General questions about possibly moving to Alaska (Bethel, Ferry: crime, closing) - (AK) - City-Data Forum

Sealtite · 11-23-2013, 09:01 PM

If I were to move to Alaska from the lower 48, would I need to have a passport? Do I need a secondary special passport to enter Alaska, or do I not need one at all because it's technically part of the United States? Is it true that persons moving to Alaska receive $5,000 in cash at the Alaskan border?

Metlakatla · 11-23-2013, 09:07 PM

Yes, all of this is the truth. Be sure to tell them at the passport office that you will need a special Alaskan passport -- without it, you won't get your 5K.

They won't hand you cash at the border, however. This would just create a situation where border patrols would become targets of crime due to having large amounts of cash in their stations. They will stamp your passport and issue you the necessary paperwork for getting your 5K. You'll need to set up an account with an Alaskan bank, though, and you'll receive your 5K in Alaskan currency via direct deposit.

Dakster · 11-23-2013, 09:15 PM

It you are a US Resident/Citizen and Fly or take a Ferry from Washington State in to Alaska you do not need a passport. It isn't technically part of the US, it IS part of the US. Just the same as PA is part of the US.

If you drive, there is currently no way to drive and stay in the US, you must at one point enter Canada. You will need a passport to enter Canada and you need to read up on their laws/rules. There are certain things you can't bring in, like most handguns, etc... Canada is its own country. For example, Fuel is sold in liters, money is in Canadian Dollars, and speed limits are in Kilometers Per Hour.

If they are giving out $5k at the border when I last went, I must have missed that part. There is a splitting of the oil royalties every year for AK Citizens, but you are not eligible until you have been an Alaskan resident for a year and you don't get it until the following year. If you time it just right you might only wait 2 years to get it. There are strict rules for it as well. IIRC, this year it was still under $1,000 per person. You can't live on it and from my own research it just helps to make up for that fact that the cost of living is more expensive in AK than most other places are.

AKStafford · 11-23-2013, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sealtite

If I were to move to Alaska from the lower 48, would I need to have a passport? Do I need a secondary special passport to enter Alaska, or do I not need one at all because it's technically part of the United States? Is it true that persons moving to Alaska receive $5,000 in cash at the Alaskan border?

Forgive me for being direct... but you are either an idiot or a troll.

Alaska is not just "technically" part of the US. It IS part of the US. It's just as much of a state as the other 49. Yes, if you are driving up, you'll need your passport for Canada. But obliviously that's because Canada is a separate country.
As far as the $5,000... Either you are surrounded by idiots giving you bad information, or you are incredibly gullible.

hogfamily · 11-23-2013, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sealtite

If I were to move to Alaska from the lower 48, would I need to have a passport? Do I need a secondary special passport to enter Alaska, or do I not need one at all because it's technically part of the United States? Is it true that persons moving to Alaska receive $5,000 in cash at the Alaskan border?

Alaska just recently merged with the Yukon, Northwest, and Nunavut Territories and have formed a new country. We will be closing the borders to all new comers in 24 hours. The only ones allowed in after that are the ones Rance and Met allow.

ysr_racer · 11-24-2013, 04:33 AM

You can't drive to Alaska because it's an island off the coast of Arizona . I've seen the map. But if Arizona is so warm in the summer, how does everybody in Alaska keep their igloos from melting?

hogfamily · 11-24-2013, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ysr_racer

You can't drive to Alaska because it's an island off the coast of Arizona . I've seen the map. But if Arizona is so warm in the summer, how does everybody in Alaska keep their igloos from melting?

Dang! If I knew that Hawaii was so close I would have been going there in my boat. I've been missing out all these years. Hey, yeah, if we are near Arizona and Hawaii why is it -3 here in Bethel this morning?!

Ted Bear · 11-24-2013, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hogfamily

Dang! If I knew that Hawaii was so close I would have been going there in my boat. I've been missing out all these years. Hey, yeah, if we are near Arizona and Hawaii why is it -3 here in Bethel this morning?!

I am not sure if you travel by boat that you get the $5,000.

That currency was based on a 'land grab' scenario, and was developed in concert with the Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territories, meaning that if you travel by boat you are ineligible for 'land' based currencies. It is a tricky thing which was partially developed to avoid having the Russians travel over the 'land' bridge' from Siberia, which can't actually be traversed any longer except by air plane (and sometimes by sled dog if it gets VERY cold).

So, be careful how you enter the island, and don't miss the opportunity to get the $5,000.

And yes, under the new scheme, I think you need a passport when you disembark from your vehicle. I think the Royal Canadians (mounted) demand it, at least for the Yukon part of the new territory.

The bigger question, with all the new developments in what was formerly the State of Alaska, is whether the new currency is a better deal than Bitcoins? I am not sure you can use the currency outside of the three new states (plus Alaska), but it does come in physical form (have you seen the coins with the Igloos on them? ( I think the cooler company in part sponsored that just to get their name out there, and also might have something to do with the $5,000 as they are trying to entice people into the new territory and encourage the use of Igloo Coolers until refrigeration can be established).

It is all very new, and hard to find info, To the OP, good luck on your journey. Take warm clothing once you leave Arizona, but I think the cooler will be provided once you get out of your vehicle. Spend your $5,000 wisely...I hear there are more than a few shills who will give you misinformation about what is really going on.

hogfamily · 11-24-2013, 01:02 PM

When did we change to hard currency? I have been using beaver pelts and beads.

Sealtite · 11-24-2013, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKStafford

Forgive me for being direct... but you are either an idiot or a troll.

Alaska is not just "technically" part of the US. It IS part of the US. It's just as much of a state as the other 49. Yes, if you are driving up, you'll need your passport for Canada. But obliviously that's because Canada is a separate country.
As far as the $5,000... Either you are surrounded by idiots giving you bad information, or you are incredibly gullible.

I'm thinking that things may have changed since you moved to Alaska, because I've been told that Alaska now has border agents and that they do in fact give you $5,000 if you're moving there.