Undocumented riding on plane?
 

is that possible that an undocumented college student ride on 'internal' plane?
to be specific, I'm trying to ride on plane that is going from Texas to California.

All I can obtain is, passport(valid, but no valid visa), college ID(that has my picture), that's about it.

Can anyone tell me really specific information?

I really want this..

Thanks.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

check tsa.gov for more information. but they state your valid passport is fine. I've flown several times this year into and out of newark, chicago-midway, jfk, etc, and the only thing they all do is make me do a "random" screening. You should be fine. Just dress well, smile, be polite, and have your laces untied (I usually take my shoes off after I make it through the first check point at newark. good luck.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

using a passport with no valid visa and also using college id is risky, der was thread here where a guy almost got caught or something

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

I've used my non-US passport before, no problems.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

i got this from prernalal.com
hehe. i had to give you credit prerna!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Airport Travel Tips for Undocumented Immigrants
Okay, don’t travel if you can avoid it. But if you cannot, here are some basic tips that should alleviate some of your fears.


Airport Travel – Dos and Don’ts

Dress nicely and smartly. Avoid any fancy metallic-embedded clothing that might set off detectors and subject you to a strip-search.

Ideally, do a web-check in 24 hours ahead of time so you don’t have to stand in line.

There are 3 checkpoints

-A TSA agent that checks your valid government-issued photo ID and flight ticket. TSA is not immigration and not supposed to look for a visa but they have time to waste sometimes. It also makes sense for this reason to fly during heavy traffic hours.

Open up your passport to the valid ID page so the agent doesn’t have to flip through the passport and see any expired visas. If you have a state ID, you need not worry about this though REAL ID may now stipulate some additional documentation. DO NOT EVER answer immigration questions that may reveal your status. You have a right to a lawyer if you are detained. If you end up in trouble at any time, call 415-808-4444

(If you are flying with checked-in bagged, that would be your first checkpoint—checking in the baggage. Airlines now charge $15 for this. If you have a short itinerary, skip the checked baggage and simply get two small carry-on items on the airplane like a backpack and a laptop bag).

-The main security checkpoint where you are subjected to a metal detector search

-And finally, handing over your airline ticket to the agent.

Tips for the Main Security Checkpoint

You do not need your ID for this checkpoint but just a boarding pass.

After smiling nicely and speaking politely to the first TSA agent, prepare to take some empty tubs and take off your shoes, watch, belt, cellphone and anything else that may set off metal detectors. Laptops, electronic items such as video games and toiletry bags must be taken out of bags and screened separately in a tub. Toiletries should be in a separate clear ziplock bag with your liquids separated. Water bottles and food items from outside would probably be trashed but you can buy food at the gates (last checkpoint) to take on the plane trip.

After passing through this main security point, you are safe. You MIGHT get subject to a random search or if you somehow set off the metal detectors. Stay calm and let them do a pat-down.

It goes without saying that after passing the second checkpoint, you should gather all belongings and head to camp out in your gate area till your flight starts boarding. You also do not need your ID at this point.

On the plane

You’ll get a complimentary beverage. Snacks are $$.

Befriend: Virgin America

Airport travel is tricky. From my experiences and those of other undocumented youth, I have no trouble deducing that a Latino or Asian male with a foreign passport is likely to undergo more scrutiny than a model minority or European female with similar identification. It’s racial profiling 101. Period.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

Thanks for the informative article, negrita_028 and Prerna, too!
I will test my Washington DL in July from Seattle to Austin. Definitely report back to you guys.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

Yep, as long as you stay in the 50 United States - not in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. I'd recommend you stick to smaller/regional airports -- those that don't have international flights so there is no CBP in the area. Like instead of flying from Chicago O'hare in Chicago (ORD), fly from Chicago Midway (MDW) - out of Texas, instead of Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), fly from Dallas Love Field(DAL) or instead of Houston International (IAH), fly from Houston Hobby (HOU)-- when flying to California, instead of Los Angeles (LAX), fly to Burbank(BUR), or instead of San Francisco(SFO), fly to Oakland(OAK) -- Southwest Airlines usually flies from regional airports (this is not ad plug LOL but you asked! )

If you guys have more questions, just PM me, I fly quite often (20 flights so far this year, about 40+ last year).

