Don't Trip Just Get Dual Citizenship

 

Updated May 28, 2025

Near The Border, SW - May 14, 2025  There's no need to relinquish or renounce your US nationality, So, don't trip just get dual citizenship.  I have mention in my last blog post 'real ID is in effect' about the May 7, 2025 deadline for the real ID. For those of us who frequently travel, we should have our ducks in a row by now🦆.  All others, people, please do not be ignorant and ignore(for those who do not have a driver license or state ids here in America) it's embarrassing, to say the least, but there are people who do not have these things. In the near future, you will need to get identification just to travel domestically.

Now, I know some of you are not really into having one, but how are you going to travel three months from now? Yes, less than 90 days. You have a limited time. And with the (45th), now 47th POTUS, in control, he's on a roll. With the DOGE. It's Trump 2.0 oh, say can you see?

In addition, if your traveling to the United Kingdom(UK) even if your just connecting flights and its not your final destination. You will need to fill out this form, before landing. Click here for the form. You will need to pay for the ETA(this is what they call it), which is $17.99 USD**. An electronic travel authorization (ETA) lets you travel to the UK for tourism, visiting family or certain other reasons for up to 6 months. An ETA costs €16.

It takes 3 business days(sometimes sooner).  This lasts for two years or until your passport expires which ever comes sooner. Only UK, Ireland and those with valid UK visas, do not need an ETA, nor do they need to pay this fee. This was supposed to goes into effect on April 2, 2025 for EU nationals, but has been extended. Stay tuned for updates on this blog post.

Also, know the laws and rules beforehand to any country that you or you and your group will travel to. You can run into trouble(without even knowing it) and you will have to abide in, that country; along with all its rules and regulations. Get travel insurance just in case. 

To my  Americans brothers and sisters, believers and non-believers, watch your mouths and how you carry on. Or you can and will be denied access into certain locales(even if you have the proper paperwork). So do a little google research, to the countries your traveling to. Not fully understanding any particular countries laws, before traveling would make you: 'a big dummy'(said in my Fred Sanford voice). Common sense is not common anymore. You have been warned.

I don't want to sound, like a Debbie downer with all these new rules coming into effect. Just travel smart, that part.

I will update this blog later.

Happy Travels.

Your Girl LG Who Travels

**At the close of markets on May 28, 2025

Photo Credit: jtl.columbia.edu

Links: For Landing form in the UK - https://apply-for-an-eta.homeoffice.gov.uk/apply/electronic-travel-authorisation/how-to-apply and ETA - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

*Dual Citizenship Blog post originally posted on GforceNews.blogspot.com

Real ID is in Effect

From ID to Shining Real IDs SW - May 7, 2025  Hey there. Today is the day, you'll need to have real ID to fly domestically. Even if you have a valid ID, here in America and it does not have a Star(in my state) or might be a flag(in your state) on the top right corner, of your license or state identification. YOU CAN NOT FLY. Did I say it loud enough. YOU CAN NOT FLY. 

You can only use your current standard state issued ids(without star or flag) for identification purpose only. See photo below.

TSA will not accept any ids without the star on it. Click here for acceptable identification at TSA checkpoints nationwide. There is something called enhanced driver's licenses. Five states issued them: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington. This particular ID allows land and sea border crossings to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands ONLY. Washington is the only state in the union that have a star and a U.S. flag symbol on it.

Now, that it has been said. I recommend you get a passport(if you do not have one yet) and a passport card as back up. Even if you don't think you will be travelling anytime some. Rules of travel are changing everywhere. Please note: the passport card in America is for limited usage for a selective countries near or bordering the US. The recommendation for the passport card is for a back up, like just in case.

In the UK, starting sometime this year of 2025. ALL U.S. passport holders and the 60 other countries posted in the photo below. Will have to get an ETIAS, in order, to travel across the pond(Atlantic Ocean) this summer; to Europe (aka the UK) and all 30 European Providences. You will need a visa, the new ETIAS. This ETIAS is currently not in effect. It goes into effect in six months(6) after the EES.  Click here to go to website for full details. This is a heads up, prepare now. I don't hear any major of minor new outlets talking about this.

UK nationals and their family members who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement are exempt from ETIAS: they may reside on the territory of their EU host country and travel to other European countries requiring ETIAS as long as they hold documents proving their status. There's a pdf downloadable files based off your country, click here. All 115 pages for those countries who are allowed. How about those apples? I'm definitely, going to, go into; this further in a another blog post. Don't let, not having an ETIAS, ruined your summer vacation this year. See if your country is listed below(click on photo to enlarge).

 Happy travels.

Your Girl LG Who Travels

Links: TSA checkpoints - https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification, ETIAS - https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/what-etias_en, PDF for the UK - https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1580206007232&uri=CELEX%3A12019W/TXT%2802%29, last two paragraphs from -https://gforcenews.blogspot.com/search?q=real+id