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Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)
Air Travel: Implemented on January 23, 2007, ALL PERSONS traveling by air between the United States and areas under the WHTI are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.
Land and Sea Travel: Implemented on January 31, 2008, U.S. and Canadian citizens are required to present either a WHTI-compliant document, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
They may also now apply in advance for the new U.S. Passport Card. We expect cards will be available and mailed to applicants in spring 2008. The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry when arriving from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The card may not be used to travel by air. Click here for more information about the Passport Card.
Note: The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory.
Areas that fall
under the WHTI: Bermuda,
Canada, Caribbean Region
(Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica,
Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos),
and Mexico
U.S. Territory:
American Samoa,
Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Swains Island, and the
U.S. Virgin Islands
More information available on the Department of Homeland Security’s website.
You must bring with you:q two passport photographs of yourself (2x2 in.)
q proof of U.S. citizenship (Birth or Naturalization Certificate)
q a valid form of photo identification (Driver’s License, Non-Driver ID, Passport, or Military ID)
q and fees (ONLY Check or Money Order)
If under 16, then both parents (if both names are on the Birth Certificate) must be present with the child to sign the application form.
Last update: November 17, 2008