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I'm trying to determine whether foreigners (tourists etc, not resident) are required to show their foreign passport as ID when checking in and going through TSA checks when flying domestic within the USA, even if they hold US issued ID such as Trusted-Traveler cards (SENTRI, Global Entry, etc).

This (non government) website says

The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) checkpoints will require all foreign nationals to show a valid passport when traveling domestically.

However this TSA page says that Trusted Traveler cards are acceptable (and doesn't appear to limit that to US citizens/residents etc.)

Adult passengers 18 and older must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel.

Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) Beginning May 3, 2023, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant. If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles.

  • 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
  • Border crossing card
  • State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License
  • An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized, Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe HSPD-12 PIV card
  • Foreign government-issued passport
  • Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
  • Transportation worker identification credential
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
  • U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
  • Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

As a foreigner, can I use a US issued ID such as a Trusted Traveler card to fly domestic within the US? My uncertainty is whether the TSA page is primarily referring to US citizen travelers (without specifically saying so) as I have mostly heard that I need to use a passport (such as the first website, and others I have seen over time, says)

I am aware that I will still need to carry my passport with me, but feel it would be easier to just pull out my SENTRI card with my boarding pass and leaving my passport safe and secure with my other valuables in my carry-on.

Midavalo
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1 Answers1

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The TSA website, as far as I'm aware, correctly states the TSA policy: any of those documents is acceptable for use by anyone who legally has any of them. I'd certainly trust it over the unsourced and unofficial "passport today" site. (Some of the documents on the list, such as an Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card are, in fact, not generally available to US citizens resident in the US).

Immigrants Rising, which is not authoratative but at least has lawyers on staff, says that even people who are "undocumented" in the US can use any of the listed forms of ID to board a domestic flight if they have them; surely, visitors who are authorized to be temporarily in the US are also entitled to do so.

It is possible that a poorly trained TSA document checker relishing in the ability to exercise arbitrary authority could look at your SENTRI card closely enough to notice that you are not a US citizen and then, contra the TSA policy above, ask for your passport. In that case, if you have your passport in your carryon, you could find it and show it to them, and move on with your day. If you prefer, you could seek clarification from a supervisor at that point.

mlc
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