5 ms·

Except in every practical way... ergo, the common misunderstanding.

• rdouble 13y ago
  Not really. Most Americans don't have a passport and it doesn't affect them at all.
  • joekrill 13y ago
    I can't imagine there are very many Americans that are _not in the US_ that don't have a passport and it doesn't affect them at all.
    • rdouble 13y ago
      Unless you're in transit between countries, it doesn't affect you as much as you might think. I lived in Japan for a year and pretty much only used my passport when I entered and left the country. Same goes with my sisters who moved overseas. They take out their US passport about once every 4 years, when they come back to the USA to visit.
    • malandrew 13y ago
      In Russia, it's actually super important since foreigners need to register at the local police station with their passport in any town/city where they state more than a few days. Not registering within the allotted time period, based on dates of transportation tickets like a train ticket or flight stub, makes you the target of police extortion. Russia is definitely one of those "Ihre papiere bitte" countries.