I want to go to Las Vegas this weekend, but my Mexican passport expired in March, would I have problems?

Upvote:0

According to my interpretation of https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/826/kw/expired%20mexican%20passport/session/L3RpbWUvMTQzMDQyMzg0MC9zaWQvTmMxOWFibG0%3D: Mexican passports will be accepted for 6 months after their expiration. You should be fine as long as you leave the US before September.

However, it is written in governmentese and it does not really matter what my interpretation is. Other commenters interpret it otherwise and there is a good chance that the border guards interpret it otherwise.

If it costs you little to go to the border, then I don't see the harm in trying it out and reporting back your results. If going to the border costs non trivial time/money/etc, I recommend you not chance it.

Upvote:3

I'm not sure how old you look, but assuming you were able to get to Vegas, you may encounter another problem: getting into the casinos or getting a drink.

I've had a liquor serving license in two US states (Texas and Louisiana). Both trainings associated with licenses instructed me to ask for a valid passport for those that did not have a United States ID and not to accept local ID for other countries.

Upvote:5

Yes you will have problems, you will not be allowed to enter with an expired passport.

Upvote:5

There is a question dealing specifically with entry to the United States for foreign citizens on the CBP site.

For Mexican citizens:

A visa and passport are not required of a Mexican national who is in possession of a Form DSP-150, B-1/B-2 Visa and Border Crossing Card*, containing a machine-readable biometric identifier, issued by the Department of State and is applying for admission as a temporary visitor for business or pleasure from contiguous territory by land or sea. Mexican citizens using the Border Crossing Card may travel 55 miles into the U.S. - except in the Nogales/Tucson area, where travel to Tucson is authorized.

The Border Crossing Card (BCC) is acceptable as a stand-alone document (by itself) only for travel from Mexico by land, or by pleasure vessel or ferry. Together with a valid passport, though, it meets the documentary requirements for entry at all land, air, and sea ports of entry (to include travel from Canada). Note: You must be a Mexican citizen and a resident of Mexico to have a BCC.

Given that you're traveling more then 55 miles into the country you will need a passport and if your passport is machine readable you shouldn't have to worry about the Border Crossing office reading it. The machine readable format is universal. Plus Mexico is exempt by the US from 6 months past leave date validity requirement.

So if the date says 3/6/2015 and it actually means June 3rd, 2015 then you should be fine but I would renew it anyway.

Upvote:25

You're relying on the desk agent (if flying), the border guard and the CBP (2-3 checks going there), and 2-3 checks coming back. Very unlikely, and a bad idea. If caught, ignorance is never accepted as a valid excuse, and you might get blacklisted in future.

Like Vegas, the risk outweighs the reward, not worth the gamble ;)

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