Do I need a Passport if I'm Driving back from Mexico after a 3 day stay?

Question

I want to go to a concert at a venue in Mexicali Mexico, which is a bordering city near San Diego, Cali. It would be at the Most a 3 day 2 night stay. Will I need a passport even if I'm driving either way? I was told that Regardless of flying or driving, I would need it, but I recall a few years back it wasn't necessary when driving, and the border people took my Driver's License as a Valid ID. Can I still go? or will I be stuck here? Or if I can get into Mexico, will I be stuck there?

Answer 1

you need your passport for leaving mexico. the border patrol is much stricter than a few years back.

Answer 2

Yeah they need Photo ID and passport Kinda make sure u don't try to sneak in stuff and they may Check ur car I hope U don't have anything thats not post to be there

Answer 3

I'm pretty sure you need a passport anytime you enter or leave a country, but i could be wrong. security has certainly tightened since "a couple of years ago".

Answer 4

you can use a photo driver's license until sometime summer 2008.

as of Jan 23, you'll need a passport if traveling by air.

as of Jan 31, you can still use a driver's license with a photo on it.

from the site reffered to by another answerer:

"As part of U.S. Department of State's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all travelers (including newborns and infants) will be required to present a valid passport or other accepted document(s) to enter or re-enter the U.S. (visitors and U.S. residents) as early as January 23, 2007, from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

January 23, 2007: All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document (MMDs).

January 31, 2008: All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), will be required to present a government issued photo ID (i.e. driver's license) or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security and proof of citizenship (i.e. birth certificate).

Summer 2008: The government will begin implementing full requirements of the WHTI initiative. All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document (MMDs). The government will notify of the exact implementation date with at least 60 days notice.

Click here to get complete details on the new passport requirements for travelers including passport services.

Note: This does not affect travel between the U.S. and its territories. U.S. citizens traveling between the U.S. and Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa will continue to be able to use established forms of ID."

Answer 5

You need a passport to get in and out of Mexico, regardless of the duration of your visit.

Answer 6

yes you do.  it was a recent change.

Answer 7

Land restrictions on passports dont take place till this summer 2008.  So I would say a id and birth certifcate will do it.  Check out travelocity.com - new passport requirements at top.

Answer 8

Only J.R. gave you the correct answer.  Passports are not needed for LAND travel to and from Mexico now.  They actually will not be needed until a later date which has not yet been set , but will be after next summer.  See site below and read top half of the page carefully for current infol.  Site was just updated one week ago.

Answer 9

Yes you do. You do not need one to leave but you need one to get back in..New Law!