passport requirements

[bia]

:o need information passport requirements for april 08

it would save my children and grandkids a lot of money. we are alreading paying for the cruise so would like to save this additional monies

bia

[cherylandtk]

bia, I just wrote a long answer to this in the other thread--including links to the DHS actual rule making and the exception for cruises.

[paul929207]

Requirements vary by destination. For most of the world US citizens have needed passports for years. It appears that US citizens will not need a passport to cruise the Caribbean in April. However, they are required for US citizens who fly from or to the US.

 

In an emergency, you can fly back to the US without a passport, but there are hassles invlved.

 

If you are flying to the cruise and arrive after the ship sails, you will not be allowed to fly to a foreign port without a passport.

[rccl9876]

Doesn't a birth certificate work as well?

[cherylandtk]

Doesn't a birth certificate work as well?

On some cruises, but not all. As paul said, it depends on your itinerary.

[Kudos2Fly]

As of July 08 everyone needs a passport for any cruises. We have a family cruise coming up in Dec. 08 so this came up with us.. You will not need one for you Apr. cruise as far as I know. But after Jul any future cruises you need one.

[dforeigner]

Some cruise lines are requiring Passports starting mid January 08 regardless of the Government's deadline.

[fann1sh]

As of July 08 everyone needs a passport for any cruises. We have a family cruise coming up in Dec. 08 so this came up with us.. You will not need one for you Apr. cruise as far as I know. But after Jul any future cruises you need one.

 

Some cruise lines are requiring Passports starting mid January 08 regardless of the Government's deadline.

 

And the government's deadline is NOT written in stone as coming into effect for July. The deadline could be moved up without warning - or rolled back. That's why some cruise lines are insisting on passports, to be sure they and their pax are covered if things suddenly get weird.

 

Whenever the rules come into effect, it will apply not just to cruising, but to land border crossings into Canada and Mexico. Bia, if your kids and grandkids are New Yorkers like you, they should consider: no Niagara Falls casinos without a passport.

 

Since I cross the border at least once a week, I finally knuckled under and got the passport now :cool: to avoid the crush later when the deadline actually hits :eek:. Lots of passport clinics on both sides of the border around here.

[dforeigner]

And the government's deadline is NOT written in stone as coming into effect for July. The deadline could be moved up without warning - or rolled back. That's why some cruise lines are insisting on passports, to be sure they and their pax are covered if things suddenly get weird.

 

Whenever the rules come into effect, it will apply not just to cruising, but to land border crossings into Canada and Mexico. Bia, if your kids and grandkids are New Yorkers like you, they should consider: no Niagara Falls casinos without a passport.

 

Since I cross the border at least once a week, I finally knuckled under and got the passport now :cool: to avoid the crush later when the deadline actually hits :eek:. Lots of passport clinics on both sides of the border around here.

 

You are correct.

 

Travelers Reminded of New Document Requirements Beginning January 31, 2008

Documents Proving Citizenship, Identity Will be Required when Entering U.S. Through Land and Sea Ports.

 

(Monday, December 03, 2007)

 

 

Washington – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) remind the traveling public that as of Jan. 31, 2008, all adult travelers will be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, and proof of identity, such as a driver’s license, when entering the United States through land and sea ports of entry. DHS will be issuing a notice in the Federal Register formally announcing the change.

This change is a necessary step to prepare travelers and ease the transition to the future requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). WHTI proposes to establish documentation requirements for travelers entering the United States who were previously exempt, including citizens of the U.S., Canada, and Bermuda. As recommended by the 9/11 Commission, Congress enacted WHTI in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. WHTI will result in both enhanced security and increased facilitation across the border once implemented. During this transition, DHS and the Department of State are working diligently to minimize the impact on legitimate trade and travel.

 

 

Currently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers may accept oral declarations of citizenship from U.S. and Canadian citizens seeking entry into the United States through a land or sea border. However, as of January 31, 2008:

• Oral declarations of citizenship alone will no longer be accepted
  
• U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older will need to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate
  
• Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate
  
• Passports and trusted traveler program cards - NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST - will continue to be accepted for cross-border travel

All existing nonimmigrant visa and passport requirements will remain in effect and will not be altered by this change.

 

 

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/12032007_4.xml

[cherylandtk]

As of July 08 everyone needs a passport for any cruises... But after Jul any future cruises you need one.

I am sorry, but this statement is just flat out incorrect. RT from the US cruises will not need a passport. Regardless of when the second phase of the WHTI is enacted. Its on the DHS website, there are many posts in this thread and the FAQ thread with the link. Here is the text:

• U.S. citizens on round trip cruise ship voyages that originate and end in the United States may present a government-issued photo ID and birth certificates, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad or Certificates of Naturalization.

Here is the DHS website:

http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1182350422171.shtm

Some cruise lines are requiring Passports starting mid January 08 regardless of the Government's deadline.

I cannot find anything to support this statement dforeigner. In fact, everything I find says just the opposite. Could you clarify which cruiseline intends to do this?

 

I have been in contact with Carnival Corp. and they inform me they will not have a passport requirement greater than that of the Government. I believe no cruiseline will because

A) It would be economically irresponsible and would leave them liable to lawsuits from their stockholders and

B) the passport exception was made because of cruiseline written requests to do so.

 

They (Carnival) have acknowledged to me that their websites imply one must have a passport, because they do prefer that their pax have a passport just for ease of processing and in case of emergency. Not one of them states that they will have a more stringent rule, they all all defer to the government regulations and say to check with those.

 

And the government's deadline is NOT written in stone as coming into effect for July. The deadline could be moved up without warning - or rolled back. That's why some cruise lines are insisting on passports, to be sure they and their pax are covered if things suddenly get weird.

True the deadline is not written in stone, and in fact is likely to be delayed. July is not written anywhere other than this thread, the government is just saying "mid-2008" for that matter. Rolling back the dealine would require funding and a passcard process; it's not gonna happen earlier. Congress could not even vote to fix the AMT this year, they are not going to get their act together to fund this one earlier than planned. As for cruiselines having a more stringent rule than the government, see above paragraph.

 

Whenever the rules come into effect, it will apply not just to cruising, but to land border crossings into Canada and Mexico. Bia, if your kids and grandkids are New Yorkers like you, they should consider: no Niagara Falls casinos without a passport.

 

Since I cross the border at least once a week, I finally knuckled under and got the passport now :cool: to avoid the crush later when the deadline actually hits :eek:. Lots of passport clinics on both sides of the border around here.

A land border crossing definitely will require a passport or passcard and for you it is a very wise move. But the part about cruising is not correct. Yes, its very ironic, you will need a passport/passcard to drive across the border to Canada. You will not need one to cruise RT to the Caribbean.

[cherylandtk]

You are correct.

 

Travelers Reminded of New Document Requirements Beginning January 31, 2008

Documents Proving Citizenship, Identity Will be Required when Entering U.S. Through Land and Sea Ports.

 

(Monday, December 03, 2007)

 

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/12032007_4.xml

Just to clarify, this is not a sudden or newly decided change as the red highlight of 'could be moved up without warning' might imply. This particular requirement has been planned since before June 2007, and is just now getting close to the planned implementation date of January 2008. It is a requirement that land or sea border crossings show documentation and may no longer just verbally declare they are US citizens. (A BC and DL will suffice, a passport is not required.)