Passport rules delayed

[Hacek]

A new State Department press release was issued on November 23, 2006 announcing further delays for the new Western Hemisphere passport rules.

 

Beginning on January 23, 2007 passports will be required for citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda entering the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere.

 

The passport rules for travelers entering the United States through landand sea border crossings will not go into effect until January 1, 2008 at the earliest.

 

I received my cruise documents today for a December cruise on Westerdam and it included a notice that the land and sea passport rules will go into effect on June 1, 2009. While this date is not official, it certainly seems plausible. The best resource for updates is the State Department website (www.travel.state.gov/passport).

 

This should give cruisers waiting for their passport to arrive a little less stress over the next few weeks!