Passports needed for the Bahamas after State Dept. Changes?

[msim]

I just read that passports are going to be required after 12/31/05 for alot of the places we used to travel with just our birth certificates. Does anyone know if this also includes the Bahamas? Thanks in advance.

 

[DisneyElf]

From what I have been reading the Caribbean is incl. in requiring passports.

 

[becky7953]

Does this include children too? Or does a birth certificate still work?

 

[Mommy Poppins]

From what I understand passports will be required for everyone (children/infants included) to re-enter the United States.

 

[goofymama]

I thought that Children did NOT need a passport - just a birth certificate and accompanied by a parent. Does anyone know for sure????

 

[Rence]

I went to the state department site. All references said 'ALL' travelers reentering the country. There was no exclusions for children mentioned.

I read the transcript of a press conference regarding the change and someone pointed out that it would be almost $500 in passport fees for a family of five traveling out of the country and the person from the state department said that this was correct. So this also implied that the expectation was that children would require passports.

The rules are still being finalized. There is some discussion of alternative forms of identification (special traveler cards, not birth certificates) that would be accepted. Once these rules are finalized I am sure that DCL will spread the word so that everyone has plenty of time to get their passports.

 

[DrCavin]

Here is a link to the state department website that has the info...

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2224.html

It says "Proposed Timeline for implementation", not sure if these dates are finalized or not...

 

[becky7953]

Thanks everyone!

 

[tvguy]

For alot of us this is no big deal. It's ALWAYS been better to travel with Passports. My kids are 14 and 18 and have had their Passports since age 2.
I got hassled going INTO Canada 16 years ago with my now 18 year old, we had a birth certificate, but Immigration there said while a Passport is not required, it will ALWAYS speed up your travels.
We use them in place of B/C for school, little league, soccer too, physically a much more durable document than a B/C.