Passports not needed

[christisamantha]

Hi ~

I just wanted to share that my travel agent did confirm for me yesterday that we will not need a passport ( we previously did) for our 1/06 cruise. She let us know so we could say a couple of hundred dollars ( we would need to purchase 3). I also should add that she did say Disney is recommending you get one since it is a good thing but it is not needed.

Just thought I would share in case anyone else was up in the air about purchasing them for next year.

CB

 

[TNTcruise]

Thanks for the update. Of course I just applied for our passport thinking it was needed for our 1/5/06 cruise. Oh well, I guess it is still good to have, just in case.

 

[SueEllen]

Keep in mind that Disney is currently still advising that passports will be required for travel as of January 1, 2006, so while the government has issued this press release regarding the dates, currently DCL is still advising that you WILL need passports for travel next year. DCL has not changed their policy on this for 2006 sailings as of yet. This is the newest press release from the www.travel.state.gov website:

Press Release: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Formally Sumbitted for Public Comment


Initiative Designed to Expedite Travel in the Western Hemisphere While Enhancing Security

Washington, D.C. – The Departments of Homeland Security and State formally submitted the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative proposal for public comment. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require all U.S. citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and citizens of Canada and Mexico to have a passport or other accepted secure document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States by January 1, 2008.

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 mandated that the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport, or other secure document when entering the United States.

In the proposed implementation plan, the Initiative 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 timeline will be as follows:

December 31, 2006 – Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
December 31, 2007 – Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

In April 2005, the Departments of State (State) and Homeland Security (DHS) announced a proposed plan to be implemented in three phases beginning on December 31, 2005 for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. After further review and considering the delay in publishing the public notice in the Federal Register, State and DHS recognized that implementing the December 31, 2005, phase would be problematic for travelers. This new timeline will simplify the implementation and provide a longer lead-time for travelers to come into compliance with the requirements.

As previously noted, the passport will be the document of choice for travel within the Western Hemisphere or re-entry. However, another document that we anticipate will be acceptable under the travel initiative is the Border Crossing Card, (BCC – or “laser visa”). Currently, the BCC serves in lieu of a passport and a visa for citizens of Mexico traveling to the U.S. from contiguous territory. Other documents that we are considering for acceptance under this initiative are the Customs and Border Protection Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI), NEXUS and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program cards.

No currently existing documents other than the BCC, SENTRI, NEXUS or FAST cards are under active consideration as substitutes for the passport. However, DHS and State are reviewing new technological developments regarding options for secure travel documents. Acceptable documents must establish the citizenship and identity of the bearer, and include significant security features. Ultimately, all documents used for travel to the U.S. are expected to include biometrics that can be used to authenticate the document and verify identity.

To provide vital information to the general public, the Departments of Homeland Security and State are issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on the plan to the public and requesting input and/or comment on the suggested documents and possible alternative documents that can meet the statutory requirements. A more formal rulemaking will be issued later this year following review of those comments to implement the first phase of the initiative. This rulemaking will take into account comments received from the ANPRM as well as soliciting further comments on the rulemaking itself.

Those wishing to comment on the proposal may access the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for submitting comments.

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


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Joeski71]

Sue Ellen, I called DCL and they said that passports are not needed until 12/31/06. I made sure to ask DCL and not just go by the government announcement.

 

[petchie]

DCL is reporting that passports are not needed until 12/31/2006.

 

[F1Julie]

This is great news! I was thinking I may have to back out of the cruise I have booked for 12/06 because of passport issues. I'm a single mom and to get a passport for my DD requires the consent of her uncooperative father. I'm so glad I won't have to deal with that now.

 

[SueEllen]

This is great news! I was thinking I may have to back out of the cruise I have booked for 12/06 because of passport issues. I'm a single mom and to get a passport for my DD requires the consent of her uncooperative father. I'm so glad I won't have to deal with that now.

Julie, there is a form you can fill out and have notarized if you cannot get a signature from the other parent to get the passport. Statement of Consent: Issuance of a passport ot a minor under age 14.
Section 4b is for "statement of special circumstances by applying parent or guardian when the written consent of the non-applying parent or guardian cannot be obtained" It's pretty easy to do if you need to.

