Passports to be required for Canada, Mexico, others soon

[SeattleMark]

Americans will need passports to re-enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, Panama and Bermuda by 2008, part of a tightening of U.S. border controls in an era of terrorist threat, three administration officials said today.
Similarly, Canadians will also have to present a passport to enter the United States, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Canadians have been the only foreigners allowed to enter the United States with just a driver's license.

Details here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002231386_webpassports05.html

 

[StuartMI]

From the Canadian side:

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...656&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154

 

[Amberle3]

I dont' understand why the US reports are saying 2008 and the Canadian reports are saying 2007 (well "the end of 2006").

The first article I saw on this back in February (http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2005-02-16-border-travel_x.htm) said 2008 as well.

 

[TheWog]

This is right from the State Department website.



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.

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


Now we must define "other accepted document".

 

[TheWog]

I dont' understand why the US reports are saying 2008 and the Canadian reports are saying 2007 (well "the end of 2006").

The first article I saw on this back in February (http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2005-02-16-border-travel_x.htm) said 2008 as well.

Air/sea travel is Dec 31, 2006

Air/sea/Land travel is Dec 31, 2007

 

[ivanova]

glad we already have our passports - applying for passports will quickly clog up (and slow down) the system - especially as folks realize that this means passports will be required for ALL cruises.

 

[Amberle3]

I'm assuming "other accepted document" is the travel ID card they were talking about. Instead of a passport you can get the card, you go through an extensive background check for it. The only problem I see with the card is that it basically allows you access to the US, but that's it. If you're travelling any place that requires a passport then you still have to have one, so might as well get the passport.

 

[lbgraves]

Have you seen the cost for this card? I can't even find mention of it on the state department's website.

 

[TheWog]

Have you seen the cost for this card? I can't even find mention of it on the state department's website.

I think she may be referring to a Canadian ID card.

 

[Amberle3]

I don't think that it's a Canadian ID card because it's mentioned in the first article about the new requirements.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2005-02-16-border-travel_x.htm

It doesn't sound like it's in place yet, but more like something they're going to be doing. Since people getting the cards will be subject to a background check done by the US and will be linked to the US Homeland Security Database I doubt that it's something the Canadian government is doing.

 

[TheWog]

You're right, I hadn't read the article. I had just assumed, my bad....

 

[Yankee914]

So glad we just got passports. I'm sure it will make it much easier than traveling with birth certificates.

 

[diznefan76]

So glad we just got passports. I'm sure it will make it much easier than traveling with birth certificates.

I second that!!...So glad that I got my passport and now I'm good for 10years!!!