Domestic travel in the US with no passport

I'm staying in Seattle on a J-1 visa for 3 months, and I need to apply for a long-term French visa for another trip immediately following my internship here. The French consulate in San Francisco kindly agreed to make an exception and take my application, which is great. (Applying by mail is not allowed for long-term visas apparently.)

I can go and apply, but do I need to stay in San Francisco until my passport is returned to me? Or can I return to Seattle without my passport, and ask them to mail it? How does one go about flying with no passport?

I'm an Argentine citizen with both a valid B-1/B-2 and J-1 visa. I've entered the US many times without any issue.

Best Answer

You can (legally) fly without ID:

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification

However, as other people have said in the comments, I'm not sure how easy this is for people who have no other 'ties' to the USA. Generally speaking, in my experience, it's been similar to the kinds of questions that would be asked to verify your credit report - a list of cars you've owned, addresses you've lived at, or bank accounts that you've had. You might not have a large enough file for this process to work for you.

I'd ask if the Argentine consulate has some kind of identity document that they can make for you.

Alternatively, as an Argentine citizen, you are eligible for a US Global Entry card:

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/international-arrangements/argentina

This may be going the long way around to fix your problem, but it's a definite possibility.

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Can I fly within the US without a passport?

As of February 2021, there are no states that require passports from U.S. citizens to fly domestically. Your airline or the TSA should never ask you to present a valid passport.

Can you travel between states without a passport?

Since all 50 States are part of the United States of America, you do not need a passport to travel between states. The US has also some territories in the Pacific Ocean that have some specific rules when it comes to traveling without a passport.

What do you need to fly in the US without a passport?

Identification

Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) ...

U.S. passport.

U.S. passport card.

DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents.

Permanent resident card.

What's the Furthest You Could Travel Without a Passport?

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Images: Ethan Wilkinson, Roberto Nickson, Alex Azabache, nappy