Sue Ellen

 

[Jillpie]

SueEllen, when exactly did Disney tell you that they are requiring them? I also spoke to them last week after the official word came down, and they confirmed that we will not need them for our June cruise, 2006. They have never said they will be requiring them, especially if the government is not insisting on it. Thats strange they told you that??

 

[tvguy]

This is great news! I was thinking I may have to back out of the cruise I have booked for 12/06 because of passport issues. I'm a single mom and to get a passport for my DD requires the consent of her uncooperative father. I'm so glad I won't have to deal with that now.

Someone help me here. Don't they require a lone parent to have notorized permission from the other parent to take a child out of the country anyway, even if the country you are going to does not require a passport?

 

[indymom1]

I just called DCL to verify that our group of 18 does or does NOT need passports and what the CM told me was that at this point Disney is still suggesting that you get them because until the end of the year they will not know for sure if the government is going to enact the law or not. She did go on to say that if the government does not require a passport then neither would DCL. This seems very confusing to me. If the goverment has already stated that they have backed up the start date for this program how come DCL can't verify that info and then inform you correctly what they will require?? She was saying she would get the passport applications in as soon as possible since the longer you wait the more it will cost and the longer it will take since everyone else will be getting them too. What are we supposed to do??

 

[TMTIP]

Please be sure that you have the correct information. I am a travel agent and we have recieved info stating that as of Dec 31, 2005 a passport will be needed for travel outside of the country (except for Mexico and Canada), this includes all cruises.

 

[Jillpie]

Please be sure that you have the correct information. I am a travel agent and we have recieved info stating that as of Dec 31, 2005 a passport will be needed for travel outside of the country (except for Mexico and Canada), this includes all cruises.

Tracy, were you told that after this new timeline has been established? ....have you seen the most current timeline on the govt. website? That should be helpful in what to tell your clients.

 

[kelscross]

At our local BMV there was a posting outside the office stating that as of 1/1/06 all travel to the carribean requires a passport and to allow 6-8 weeks for processing.


Where do you find out about getting consent from the other parent about travel? I am the sole custodial parent of my children so I was unaware that I had to have my exh permission to travel with the kids. I know before the divorce was final I had to have his permission to move with the kids out of the county, that had to be stated in our separation agreement. Once custody was established then my attorney said it was not necessary.

 

[ivanova]

At our local BMV there was a posting outside the office stating that as of 1/1/06 all travel to the carribean requires a passport and to allow 6-8 weeks for processing.


Where do you find out about getting consent from the other parent about travel? I am the sole custodial parent of my children so I was unaware that I had to have my exh permission to travel with the kids. I know before the divorce was final I had to have his permission to move with the kids out of the county, that had to be stated in our separation agreement. Once custody was established then my attorney said it was not necessary.

if you have sole physical custody you probably just need copies of your divorce papers stating that -- that's all a friend of ours needed for her DCL cruise.

 

[F1Julie]

I haven't needed my ex's permission to cruise on DCL (I just had to bring my DD's birth certificate), but to get a passport you either need to have your ex sign the notarized form or he needs to come with you to get the passport.

 

[musicgirl]

DCL has been strongly recommending the passports all along. That is different from requiring them.

It sounds like a lot of places need to update their information on this subject. It hasn't been out long and perhaps some have not been following as closely as we all have been.

If the govt. site is stating 12-31-06, I'm going with this with a confirmation from DCL. I know the govt. can do some crazy things, but I can not imagine them changing the date again, especially making it any sooner.

I highly doubt that DCL would suddenly change their policy going against the govt. timeline in the event that it might cause people to cancel and possibly not book. I would think that DCL would be happy with the new timeline.

I would be very upset with a TA who did not give me the correct information one way or another. If the TA isn't sure, they should tell you and then look into it. It is pretty clear from the site. Let's face it, this is not brain surgery!!! If you have a TA working for you, you need to ask. If they tell you that you must have one, I would e-mail the govt. site to them and find a new TA. This is their job.

