Important Reminder: New Requirements for Travelers under the WHTI
Since January , 2007
Source: U.S. Department of State
Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)
Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air
between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean,
and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S.
Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551,
if applicable.
January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between
the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda
by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport
or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent
legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland
Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance
notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards
for land/sea entries.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning
directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory
are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport.
U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Travel Documents for U.S. Citizens under WHTI
Under the proposed implementation plan, the following documents will be acceptable
to fulfill document requirements:
U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via
air or cruise ship between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the
Caribbean, and Bermuda, and may also use a U.S. passport when traveling via sea
and land borders (including ferry crossings).
The Passport Card (also referred to as the PASS Card): This limited-use passport
in card format is currently under development and will be available for use for
travel only via land or sea (including ferries) between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico,
the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Similar in size to a credit card, it will fit easily
into a wallet.
DOS and DHS also anticipate that the following documents will continue to be acceptable
for their current travel uses under WHTI: SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, and the U.S. Coast
Guard Merchant Mariner Document. As proposed, members of the U.S. Armed Forces on
active duty traveling on orders will continue to be exempt from the passport requirement.
Background
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires the Department
of Homeland Security and Department of State to develop and implement a plan to
require all travelers, U.S. citizens and foreign nationals alike, to present a passport
or other document, or a combination of documents, that denote identity and citizenship
when entering the United States. Congress amended portions of the Act in 2006. The
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is the Administration's proposed plan to
implement this mandate.
The goal of the Initiative is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry
into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing
standardized, secure and reliable documentation which will allow the Department
of Homeland Security to quickly, reliably and accurately identify a traveler.
GOOGLE Other Relevant Links
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
This information brought to you by JESS Kalinowsky. It is YOUR responsibility to have
all the proper travel documents in hand when checking in to board a flight off of
American soil to ANY international destination. If you do not have the proper documents,
you will not be allowed to board a airplane or cruise ship. Friends Travel strongly
urges you to check directly with each airline as to their rules and regulations about
their baggage policies, as those policies are changing frequently. It is the travelers
responsibility to be aware and adhere to the policies of each airline or cruiseline.
Friends Travel strongly urges you to read this website: http://www.TSA.gov
Friends Travel strongly urges you to ask for and buy travel insurance.
Info is available on both of our websites. Friends Travel also offers
Emergency Evacuation Insurance for your convenience and peace of mind.
http://www.FriendsTravel.net
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