Do I Need A Passport To Go To Tijuana Mexico In 2009?

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The Ghost

Legally speaking you DO need a passport to cross the border back into the United States, but you pragmatically speaking you can still cross into the US with your ID. I've done both since the law changed last year, and what one officer told me in their usually "charming" way was "It's not my responsibility to punch your ID number into the computer to see if you're OK to cross, so the next time you cross I'm sending you back" - what a nice guy. This is good to know on the off chance that you have your ID and for some reason not your passport, you might ask the guy for a solid if he acts like this off the bat, because it is very easy for him to punch in your license number and see if he can let you cross. But just in case you catch them in a bad mood, something that isn't that uncommon- I crossed the border every day for 12 years straight, you should have your passport, ID and birth certificate, or SENTRI Pass, which is like a fast pass if you're not familiar with it, that takes a couple of months to get, but lasts a couple of years. If you want to cross faster, usually crossing by foot in the OTAY crossing which is about 7 miles east of the larger sanysidro/tijuana crossing. Otay is considered part of Tijuana, and if you look on google earth, or yahoo maps, or google maps, you can see what I'm talking about. good luck and enjoy your trip.

Crop Dust

If you cross by land you just need a photo ID and proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. However, starting June 1, 2009, you WILL need a passport for any kind of crossing.

â™¥ Jessy D â™¥

The last answer is correct. Traveling by land a U.S. citizen will not need a passport until JUNE OF 2009.

eman

I beleive the law has changed to where you need a passport and ID to get across the borders of Mexico and Canada.

pegasus

It really depends on the mode of transportation and when in 2009. See the link below for detailed information. Generally, you need it to get back into the US.