Traveling On A US Passport Is Good: Not Bad

Intro

Ever since Trump came into office this year, I have seen countless upon countless posts of people saying that “the US passport is weak” and even writing notes in their passport saying “we didn’t vote for him”. So, while I do not speak on politics (I’ll explain why in another post) I will speak about how the US passport is still the strongest in the world, even if it isn’t on paper. 

The Unwritten Rule: People Respect The USA But Not For Good Per Se 

Let’s be honest, as people who hold US passports, we have a privilege due to having the largest military in the world. It doesn’t matter if you go to countries that are seen as opponents, or even countries known for kidnapping, such as Yemen and Somalia; people still respect the US passport. 

However, there are a few reasons for this: 

1. People still view America as the land of opporunity, at least from what they have heard. As an example, I was in Yemen last week and everybody kept saying to me “we love America”, and “we want to move there”. So yes, on the one hand, governments might not be the greatest fans of the US, a lot of these people don’t support their current regime (in many countries), and believe the US will be better. Even parts of China honestly… 

2. America doe not screw around. Sorry to say, but in the likes of Somalia, people will be more inclined to make a deal on the spot than kidnap you due to military involvement. We love our weapons in this country, for better or worse, and will use them at any given opportunity. Compare this with the likes of some other countries who prefer more diplomatic channels or those that don’t hold the same military stance, it really does show. 

3. Money. This can be tied into a good way or bad way, but as US passport holders traveling, we tend to have a higher income in general*** than certain other passport holders. We know we can pay to get out of situations, and most likely will if needed (smaller situations, not bigger). To take it a step further, in many countries in Africa with a US passport, people will ask you for money to speed up the process

Backdoor access in many regards

The Bad Parts Of Having A US Passport

1. Money. Yes we are back on the topic of money. Whether it comes to the likes of a visa in Brazil or even a hotel in Myanmar charging more, we are going to pay as US passport holders. People see America and think money in most countries, and rightfully so, as we are portrayed as a relatively rich nation around the world. This also applies to bribes, as we often have to pay more. 

2. Visas to certain countries. Being from a “neutral” country, or however you want to portray it, makes a lot more visas easier to obtain. As an example, I am in the process of getting a visa to Belarus, and it is quite a challenge compared to someone from Switzerland, per se. Not that it is easy from there, but it is easier. Bribery will often occur in many African countries, just to “speed up” the process; otherwise, it can take “months”. 

Final Thoughts 

Look, I was in Yemen and realized for the first time that having a US passport, as much as it can annoy me with hefty bribes, comes with a get out of jail free card 99% of the time. People don’t want to mess with a US citizen more than they have to anymore as it just opens a can of worms. In the US, we have a big military, and we just love using it: people know that. 

My Personal Note:

This is not for all American citizens and not for those who are worried about skipping lines in Europe. This is more directed towards the worst of the worst circumstances. After being held at gunpoint in Somalia, detained by the Junta in Myanmar, and bribing officials in South Sudan, my personal take is that there is a “handle with care sticker" on a US Passport.