USA Passport even when leaving USA?

Question

By 2008, when we leave the USA to go to Mexico or Canada, do we need to show a passport, or do we only show it when it come back?

Answer 1

You will need to have a passport as of Jan 1,2008 if you are traveling by car or ship to Canada or Mexico to leave and enter the U.S.
If you are traveling by air, you need a passport NOW to leave or enter the U.S. The only place you do not need a passport to travel to is a U.S. territory.
From the U.S. State Department website:
"The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands."

Answer 2

You need it to get back in. From my understanding. That's one thing I thought was strange about the law. Now what? All these people are free to leave and any given country is stuck with whoever doesn't have a passport to get back in?

Answer 3

you would want a passport, contact the embassy of the rustic you're vacationing too. you would no longer even want that if you're vacationing on your position us of a. edit - oops, definite there's a ban in case you leave on your own, hmmm perhaps you want to sneak overseas... wierd.

Answer 4

Only coming back through US Customs. You may have to show it to Canadian or Mexican Customs when you enter their countries.