information must match the information on your ID.