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

you just need a valid passport that's all
unless you get pulled randomly for extensive search
I've flown from NY to Chicago then to Portland when I was getting my DL there
with just my non-us passport with no visa on it
just don't carry anything that will cause them to search you

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

Ask this one member his name is K-Man, he loves this type of questions.;)

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

I went to PR for Spring break three years ago. I went with several students and some faculty there as well.. so that might have helped but either way I didn't have a problem using only my college ID. Things may have changed since then tho..

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

This all great info.

Dress nicely? lol.. umm, ok.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

Thanks all...
It really helped, even though I am too scared to ride on it..

another question, have you guys heard any cases that someone got caught from using 'internal air plane' and resulted in being deported??

I haven't heard it yet.. so Please confirm this question..
again, Thanks alot for all of your helps

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

hi,
lost of good tips here. but i am still really scared. what if they look through my passport?
what if they ask me under what visa i am staying? spent 9 years of my life here..too much to loose.
some of you seem to say it is safe, did you ever went through a difficult moment, when asked sensitive questions?

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

It is probably best not to travel by plane. I just avoid it as I am undocumented and look middle eastern. We know that racial profiling takes place so I just don't risk it. Too much to lose.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

Don't do it if you don't have a DL.

I thought everyone here said that. Don't fly without a DL. It is risky with just a passport, they may or may not flip to the visas.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

I can speak from experience and say that it is very safe to ride a plane domestically with just your passport with a valid visa or without it... I have traveled from NYC to Nevada and Florida many times and have gotten on the planes without a problem, just have your passport open at the page with your photo and your info and thats it. The airline and airport officers just want to see a Government issued ID (a passport of any country qualifies) to confirm that your name correspond to the name on the airplane ticket, they DO NOT flip the pages looking for a visa

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

They might not have done it to you, but it CAN happen. That's why everyone is always saying DON'T fly with a valid passport with no visa. It's risky.
What happens if you get some racist asshole and he decides to check, just to give you a hard time? Then you're screwed.. all because of someone on DAP that told you they do NOT flip the pages on the passport. It CAN happen. Don't risk your entire future.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

Decisions are very personal, I just shared what I knew and by no means I'm encouraging anyone to "risk their entire future" I guess I've been lucky about eight times, along with my sister, mother, friends (all without legal status) that ride on planes frequently... Have you flown within the US before with your passport?

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

It is still risky. Just a month ago, there was a case on the forums where TSA flipped the pages and detained a fella for hours. So it can definitely happen. I would not suggest it for vacationing or trips you don't have to take.

Do you look mexican? Middle Eastern?

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

I'm sorry if I was attacking you, but I wo8uld hate for someone to risk everything to fly somewhere with their passport and then end up getting detained. A lot of people are lucky with flying with their passport numerous times, but I've read about a few that have gotten detained and even deported. Someone on here wrote about how he was detained and was scared that he had to fly back home.

I flew from Oklahoma to FL this month and tomorrow I'm flying from FL back to Oklahoma. I'm using my military dependant ID, so thankfully I don't worry about it too much. But I've had my passport for years now, and even though I heard about being able to fly with it, I never did. It's too risky.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

This is such a helpful thread. I need opinions!! I live in nyc but want to travel to orlando florida on a jetblue plane with my 1 year old daughter. I have a state id which is expired. And my venezuelan passport with no visa but the passport is not expired. Can I do it or should I not go

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

Like others said, there is always a risk and not everyone will have the same experience, but I was told by a TSA officer at DFW airport that one can use an expired drivers license as valid ID as long as it is not expired for more than a year. I flew to LAX with my DL which had just expired almost 2 months prior and was told nothing. They did not even make a comment about how it was expired and that I should renew.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

Fly from Miami International to O'hare every summer and winter break using my foreign passport, there is no problem. All they do is check that the name in the passport matches the name on the ticket and that the passport is not expired.

