Can a U.S. citizen enter the US without a passport by land?
All U.S. citizens need U.S. passport books if re-entering by air. Land and sea border crossings accept additional travel documents, such as U.S. Passport cards and Trusted Traveler cards. Child travelers have additional options - see the Traveling with Children section.
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There are no penalties. The customs officials might be furious but the only thing they can do is confirm you're citizen and let you back in. As for leaving the US, the US doesn't have exit checkpoints so you can leave on any passport.
All U.S. citizens need U.S. passport books if re-entering by air. Land and sea border crossings accept additional travel documents, such as U.S. Passport cards and Trusted Traveler cards. Child travelers have additional options - see the Traveling with Children section.
If you are in the U.S. and you are flying domestically, the good news is that you do not need your passport. You can fly by showing any photo ID issued by the government. It can be done in all 50 U.S. states. Not only that, but the U.S. overseas territories also allow this.
You can only remain outside the United States, however, as long as you re-enter the U.S. before the expiration date printed on your travel document. The travel document is valid for one year after it's issued, typically within 150 days (in some cases longer) after submitting your application materials to USCIS.
If your passport's time is almost up, don't wait — start the renewal process now. You can't travel while your renewal application is being processed, and you need to make sure your travel documents are valid for at least six months past the dates of any planned international trips.
Entry into the United States: When traveling by air from Canada, U.S. citizens must present a U.S. passport book or other approved identification document. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website provides a full list of allowable documents.