Passport Requirement Plan

[Northender]

Below is info I received from *****.com regarding the new passport rules. I don't know if this has been posted previously. If so, my apologies to all.

 

 

 

"Last month, the US Department of State announced a plan called the "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative," designed to enhance border security, which will require people traveling between the United States and the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada to have a passport to enter or re-enter the United States. Citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda will be affected.

 

Currently, passports are recommended, but not required, for travel to and from the destinations above. The new requirements are expected to be rolled out in phases according to the following schedule:

 

Beginning December 31, 2005, a passport will be required for all air and sea travel between the United States and the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America. All foreign nationals from these areas, and US citizens returning from these areas, will be required to show a passport to enter the United States.

 

Beginning December 31, 2006, a passport will be required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada. Canadian and Mexican citizens, and US citizens returning from Canada or Mexico, will be required to present a passport to enter or re-enter the United States.

 

Beginning December 31, 2007, a passport will be required for all air, sea or land travel to and from the above-mentioned destinations.

 

There are groups lobbying to change this timeline or the requirements, and there's a possibility that could happen, but it's becoming more likely that these new requirements will go into effect as planned. It's also likely that international frequent travelers holding Sentri, Nexus or Fast Cards, or Border Crossing Cards, may not need passports, but no final decision has been made.

 

Some cruise lines are encouraging anyone without a passport who plans to cruise to one of these areas in 2006 to start the passport application process now, to avoid delays that may occur as applications increase.

 

You can learn more about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative on the US Department of State's Web site. "

[Toto2Kansas]

The new passport regs are also posted at www.princess.com

But thanks for the reminder!

[taxatty]

These new rules have been posted and debated--just imagine how many will show up at the dock without passports despite repeated warnings and the chaos it will cause. The Miami Herald also reported today that the new requirements for the Caribbean along will cost those countries several BILLION dollars due to lost tourism, especially for those who try to book a cruise at the last minute and find out they can't due to a lack of a passport.

 

Les

[WazAnOkie]

Also check out http://travel.state.gov/passport for Passport info.

 

Should have everything you need to know about passports, including a link to:

Traveling to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico, or Canada?