I mean they will not even flip the page of the passport, you just have it open to your picture with your ticket they check it, along with a UV light thing and write something on the ticket then send you along to the x-ray and metal detector where you have to take off your shoes.

I do ask that you show something that is legal for obvious reason. Do not go around trying to show an ID that you paid a couple hundred for because someone told you it was valid *i.e. international driver's license that they have been marketting in many places for undocumented immigrants for example*.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

Yeah their both legit ids but my nys id sadly expired 2006 which is bad. I just have a venezuelan passport which isn't expired but has no visa. I'm stuck.
expired 06

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

pffft.. my visa expired years ago, i even got a new passport from my country's consulate, and I have never had any other form of ID because when they started not allowing undocummented immigrants from getting DL I was still too young.

for continental US the passport and the ticket are good enough at this time.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

I just joined the DAP recently and have been really grateful for all the information in all these threads. So, is it safer to travel by flight or to use Amtrak? I really need to go to NYC, and I don't know what to do! Pls, pls, someone, I need help! Living in the shadows is sOOOOO miserable. Can't do anything, can't go to school, can't work, just STUCK, completely STUCK, helpless & useless!!!

Anyways, I really need to make this trip, and I want to know which is the safer option? My visa & I-94 expired years ago; I came here young. I have a valid passport, but I don't know if they check all those things in the airport. Pls, someone, anyone, Help!!!!!

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Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

I believe they scan your legitimate foreign passport into a machine... It'll tell them whether you're authorized to use VWP to travel.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

my brother and i are trying to fly to florida from washington this summer we are both undocumented we speak perfect english we have been raised here. our parents are scared of us traveling since it is so far away because we are not legal.we both have mexican passports and i also have my washington ID
do you think we would be taking to much risk by traveling?

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

i dont' get it... what are you trying to say here?

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

True. if you want to get on plane, you better have valid DL. otherwise don't take a risk.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

I was just on a plane last month and had no problems. I flew from nyc to washington several times with just a valid passport with no visa on it and never had any trouble.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

What do you guys think about flying to a city that is very close to the border like San Diego? I live in Atlanta, GA but I NEED to go to San Diego, CA in May for a very important event. I know it might be risky but what I'm seeing in this thread is more positive feedback than negative, meaning it's safe to travel on airplane. I think the risky part is the trip back ( San Diego to Atlanta) because they might check more thoroughly your documentation being that SD is a close-to-the-border city... Five years ago my family and I flew from El Paso, TX to Dallas and didn't have any problems at all, but I suppose the security has gotten a bit more strict since then.
Has anybody flown to a city near the border before? And what/how was your experience? I would like anybody's feedback of some sort.

Thanks!

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

A friend of mine went from Long Beach to San Francisco earlier this month with just her foreign passport but no valid visa without any problems.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

I use my foreign passport traveling back and forth from las vegas to new jersey and new york twice a year with no valid visa and have had no problems.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

So just wanted to share that I only obtained a college id from california. N being undocumented, with nothing else to show, all they have me do was name my neighbors, the street I lived on, n my dads name. & I got thru showing ONLY my college id

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

I took a direct flight last month to come to college. I was under 18 at the time, and only showed my high school ID.
I need to go back in a few months, i'm gonna be 18 then. I have a valid passport(no valid visa) and I'm wondering if it's safe to take a connected flight?

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

Usually connected flights do not have you leaving the secure area, thus you would not go through TSA again to get on the other plane.

I say usually because I have no experience with all airports, but at least in the several times I have taken connected flights I have never left the secure area.

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

I wouldn't mess around in a border town if I were you. BP have full authority and they aren't run by ICE, so the memo doesn't apply to them

Re: Undocumented riding on plane?
 

What part of the airport process do you have to show your ID? Is it only during the check in process - where you check in your baggages, or is it before boarding the plane? I'm flying next weekened from Chicago OHare. Thanks in advance.