Not until at least January 1, 2008, will 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), 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:

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.

 

Still no passport? How about these options?

By Kristin Jackson

Seattle Times Travel staff

Planning a last-minute getaway to Mexico or the Caribbean later this month or next? Or a flight to a Canadian ski resort?

If so, you'd better have a passport by Jan. 23, when new rules require all air travelers — including children — returning (or arriving) in the United States to have a passport.

If you don't have a passport and don't want to get one in a hurry, here are some alternatives — given that land and sea travelers to Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico don't yet need one.

• Take a cruise that visits Mexican or Caribbean ports. Sea and land travelers won't need a passport for those destinations until 2008 at the earliest — and perhaps not until 2009.

• Instead of flying across the border into Mexico (for which you'll soon need a passport), drive or take a bus. From San Diego, head for Rosarito in Baja California; from Tucson, Ariz., drive to Puerto Penasco, also known as Rocky Point, a beach community.

Even though you may be able to drive or take a ferry or cruise ship across some borders without yet having a passport, you still must have some formal identification.

Be aware that U.S. law requires you to document both your U.S. citizenship and identity when you re-enter the United States. That means returning from a weekend trip to Vancouver, B.C., with just a driver's license technically is not enough since a license doesn't prove your citizenship.

While the best document to prove U.S. citizenship is a valid passport, there are other options. According to the State Department's Web site, other documents that establish U.S. citizenship include an expired U.S. passport; a certified copy of your birth certificate; a Certificate of Naturalization; a Certificate of Citizenship; or a Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. citizen.

To prove your identity (if you aren't traveling with a passport), you need either a valid driver's license or government identification with a photo.

Travelers who don't have sufficient documents could have difficulty and delays in returning to the United States. They likely would need to undergo secondary screening, with citizenship being checked through databases.

Some material from the Associated Press is included in this report.

Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue or verify United States passports.

To obtain a passport for the first time, you need to go in person to one of  9,000 passport acceptance facilities located throughout the United States with two photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. citizenship, and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license.

Acceptance facilities include many Federal, state and probate courts, post offices, some public libraries and a number of county and municipal offices. There are also 13 regional passport agencies, and 1 Gateway City Agency, which serve customers who are traveling within 2 weeks (14 days), or who need foreign visas for travel. Appointments are required in such cases.

You’ll need to apply in person if you are applying for a U.S. passport for the first time:  if your expired U.S. passport is not in your possession; if your previous U.S. passport has expired and was issued more than 15 years ago; if your previous U.S. passport was issued when you were under age 16; or if your currently valid U.S. passport has been lost or stolen.

For more information on getting a new passport, please click How to get a passport.

How to renew a U.S. Passport

You can renew by mail if: Your most recent passport is available to submit and it is not damaged; you received the passport within the past 15 years; you were over age 16 when it was issued; you still have the same name, or can legally document your name change.

You can get a passport renewal application form by downloading it from this site.

If your passport has been, altered or damaged, you cannot apply by mail. You must apply in person.

For more information on how to renew a passport, please click: How to renew a passport.

For more information, please visit www.travel.state.gov or www.dhs.gov.

For more information about applying for a passport, U.S. citizens may visit www.travel.state.gov or call the National Passport Information Center toll free at 1-877-4USA-PPT or TDD/TYY: 1 (888) 844-7793. Foreing nationals should contact their respective governments to obtain passports.

For additional information on passports