FYI: Passports: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

[cmason]

I have seen alot of uncertainty about the new passport rules, and found this on the Dept of State website:

 

 

 

What is the new travel document requirement?

 

All travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Canada or Mexico will be required to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior travel requirements. The goal is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors. This new requirement will be known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

 

Who does this requirement affect?

 

All United States citizens traveling within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports will be affected.

 

Certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States, namely most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and Mexican citizens will also be affected.

 

When will the new travel initiative requirement be implemented?

 

The travel initiative requirements will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline is as follows:

 

 

 

• December 31, 2005 – Passport or other accepted document required for all travel (air/sea) to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America.
  
• December 31, 2006 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.
  
• December 31, 2007 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air, sea and land border crossings.
  

How Do I get a passport?

 

U.S. citizens may visit the Passport section of this website for information on how to apply for a U.S. passport.

 

You should allow yourself a sufficient amount of time to apply and receive your passport in advance of travel. Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing of U.S. passport applications.

 

Peak U.S. passport processing is between January and July. For faster service, we recommend applying between August and December.

 

Foreign nationals should contact their respective governments to obtain passports.

 

Other than a passport, what types of documents will be acceptable under this initiative?

 

The passport is the document of choice because of the incorporated advanced security features. Individuals traveling to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico or Canada are encouraged to obtain a passport.

 

For land border crossings, other documents that we anticipate will be acceptable under this Initiative are SENTRI, NEXUS and FAST program cards. These are current international frequent traveler programs.

 

We anticipate that the Border Crossing Card (BCC – also known as “laser visa”) will also be acceptable as a substitute for a passport and a visa for citizens of Mexico traveling to the United States from contiguous territory.

 

No other document is currently available that will be an acceptable substitute for the passport, or the Border Crossing Card, SENTRI, NEXUS or FAST cards. However, we are using new technologies to create other acceptable travel documents. We will make public additional travel document options as they become available.

 

Why is the U.S. Government going to require a passport or other secure identity document?

 

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) mandated that the U.S. Secretaries of Homeland Security and State develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport or other appropriate secure identity and citizenship documentation when entering the United States.

 

For many years U.S. citizens, and some citizens of other countries in the Western Hemisphere including Canadians, have not been required to present a passport to enter the U.S. Other forms of documents, less secure than the passport, have historically been accepted.

 

In light of the new security efforts, the United States is requiring travelers to have a passport or other accepted document for entry into the United States.

 

Can the general public provide input into the planning and implementation the travel initiative requirements?

 

The Departments of State and Homeland Security will be asking for public comments on this initiative in the near future.

 

The government expects that acceptable documents must establish the citizenship and identity of the bearer through electronic data verification and will include significant security features. Ultimately, all documents used for travel to the United States are expected to include biometrics that can be used to authenticate the document and verify identity.

 

How will the new travel initiative requirements impact travel at the land borders?

 

The Departments of State and Homeland Security understand that the greatest potential change will occur at the land borders. The new statute specifically mandates that the concerns of border communities be considered. We recognize the implications this might have for industry, business and the general public, as well as our neighboring countries, and they are important partners in this initiative.

 

Will this requirement apply to travel between the United States and Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands?

 

Travel between the United States and U.S. territories will not be affected by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. U.S. citizens traveling between the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam will continue to be able to use established forms of identification to board flights and for entry.

 

If traveling outside of the United States or a U.S. territory, a passport or other secure document will be required. For example, a person may travel to and from the United States to the U.S. Virgin islands without a passport or other secure document, but under proposed regulations, a passport or other secure document would be required to re-enter the U.S. Virgin Islands from the British Virgin Islands or another country as of December 31, 2005.

 

[negc]

Nice to have information from an official site instead of rumors and reports of remarks made by anonymous customs or shipline personnel. You should note however that the schedule shown is the "proposed timeline" for when these new regulations will take effect. Until the proposed regulations receive formal approval, everything is still subject to modification or delay. President Bush, himself, has indicated that he disagrees with some of the proposals, so it would not surprise me to see some changes.

I think it is a good idea to have a passport and recommend that folks get them regardless of the eventual outcome with the proposed rules changes. Just don't panic.

[stillfrantic]

Specific countries are listed for the 2005 and 2006 dates. 2007 says all border crossings. Which ones are left after 2005 and 2006? Seems like the first 2 dates take care of every trip that doesn't currently need one.

[vacationbound]

I guess I don't understand all the time spent in wondering if you need a passport. JUST GET ONE!!!! What is the big deal?.....get one and then there is no worries. Again, I guess I just don't get the commotion and time spent disussing this issue. Anyone else feel the same, or am I off track??

[Lou_70]

I guess I don't understand all the time spent in wondering if you need a passport. JUST GET ONE!!!! What is the big deal?.....get one and then there is no worries. Again, I guess I just don't get the commotion and time spent disussing this issue. Anyone else feel the same, or am I off track??

 

Your right on target. Bout time someone just said stop whining and get a friggin passport. People look for things to worry about

[stillfrantic]

Who on this thread was worrying or complaining about getting a passport? The OP was just posting printed information for those who wanted to read the policy. :rolleyes:

[lamwnfa]

The 2005/2006 requirements are for travel by air or sea. The 2007 requirements would include the many land crossings between Mexico, The U.S. and Canada.

 

Because we live right on the border with Canada this is big news here. From what we've heard, the administration's concerns deal more with the impact on trade betweeen the countries and the impact on the local communities of border cities brought on by the land crossing requirements. I would think that the requirements for travel by sea/air will pass without issue.

[cmason]

For the record, I have had a passport for over 30 years....I actually find it odd that you can travel abroad WITHOUT a passport. Heck, we don't have exceptions for Driver's Licenses, it seems odd we would for passports.

 

But, since there are these exceptions, it is good to get the information out there as to when these exceptions will go away. I agree with the previous poster, as I do not think there is a chance in h*** that these regulations will not be put in place. Get your passports now if you dont have them.

 

I do think the fees are a bit high, but it you are traveling abroad (except for local boarder crossings) it seems a small fee to pay....