Only 25% of Americans have a passport!

[Crimson Dynamo]

bloody hell fire that is low:conf:

[Tom]

They don't really need them, literally every type of place they could want to go on holiday is attached on one huge piece of land. UK figures would probably be the same if we were attached to Europe

[Crimson Dynamo]

They don't really need them, literally every type of place they could want to go on holiday is attached on one huge piece of land. UK figures would probably be the same if we were attached to Europe

No, the idea of travel is to sample new cultures, people and language.

[Omah]

bloody hell fire that is low:conf:

I didn't think it was that many ..... :laugh:

[Omah]

No, the idea of travel is to sample new cultures, people and language.

They can go to Hawaii or Alaska without a passport .... ;)

[Crimson Dynamo]

They can go to Hawaii or Alaska without a passport .... ;)

brilliant

[SoBig]

They can travel a lot of places outside the continental US without a passport. Puerto Rico, USVI, Guam, Hawaii, American Samoa etc.

[Omah]

brilliant

I suppose that many could join the Army and see the world, well mainly the Middle East at the moment ..... :idc:

[Omah]

They can travel a lot of places outside the continental US without a passport. Puerto Rico, USVI, Guam, Hawaii, American Samoa etc.

That's plenty to be going on with ..... :joker:

[Callum]

I read about this ages ago, it doesn't surprise me considering America is so huge. I would hate to not have a passport though.

[Liberty4eva]

I remember when I was a kid we drove into Canada and didn't need a passport. Of course times may have changed. Not that I'm bragging but there are more sites and places to visit in the US than I will ever be able to visit in one lifetime. I'm not too concerned about seeing the rest of the world when I haven't even seen half or a quarter of what there is to see in the US.

[BBfanUSA]

I'm from america and I don't have a passport. But what someone said that america has alot of attractions is right

but 25% of america is still a big number i would say like 75 million

[arista]

bloody hell fire that is low:conf:


Have you been around America
it has the World in sections all over it.
I have Noticed it in NYC ,
LA, Houston & Miami

Many Yanks stay in that Fat Nation.

[Sam:)]

They can travel a lot of places outside the continental US without a passport. Puerto Rico, USVI, Guam, Hawaii, American Samoa etc.

I think you require a passport if your flying to them places,as far as I know you need a passport to fly anywhere!

[Crimson Dynamo]

I remember when I was a kid we drove into Canada and didn't need a passport. Of course times may have changed. Not that I'm bragging but there are more sites and places to visit in the US than I will ever be able to visit in one lifetime. I'm not too concerned about seeing the rest of the world when I haven't even seen half or a quarter of what there is to see in the US.

The whole point is that travel broadens the mind and allows you to see and experience other cultures than your own. By doing this you are less likely to think

1. that your own country is the best

2. that other countries are inferior

3. that the fictitious god is interested in your country specifically

4. that war a good idea if folks dont do as they are told

[SoBig]

I think you require a passport if your flying to them places,as far as I know you need a passport to fly anywhere!
No, Americans don't need a passport to travel to those places. Because those countries that I listed are U.S territories. All you need is a driver's license or a birth certificate to prove that you are a US citizen. Its just like traveling from New York to LA by plane. Don't need a passport.

[Tom]

I think you require a passport if your flying to them places,as far as I know you need a passport to fly anywhere!

You can fly anywhere in the UK without a passport and its the same for most places around the world

[Marsh.]

LeatherTrumpet showing a complete lack of awareness yet again.

[Crimson Dynamo]

LeatherTrumpet showing a complete lack of awareness yet again.

Then explain why you think so and dont hide behind a personal remark like a coward:conf:

[Roy Mars III]

I don't have one. I live in Michigan, so I don't need one to go to Canada, and there's really no need unless you're leaving the continent. All you really need is a driver's license.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I don't have one. I live in Michigan, so I don't need one to go to Canada, and there's really no need unless you're leaving the continent. All you really need is a driver's license.

have you never wondered what life is like outside the US?

[Sarasmile]

I think anyone reading and/or posting on this forum from the US definitely wonders what life is like in other countries. If they didn't, they wouldn't watch BBUK and want to interact with British fans. If any other Americans are like me, I certainly couldn't afford to travel to Europe, or anywhere abroad. Car trips to other states are more affordable - and even those are rare nowadays!
Because there are so many European countries so close geographically, it does seem normal and expected that Europeans would travel to other countries and broaden their world wide view. In America, we can broaden our cultural experiences by visiting other states - there are so many differences between states it can seem like you're in a different country!

