Passport Laws Are Changing 12/31/05!

[fourfoxesinpa]

I got the following email and link from a travel agent that I had requested a cruise quote on some time ago. It affects travel to the Caribbean and Mexico so I thought I'd post it here. There is a FAQ section on the government page that answers many questions.



New Requirements for Travelers Between the United States and the Western Hemisphere

Travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada will be required to have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement.
Proposed Timeline for Implementation for Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Requirements
The travel initiative requirements will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed implementation timeline is as follows:
December 31, 2005 – Passport or other accepted document required for all travel (air/sea) to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America.
December 31, 2006 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.
December 31, 2007 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air, sea and land border crossings.
Click here for the latest information regarding passports.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

 

[ljql_5969]

I wonder about this because it says "passport or other accepted document". I wonder if they will still consider the birth certificate an "accepted document".

I asked my TA about this a month or so ago since we are traveling next year and I had read about this previously on the boards and she said she had not heard anything.

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

The government website doesn't mention birth certificate but it lists 3 or 4 other types of ID, none of which I'm familiar with. If I personally had a cruise scheduled past 12/31/05, I'd not only get in touch with Disney to doublecheck but also my travel agent. Then, I'd go to Walmart to get my passport pictures taken and renew my expired one. It does make so much more sense to require them since there are at least 50 versions of birth certificates being presented and many opportunities for forgeries.

 

[jacobatt1]

Posted on another thread:



The other accepted documents are called: Sentri that is used for Mexico travel or a Nexus for Canada travel. These are issued to individuals who travel to that country frequently for business purposes only, and can be used instead of a passport.


Sounds like a birth certificate isn't going to be an option!

Amy

 

[ljql_5969]

I emailed my TA about this when I saw the post this morning. She said that from what she is hearing, these will not be definite until 2008. Just thought I would add that.

 

[232271]

I emailed my TA about this when I saw the post this morning. She said that from what she is hearing, these will not be definite until 2008. Just thought I would add that.

The travel initiative requirements will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed implementation timeline is as follows:

* December 31, 2005 – Passport or other accepted document required for all travel (air/sea) to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America.
* December 31, 2006 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.
* December 31, 2007 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air, sea and land border crossings.