Hey guys,

I am planning a honeymoon to Hawaii, after the wedding. Someone told me that my new wife, now a citizen of Russia, will need a visa to Hawaii since she's not a US citizen or a permanent resident. I am telling them it's a part of US and all she needs is her russian passport or maybe even just a driver's license. Does anyone know for sure?

Thanks!


Mike.

You don't need to be a US citizen or Permanent Resident to travel domestically within the US. When foreign visitors travel in the US, they aren't required to show visas - only identification that matches the name on their plane ticket.

So Hawaii does not count as a "special" state that needs visas? Regular driver's license on our side will do?


Mike.

What is special about Hawaii? Hawaii is the 50th state in the U.S. It became a state on August 21, 1959.

The only people who care about your ID are the people at the airport security checking that the name on your ticket matches the name on your ID whether it's a driver's license, passport, etc.

Same as going anywhere else in the US by air. All you need is a government issued photo ID (which a Russian Passport is). (Actually, you don't even need this if you tell them you lost your wallet.)

It is still a good idea to get a State ID or Learner's Permit (or license) as soon as possible. (You have 30 days here in FL after arriving).

You are required to show ID. "I lost my wallet" won't work - if you don't have ID, you won't be flying that day. Check any domestic airline site to read the ID requirements i.e.

Identification Requirements
Passengers 18 years of age or older are required to have government-issued photo identification for travel within the United States

or

Passengers 18 years of age or older are required to have one of the following:

An official photo identification issued by a government authority.

OR

Two forms of identification, one of which must be issued by a government authority.

Acceptable forms of ID include the following:

Valid Driver's License
Military ID
Valid Passport
Company ID card
Credit card
Social Security card
Proof of auto insurance in passenger's name
School ID card
Library card

Okay, Thanks. I thought so. It's just sometimes what makes sense is not always true, that's why I was worried.

Thanks,

Mike.

The only time this becomes an issue is if you do one of many cruises to or within Hawaii. Some cruises in order to have an international staff and pay below US minimum wages will make a stop over to a third country while cruising around the Islands usually the Republic of Kiribati. In This context on your return from the third country you will be seeking another admission thus violating your K1 status or abandoning your pending AOS if no AP is present yet.

You really have to stop talking to morons and idiots.

Hawaii is as much of the U.S. as any other state. No one needs a visa to travel from one state to another.

FWIW, My wife and I got married in Hawaii (we live in Alaska). No, she did not need a visa (or even a passport), and no, we didn't even have to go through "passport control" when leaving/entering Alaska or Hawaii.

Sheesh. Morons everywhere you go. The worst part is that they are out-breeding the rest of us.

Cheers!
AKDiver

That and sheesh - try using a little common sense!

Don't be too hard on the lad. He's probably got an American education. He may not even know where Hawaii is, let alone understand that it is a U.S. state, with the same legal status as the other 49 states.

Cheers!
AKDiver

I realize that - what a sad commentary on the state of eduation in the US.

You will get a more thorough screening, but in general, you will be allowed to fly home. Since it is not possible to replace your driver's license when you are out-of-state, there really is no choice other than allowing you to fly.

This has happened to me. The bigger problem was not having the credit card that I used to buy the ticket either. It also happened to a friend in Vegas. His hotel room robbed while he was asleep). They let him fly home too. To be extra safe, get a police report (though you don't need it).

In Hawaii, it isn't like you even have the option of taking a train or bus to get home. (Trains require photo ID anyway).

There is no Federal Law, regulation, or even TSA policy requiring you to present a photo ID to pass security. The only change to the FARs (FAA rules) is that pilot's must now carry goverment issued photo IDs when flying. (Pilot Certificates do not have pictures).

The airlines (their own policy) request photo IDs. This has existed before 9/11, and their reason was solely to prevent you from selling your restricted fare ticket to someone else. It has nothing to do with security. As long as you have a boarding pass, this is moot. (Print it on your computer, from the kiosk by keying in your PNR or FF #, etc). The airlines will never ask to see an ID if you do this.

As long as you have a boarding pass, TSA will let you through without photo ID. Two non-photo IDs are specifically allowed as well (say, a library card and gym membership). Expect to be treated like a "selectee."

Here's a link with info: http://www.fodors.com/wire/archives/000928.cfm I would guess that the TSA and congress are both reluctant to make rules as 1) they would get in trouble for breaking them 2) obvious constitutional issues 3) They prefer it to be the airline's problem

If you have a private plane, no worries... No ID necessary (or security, or bagage screening). It is good to be rich

Russ, everything you wrote is true. And certainly if someone's wallet is stolen and they are in Hawaii and have no other options and they show a police report and have a person to vouch for them, it will be much easier.

I was more addressing your earlier comment of saying "I lost my wallet" which implies you have no ID whatsoever. In that case, it would be a much, much more difficult situation.

