Traveling to the U.S for a tasking

[rtyman]

Hi, I was hoping someone who has some experience with this issue could help.

I've been offered a tasking at Ft. Irwin in California but don't have a passport. I was told it wasn't a problem because they would give me NATO travel documents and that would get me across the border. The clerks said that I can't use NATO travel documents to cross the border on a commercial airliner. My question is does anyone know if I can use these NATO travel documents to cross the border if I drove? or do I need a passport no matter what?

Any advice would be highly appreciated

 

[MikeL]

Your unit/clerks should be able to to get you an official answer.

Anyways, I know nothing about these NATO travel docs, but I know some guys who had to goto the US recently for a course/tasking and as far as I know they required passports.

 

[armyvern]

It's called a NATO Travel Order.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_2638.html

NATO

An applicant is classified under the symbol NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6 if seeking admission to the United States under the applicable provision of the Agreement on the Status of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters Set Up Pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty. This includes national representatives, international staff and immediate family members of an individual classified NATO-1 through NATO-6.  Please note that U.S. visa law indicates that if a visa applicant is entitled to a NATO visa as a principal or dependent, he or she must receive a NATO visa. The exceptions to this rule are extremely limited.

However, many armed forces personnel are exempt from passport and visa requirements if they are either attached to NATO Allied Headquarters in the United States and are traveling on official business, or are entering the United States under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement. In the latter case, you must carry official military ID cards and NATO travel orders. When traveling in exempt status, such personnel would generally be entering the United States by military aircraft or naval vessel.

Generally does not mean "will" ... we have sent pers down there recently and commercially accompanied by their travel claim, their NATO Travel Order and their Military ID ... to California.

 

[Stoker]

Go get a passport, you should be able to get reimbursed.

 

[rtyman]

I'm trying to get a passport but they won't take my birth certificate at the passport office because its damaged. I've got a new one on order but it won't get here till wednesday which is the day I'm supposed to catch my flight, I just don't want to lose the tasking. Thats why I'm trying to find another way to get there.

 

[aesop081]

I go to the US for exercises several times each year. You will not be allowed in with NATO travel orders. US border services agents will want to see your passport.