Go ahead and get mad at my harshness, but I am so tired of people giving out wrong information. Or people who are trying to create panic about getting the passports now and that maybe DCL might change it's mind or that having passports is the only way to go, etc.......

Are people upset that we don't have to get passports for our upcoming cruise when they already have theirs?

I did see on the news one of the reasons mentioned for the push for passports vs. bcs. They said it is easier to find the information on the passports because it is always in the same place unlike the birth certificates that vary from place to place.

I may not be a politician or a genius, but I can not possibly be the only one to solve this problem. Why not have every state issue the same bc. form???? $10 is a far cry from $97.

 

[SueEllen]

At our local BMV there was a posting outside the office stating that as of 1/1/06 all travel to the carribean requires a passport and to allow 6-8 weeks for processing.


Where do you find out about getting consent from the other parent about travel? I am the sole custodial parent of my children so I was unaware that I had to have my exh permission to travel with the kids. I know before the divorce was final I had to have his permission to move with the kids out of the county, that had to be stated in our separation agreement. Once custody was established then my attorney said it was not necessary.

There are two different things being discussed here.

First, as the parent of a child you will not need the other parent's permission to travel on the cruise, even if you are not the parent with custody (just the certified birth certificate for the child)--you just need both parents for the passport application (or in the case where both cannot appear when applying, or the permission of the other parent cannot be obtained you fill out the Statement of Consent: Issuance of a passport ot a minor under age 14 link to document

As for the passports being required, when booking reservations DCL is still advising that passports will be necessary for travel in 2006 (but as I said above that is subject to change at any time.) The OFFICIAL timeline for the implementation from the department of Homeland Security has not finalized that. The most current update I posted above (and it shows 12/31/06) but again, the final version has not yet been released.

It's always better to get the passport in plenty of time *just in case* you need it rather than have to get expedited service and pay $60 more if you wait too long.

Sue Ellen

 

[musicgirl]

Well, I just got off of the phone with DCL and I am quite satisfied that I will not need a passport. I was told that as long as the govt. is not requiring the passports, DCL will not either.

She again said they are recommending them just in case the govt. changes anything. But if we are all talking about the same govt. They usually don't do anything very quickly.

My dh says I should make this my last post on the subject because it is driving him nuts when I talk about it. I hope I can resist!

 

[Joeski71]

The govt has changed the date because they said that they did not feel that enough notice was given, it would make no sense at all to change back to that date after amending the date to 12/31/06. I am going to keep my $400.00 and bring our birth certificates, a lot of us do not have the extra cash to get the passport just to have it. I think a lot of the people on these boards have A LOT of money and have a hard time relating to us 'little people'. You can tell by the frequency at which some people cruise, some SEVERAL times a year. I am lucky if I can afford 1 cruise every 2 years for my family of 4 so the $400.00 is a significant amount of money to me.

 

[Jillpie]

There are two different things being discussed here.

First, as the parent of a child you will not need the other parent's permission to travel on the cruise, even if you are not the parent with custody (just the certified birth certificate for the child)--you just need both parents for the passport application (or in the case where both cannot appear when applying, or the permission of the other parent cannot be obtained you fill out the Statement of Consent: Issuance of a passport ot a minor under age 14 link to document

As for the passports being required, when booking reservations DCL is still advising that passports will be necessary for travel in 2006 (but as I said above that is subject to change at any time.) The OFFICIAL timeline for the implementation from the department of Homeland Security has not finalized that. The most current update I posted above (and it shows 12/31/06) but again, the final version has not yet been released.

It's always better to get the passport in plenty of time *just in case* you need it rather than have to get expedited service and pay $60 more if you wait too long.

Sue Ellen

I must ask you again. When did you last speak with DCL on this issue? I spoke with DCL just today about our reservation and asked them again...do I need passports for our cruise in June? They said no, it is not necessary until Dec. 2006. They are NOT advising that it is necessary to travel in 2006. I just wonder if you have spoken to them in the last week?