|
On June 1, 2009, U.S.
citizens returning home by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region
or Bermuda are required to have a passport, passport
card, or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland
Security. Before these new rules went into effect, U.S. citizens only needed to show proof of
identity and U.S. citizenship.
AIR
TRAVEL
As of January 1, 2008,
U.S. citizens returning from
Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region or Bermuda, by air,
are required to present a passport to enter or re-enter the United
States.
LAND AND SEA
TRAVEL
Now, as of June 1, 2009, the
full requirements of the "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" regarding land
and sea travel are being implemented. U.S. citizens entering the U.S. by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region or Bermuda will be required to present one of the following
travel documents:
- U.S.
Passport
This is an internationally
recognized travel document that verifies a person's identity and nationality. It
is accepted for travel by air, land and sea.
- U.S. Passport
Card
This is a new, limited-use travel
document that fits in your wallet and costs less than a U.S. Passport. It is
only valid for travel by land and sea.
- Enhanced Driver's
License (EDL)
Several states are issuing this
driver's license or identification document that denotes identity and
citizenship. It is specifically designed for cross-border travel into the
U.S. by land or
sea.
- Trusted Traveler
Program Cards
NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST enrollment
cards can speed your entry into the U.S. and are issued only to
pre-approved, low-risk travelers. The cards are valid for use at land or sea;
the NEXUS card can be used at airports with a NEXUS kiosk.
Document Rules
for Special Groups:
- Children
U.S. citizen
children under the age of 16 will be able to present the original or copy of
their birth certificate, or other proof of U.S.
citizenship such as a naturalization card or citizenship
card.
- Groups of
Children
Groups of U.S. citizen children ages
16 through 18, when traveling with a school or religious group, social
organization, or sports team, will be able to enter under adult supervision with
originals or copies of their birth certificates or other proof of
citizenship.
- "Closed
Loop" Cruises
Travelers in
cruises that depart from a U.S. port, sail only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same port do not
have to comply with the new rules.
- Other Special
Groups
Members of the military, members of
the merchant marine, and Native Americans can also use special forms of
identification.
ABOUT THE WESTERN
HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE (WHTI)
The Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative (WHTI) is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2004 to strengthen U.S. border security while facilitating entry for
U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign
visitors by providing standardized documentation that enables the Department of
Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler. The initiative
requires all travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes
identity and citizenship when entering the United
States. The countries covered by the Western
Hemisphere Travel Initiative are Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region and Bermuda.
MORE
INFORMATION
|
Constituent Services 
