If you plan to visit the 11 most popular national parks in the US – two of which are in California – the staff may ask a potentially disturbing question: Are you a US citizen?
A spokesman for the Department of Home Affairs said the question was only asked to ensure that the visitor would have to pay the non-occupancy fee – which is a large sum.
Updates to visitor verification and payments were announced in November by the Trump administration, which said that as of Jan. they will implement “America-first” admission policies.
“US citizens will continue to enjoy affordable prices, while non-citizens will pay a higher price to help support the upkeep and maintenance of America’s parks,” according to the announcement.
When you present your pass, or when you buy it at the park entrance, staff should ask for your ID and determine your citizenship status.
According to an internal National Park Service directive obtained by the Washington Post, employees are instructed to ask visiting groups, “How many visitors are not US citizens or residents?” The document also stated that “the fundraiser does not need to check who has visited.”
The Times has reached out to staff at Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks for comment; both parks referred questions to the National Park Service.
When do Park Service staff check a visitor’s citizenship status?
You will only be asked your citizenship status, in the form of ID verification, when you buy or use an annual pass, officials said.
“National Park Service personnel do not check immigration status, citizenship or residency beyond what is necessary to determine the eligibility of a particular entry fee or pass,” said Elizabeth Peace, a spokeswoman for the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Peace told The Times in an email that the Park Service “has long required employees to verify that the name on an interagency pass or payment-based information matches a valid photo ID.”
The agency’s updated policy is that all digital pass holders must show photo identification that matches the name on the pass. Acceptable forms of ID include:
- US passport
- US state or local driver’s license issued
- Country ID
- permanent residence card
You can only use a US birth certificate to verify your identity on Access Pass, which is for residents with permanent disabilities.
Visitors without a US government-issued ID will be asked to purchase a non-resident annual pass, Peace said. Those passes are very expensive.
How much do the passes cost?
The cost of the annual pass, which includes access to thousands of resorts but not other amenities including camping and parking, is:
- $80 for US residents
- $250 for non-residents
If a non-US resident wants to purchase a day pass, it will cost an additional $100 on top of the regular entry fee, which is $20 to $35.
The increased fees removed the controversy. National Parks Conservation Assn. said it supports efforts to increase funding to support parks but does not want the fees to be a barrier “that prevents people from experiencing America’s most iconic places.”
“Charging foreign visitors is not common around the world,” said Theresa Pierno, president of the organization, in a letter to the Department of the Interior, “but any such policy must be carefully designed to ensure that it does not create barriers or long lines for entry.”
In its report, the Post pointed out that the fee has led to long queues at the parks.
Another concern Pierno raised is how the certification process will affect workers who are already unemployed.
The National Park Service’s workforce has been cut by 24% since January of last year, meaning fewer fundraisers and IT specialists are needed as new funds are implemented.
Which parks are affected?
The 11 parks subject to additional fees for non-US residents include:
- Acadia
- Bryce Canyon
- The Everglades
- Snow
- Grand Canyon
- The Grand Teton
- Rocky Mountain
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon
- Yellowstone
- Yosemite
- Zion
