Should You Bring A USA Passport To Go St. Thomas? Find Out Now.
December 11th, 2009 by Ben Pate, under Travel and Leisure. 2 Comments
St. Thomas is an island that is a part of the US Virgin Islands. This island, found in the Caribbean, is where you will find the capital of the territory, Charlotte Amalie. St. Thomas, along with the other islands in the US Virgin Islands, is popular among American tourists because of its beaches and its rich history. Now if you’re planning to visit this destination, let us show you if you need a U.S. passport to go to St. Thomas.
But why is St. Thomas so popular in the first place? For some, it’s because it is ideally located in the Caribbean. Just the mere mention of that word can make one easily imagine about white sand beaches and an ideal island getaway. Because of its warm waters, St. Thomas is popular not only among beachgoers, but also those who love water sports such as windsurfing and kite boarding.
Then there’s also St. Thomas’ rich history. If you’re a history buff, you’ll likely be excited to visit St. Thomas when you find out that it is one of the first islands discovered by Christopher Columbus. The island was later on colonized by Denmark, who eventually sold it to the United States in the early 20th century.
Today, St. Thomas is a part of the US territory called the US Virgin Islands. And since this is a US territory, any travel made here by a US citizen from another US territory is considered a domestic travel. And if this profile fits you, then you don’t need a passport to visit St. Thomas.
But you should remember that you need to present at least one US document that proves your identity before you leave the island. What are these documents? Some of the documents that you can present include your birth certificate, and US government-issued ID, and of course, your passport book or passport card.
But why do others say you need a passport to go to St. Thomas even if you’re an American? It’s probably because of the confusion that stemmed from the creation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The WHTI specifies that you need a passport when traveling to WHTI areas. Since WHTI areas include the Caribbean, some people assumed that it also includes the US Virgin Islands. Again, because the Virgin Islands are US territories, you don’t need to present a passport to go there.
Should you decide to bring a passport with you, make it the passport card. Why bring a passport card? That’s because passport cards are more lightweight and convenient to bring compared to passport books. Passport cards are so small, you can slip them into your wallet. Also, applying for a passport card is cheaper than applying for a passport book.
If you’re a US citizen wondering if you need a U S passport to go to St. Thomas, you’ve now learned you don’t need one. However, if you are arrive from somewhere outside of a US territory, you will need to show your passport.
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2 Comments
Sandra on May 13th, 2010
I’d carry it! I wouldn’t risk not having my passport and not being able to enjoy a delightful vacation 
Should You Bring A USA Passport To Go St. Thomas? Find Out Now. : Cruise News, Information, Booking, Planning and Vacations on December 11th, 2009
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