[Niall]

I'm not surprised to be honest, there's so much to see in the US if you think about it: Disney World & Florida, L.A/Hollywood, San Francisco, New York, Grand Cnayon, Yellowstone etc.

Hang on I just thought this, if you were a US citizen and you were flying out to Hawaii, would you need a passport or...? :suspect:

[Roy Mars III]

have you never wondered what life is like outside the US?

I have, sadly my bank account has a different opinion.

[SoBig]

I'm not surprised to be honest, there's so much to see in the US if you think about it: Disney World & Florida, L.A/Hollywood, San Francisco, New York, Grand Cnayon, Yellowstone etc.

Hang on I just thought this, if you were a US citizen and you were flying out to Hawaii, would you need a passport or...? :suspect:
No, because Hawaii is a US state. Its like any other state, examples Florida, California.

[Niall]

No, because Hawaii is a US state. Its like any other state, examples Florida, California.

Oh I for some reason thought you'd need a passport. :laugh:

[Shasown]

Legally speaking you dont need a passport to fly anywhere in Europe, you would however need to provide some other form of documentary evidence that you belong to a member country of the EEC.

Most airlines insist on using a passport as a means to confirming identity and right to fly.

[GypsyGoth]

I guess it keeps dollars in their country too, instead of spending their wealth abroad. So I suppose the government and media would be happy keeping the number of passport holders low.

And the opinions of american citizens would be easier to mould if they have no experience of the world.

[BBfanUSA]

I think Americans need a passport to get into Canada now but I'm not sure

[swinearefine]

I don't have a passport but I would love to travel abroad. My whole family is incredibly xenophobic and patriotic and I hate patriotism and want to see the world, so every time I mention it they get pissy and try to teach me why the big bad world is so dangerous and we get into massive arguments.

I actually don't know anyone who has a passport.

[Marsh.]

I don't have one. I live in Michigan, so I don't need one to go to Canada, and there's really no need unless you're leaving the continent. All you really need is a driver's license.

have you never wondered what life is like outside the US?

Canada is outside the US.

[Omah]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_documents_in_the_United_States

For many years, passports were not required for US citizens to re-enter from countries near the United States (including Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and most Caribbean and Central American nations.) In light of this, and given the country's immense size and the great distances which the average citizen lives from an international border, passport possession in the United States had remained relatively low. Indeed, most Americans normally did not obtain passports or carry them regularly unless traveling abroad, and as of 2006, only 60 million (20% of Americans) had passports. As of 2011, approximately 37% of Americans have Passports or Passport cards.

However, in response to recommendations in the 9/11 Commission Report, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security now requires proof of citizenship for people entering the United States from neighboring countries. This requirement is known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and was implemented in stages:

On January 23, 2007, a passport, U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner's Document, or NEXUS card became mandatory when re-entering from those locations when traveling by air, with a few exceptions.
On 31 January 2008, officers at land and sea ports of entry stopped taking oral declarations of citizenship from travelers; all individuals entering the U.S. are now required to present documentary proof of identity and citizenship.
Beginning 1 July 2009, people entering the United States by land or sea must present a passport, passport card, or other document proving citizenship or permanent resident status.

:idc:

[Marsh.]

Anyone can edit wikipedia. Hardly reliable.

[Omah]

Anyone can edit wikipedia. Hardly reliable.

http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2010/02/17/how-many-americans-have-a-passport-2/

The number of Americans who have a passport, according to the most recent statistics issued by the State Department in January of 2011, is 114,464,041.

Given the country’s population of 307,006,550, about 37% of the population has one. This means that nearly 2 out of 3 Americans can’t even fly to Canada, let alone travel to anywhere else in the world (new rules allow those with “Passport Cards” to travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean and Bermuda, but they are not allowed to be used for international air travel. There are about 3.5 million Americans who have this card.)

So has this number been going up or down in the last few years?

According to the statistics, 2010 was basically on par with 2009 and 2006 levels, both of which were far below the 2007 and 2008 levels (due to stricter air travel requirements as mentioned above), but still nearly double from what they were as recently as 2003 (7.3 million in 2003 to last year’s 12.3 million passports issued.)

See also :

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppi/stats/stats_890.html