I am confused about your comment that you can get through security with just a boarding pass. When I print mine at home, they always still ask for ID at the security point.

They can ask, but it does not mean you are required to have one.

No ID at all will not prevent you from flying. You will end up with a very thorough search (if we wanted real security, everyone would get this search). If you are mugged out of town, you will not have any ID (ever heard of an armed robbery where the crook takes the time to go through your wallet and hand back 2 forms of ID so you can fly? Didn't think so.)

I think that it is mostly a perception thing - as long as everyone thinks it is an absolute requirement, everyone feels safer.

The police report doesn't really do anything to make us safer. Anyone can fill out a police report and use any name they care for. "Mr Bad Person" could just fill out a report with any name he likes. He is not going to care about the consequences of filing a false report.

Well I guess my point here is that no one really wants to go through that kind of search or irritation when it can easily be avoided by forking over a legit ID. I wouldn't advise anyone to go to the airport and tell them "I lost my wallet so I have no ID" unless it was the last option.

Thanks for the usual ridicule. The only reason I asked a question pertaining to the Hawaii travel is because many laws, especially immigration and visa laws do not make sense in US or you may think you know the answer for the simplest question, but usually it is just a riddle wrapped in a puzzle hidden in a mystery.

I know exactly where Hawaii is, and have no problems with georgraphy and I thank my "Russian" education for that. The only problem are the people I talk to with their ideas and things they heard about that someone told them - and noone said they were correct. The correct answer is just a short research away. Hawaii is not a part of a continetial United States, and is excluded since its an archipelago southwest of North America. So the question arose because it is not a main land, but an island. I do realise that it is the 50th state, but it never hurts to ask.

Thanks,

Mike.

This is all so funny. You need to find some smarter friends. Hawaii is just like any other state. You only need ID to get on the plane. DUH!!!

Glad you know where Hawaii is!

So - what, island states are not subject to the equal footing doctrine? What about states like Alaska, that are not islands, but are not contiguous with the rest of the US? What about territories like Puerto Rico? How about Guam? Hint: you don't need a visa to go to any of these places from somewhere else in the U.S.

Bonus question: Alaska is a small island off the coast of California, near Hawaii. True or False.

Cheers!
AKDiver

Ah, but here's a big "what if?" for you....

What if a fiancee or recent wife here on a K-1 goes to Alaska by automobile?

Hey Slim,

Is the car trip partly by ferry from Washington State to Alaska, or are you driving up through Canada. Canada is a foreign country.

Not sure if you are posing a serious question or not.

If your wife is arriving here (Alaska) on a K-1 by automobile, the presumably she has already gained entry into Canada through some mechanism. Therefore, when she arrives at the Alaska border, she has a normal K-1 POE there. Rather like a Canadian would I guess.

If you're saying that wife has already arrived somewhere else in the U.S. on a K-1, and you got married, and have yet to receive a PR card, it is unlikely she will be permitted into Canada, therefore will never make it to the Alaska border. However, if she DOES, then will be denied entry into Alaska since she has no valid visa. A passport is not required for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, or Canadian citizens/residents for land travel, but one still has to demonstrate the right to enter the country. Russian nationals demonstrate this right with a passport and a visa, even if coming in by land.

In the above situation, but she has an AP, well, then she can enter without a visa, and probably without a passport, as long as she can prove her identity (presumably with a driver's license).
If she has a PR card, then she does not need a visa, or a passport. The PR card is enough to demonstrate her right to enter the country.

In short, there is really no difference entering the U.S. by auto just because it is Alaska. It's the same as entering the U.S. by auto through any other state.

I am guessing you have in mind the whole, "we don't need a passport for re-entry for land crossings" stuff, but that only applies to people who can otherwise demonstrate their right to enter the country.

As for the ferry:


Cheers!
AKDiver

... and it would not be wise to attempt to travel by car to Hawaii, however, you would not need to pass through Canada.

When my wife first came to Alaska, the wife of one of my friends, who is a SCHOOL TEACHER, asked her "did you drive over from Russia?"

Ah yes - the great American education system.

Cheers!
AKDiver

Actually there was something in the news a couple of days ago about plans to build a tunnel from Alaska to Russia.

Yeah, the funny thing about that is there is no road or rail road anywhere close to that part of Alaska. They would have to build a road (or railroad) through some 600 miles of Alaska swap to connect to the nearest road (or railroad).

a). That plan is for a railroad, not a road.

. By the time it gets finished in 30 years, I will likely be dead, and even if I am not, I am unlikely to be living in Alaska (:

Cheers!
AKDiver

Here is a link for the news story straight from Alaska:
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/8811965p-8712739c.html
Ironically the Discovery Channel aired something similar a while back:
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/engin...nteractive.html