Oct232010
INSTANT SURVIVAL TIP: Passport, please!
image by motograf
When I wrote about ways to prepare for hyperinflation, a reader asked why I thought having a passport was important. There are several reasons for this. First, a passport is the best form of identification possible. In order to receive one, you must furnish proof of your American citizenship in the form of your actual birth certificate and one other form of I.D. In a state of emergency, you may very well be requested to present two forms of identification, and a passport is, by far, the best to have on hand.
If our nation should experience an economic collapse, all government agencies will be in crisis. Because having a passport is important, I believe it’s better to get one now while our government is completely functional. Already, we’re reading about tens of thousands of government workers losing their jobs. A bankrupt government will have a difficult time with mail delivery, much less insuring its citizens receive passports.
Passports can be pricey, especially if you have several children or will be buying them for members in your extended family. If hyperinflation, or even long-term unemployment, becomes a reality, it may be nearly impossible to pony up several hundred dollars just to have this “luxury”.
Mobility is vital. Those of us living in states bordering other countries may find it necessary to cross the border for any number of reasons: to purchase medicine, food, tools, or look for a job, etc. It’s impossible to say, at this point, which parts of the country or which cities may become so unsafe that the only option is to leave. If an area is controlled by martial law, citizens may have to prove their citizenship before being allowed to move from Point A to Point B. Yes, these are scary and far-out scenarios, but they’re happening elsewhere around the world and they can happen here.
Here’s the important piece to keep in mind. In a crisis, the more options you have, the better. An iron-clad form of I.D. may open doors, literally as well as figuratively. I also recommend cash and a bit of gold and/or silver in small currency coins. A passport and a wad of cash could be your best friend someday.
I’m not proposing the passport option out of paranoia, but because I believe mobility and options are your trump cards when it comes to survival. With my family, I can’t take any chances.
© 2010, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.
(21) Readers Comments
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Oh my goodness Soren you are hilarious! I guess we had better stock up
LizLong
It's also possible that your job will require you to go to another country for something. If you found a new job and the ability to travel was critical for it, having a passport already would be a definite bonus.
Mary
Well said.
Dagny
State and local governments are laying off workers because unlike the feds they have to balance their budgets. Unless the election results in 10 days are a lot more dramatic than anyone expects, the feds are not going to do mass layoffs for years, if ever. At worst (or best, depending on your perspective) open slots due to attrition won't all be filled.
Congressional offices currently facilitate expedited passports as a constituent service — gutting the passport office would be very low on the totem pole of fiscal restraint. The federal government's deficits are primarily due to entitlement and other social programs, defense and payments on the debt, not the federal worker payroll.
If someone's not already planning on traveling to Canada, Mexico or overseas and has to prioritize preparedness purchases, I'd put passports way down toward the bottom.
This is an interesting discussion but if things are so bad in America that there's reason to flee, don't count on Mexico, Canada or anywhere else keeping their borders open to Americans looking to find jobs — passport or not. You'd likely need a work visa in that country, a higher hurdle than a U.S. passport.
TheSurvivalMom
Those are all good points, Dagny. Do you remember a couple of years ago when the passport rules changed? Passport offices were overwhelmed and it was taking months, in some cases, to get a passport. I don't think the federal government will be immune to repercussions following an economic collapse because they're the ones who are completely bankrupt!
You make a good point about Canada and Mexico, but currently, Canada's banking system and economy are healthier than ours. Who knows? Someday Americans may be standing at the border requesting political asylum. With all the foreign support America gives to nations around the world, I can't begin to imagine what will happen, world wide, when that money dries up.
Josh
I think having a passport is smart. You present very plausable situations that could require you to have a passport.
apartmentprepper
As a practical matter, it is a good idea to keep your passport up to date: your job can send you overseas, or if you are fortunate to have extra vacation funds, you can look into going someplace fun and exotic. As far as survival, it is scary to think you would ever need it to flee the country, but if it came to that, you will be glad you have a passport ready.
LizLong
Illegals can get drivers licenses in some states. People with green cards and other legal non-citizen statuses can get drivers licenses. ONLY citizens can get US Passports. If something happens and you need iron-clad proof of citizenship to get benefits (including possibly freedom of movement) within this country, the passport is the best thing you can have.
JVan
My relatives never dreamed they would have to flee their home country either (WWII). It is now bred into our family to have a documentation ready to go in an emergency. I just want to say, I really enjoy reading and learning from your blog posts.
Fla SD
I tried to post earlier, and it said my post was too long. So, I'll try again (shorter.)
Passports: GET 'EM!!! Only 7%-25% of Americans have one. (Stats vary a bit, because Passport restrictions have increased for travel to Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, etc.)
The more the merrier: If you have dual-citizenship, or birthright to second citizenship, you should ALSO secure a Passport from your OTHER country as well. (e.g. this opens other bug-out destinations to your portfolio — like Cuba?) Also, when traveling abroad and the "bad guys" start trying to gather Americans as "human shields" — it might be the ideal time to have a non-American Passport?
If you aren't entitled to a second citizenship, consider a camouflage passport. There are a few fly-by-night companies on the Internet that will make/sell you one (e.g. from a now-defunct, or former communist country?) Or, you can buy a "novelty" Conch Republic Passport from the Florida Keys? DON'T USE/PRESENT ANY OF THESE TO BORDER/CUSTOMS OFFICIALS. All of today's Passports are computer-coded, and these "fake" Passports will fail their validity checks! But, if the bad guys ask for your Passport, give them the fake!
Expired Passports are also GREAT! (e.g. they are still VERY VALID forms of citizenship identification for employment in the USA.) I toss my expired Passport into one of my checked bags when traveling aboard (in case I loose my primary/valid Passport.) If I loose my primary/valid Passport, I'd rather show up at the US Embassy with an expired Passport (than nothing at all…)
You can also buy old/expired Passports and such via eBay, to make your own camouflage Passport (and an alias for yourself.) When you buy a camo Passport via the internet, you never really know what the quality will be like? Whereas, if you buy a REAL (expired) Passport via eBay, and doctor it up yourself — you at least know what the end-result and quality will be like.
Peace!
Fla SD
TheSurvivalMom
OK, I have to ask. Are you in a witness protection program?? LOL I do love the idea of a camo passport, but that's just me. "Just in case," is my life motto.
Fla SD
Part of the reason my prior post was "too long," was because I also talked about securing multiple driver's licenses, too (e.g. from two different states.)
It's a pretty common practice with snowbirds down here in Florida (who spend most of their time up North, and retreat to the sunshine state for a few months each Winter.) They have their respective license for their home-state, but they also secure a Florida license (for use while they are down here.)
It's getting more difficult to "fool" some of the systems (since 9/11.) Many of the states are now exchanging information (which makes it more difficult to secure multiple driver's licenses.)
Fortunately, most states WILL issue a "state identification card" (instead of a second driver's license) if you are only a part-time resident of their state. It's a valid state ID from "State A," while you still keep your driver's license from "State B."
You never know when it might be better to be seen as a "tourist/visitor" as opposed to a "local" — even in your home state?
For the camo Passports, here's a link to the Conch Republic versions (they offer two version, too! Citizen, or Diplomat.)
http://www.conchrepublic.com/welcome.htm
Fla SD.
Liz Long
You can get photos at CVS, UPS / Fed Ex locations, or online at http://epassportphoto.com/ Our local CVS was $2 cheaper than UPS, and $4 cheaper than FedEx, so it pays to call and check prices.
Shorty
Anyone notice that the new passports ugh………… have chips in them? Im thinking more of the RFID kind. i'm not feeling the idea of having a new one. I mean really why do we need a chip in our passports for what reason! someone give me a logical reason.
Kyfreedomfighter
The reason chips were put in the passports when they became required, is to track you!! My reason for
refraining from getting one.
Liz Long
Does storing them in a metal box make it harder for them to track you?
Mark
Passport sleeve:
http://www.idstronghold.com/Secure-Sleeve-for-Pas…
Varian
The RFID in a passport is just an NFC – Near Field Communications (buzzword of 2011) – device with a range of about 4 inches. Pretty hard to track. Many of the ports of entry don't even have the readers for the chip. That's the form of efficiency I expect from our government – LOL.
connie
passports have tracking chips in them———-who is doing the tracking!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wonder Gal
anyone who wants to, does the tracking. Look on YouTube for videos showing how to disable or remove the tracking chip while still retaining the magnetic strip (if you want to).
Varian
google RFID Zapper – that'll take care of the chip too!
Kathy
I am an American living/married in Canada and of course had to get one to marry my spouse (for immigration)…but they take 4-6 weeks under the best of conditions. (I have a US one as I am still a US citizen) On my last trip down I insisted my Mother get one (even though she has never visited me or has plans of doing so)…but it is again, good to be prepared to travel if you need to. And let me tell you, the borders between the US and Canada will be in major lock down if anything go wacky. A passport is a must. Honestly, I could care less if the government is tracking me. IF we ever have a govnt. breakdown they are gonna have bigger fish to fry than worrying about individuals.