Below are links to the three government websites where you can find the latest passport information:
  
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
Areas that fall under the WHTI:
Canada
Mexico
Bermuda
The Caribbean region (includes 17 regions)
AIR TRAVEL:
ALL PERSONS traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.
LAND AND SEA TRAVEL
The following summarizes information available on the Department of Homeland Security’s website.
CURRENTLY:
U.S. citizens need to present either (a) a passport, passport card (scheduled to be in full production beginning in July 2008), or WHTI-compliant document; or (b) a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
LATER:
On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document.
Note: The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory.
U.S. PASSPORT AND WHTI COMPLIANT DOCUMENTS:
U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air, land or sea between the U.S. and the aforementioned Western Hemisphere countries.
The Passport Card: Passport card applications are currently being accepted in anticipation of land border travel document requirements. Based on current projections, we expect the passport card to be in full production beginning in July 2008. We will provide additional updates as available. Once in production, the passport card it will only be valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda.
WHTI-Compliant Travel Documents for U.S. citizen travel via land or sea, as of January 31, 2008:
- Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)
- State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (when available)
- Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)
- U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business
- Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
- Form I-872 American Indian Card
For further information see U.S. Customs and Border protection.
ABOUT WHTI:
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), requiring all travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the U.S.
The goal of the initiative is to strengthen U.S. border security while facilitating entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized documentation that enables the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler.
Federal Regulations
Final Rule - Air Phase (PDF)
Final Rule - Passport Card (PDF)
Other Relevant Links
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Applying for a Passport
Important Updated Cruise Travel Information
There are several changes that the U.S. government will be implementing in the coming months that will impact your cruise clients. Please review the following information and communicate these messages with them.
Effective February 18, 2008 - Passengers MUST be on board at least one hour prior to departure
Cruise ships departing from U.S. ports will be required by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to provide the full passenger and crew manifest to the U.S. government 60 minutes prior to departure starting Feb. 18, 2008. This means that all cruise guests will need to be on board at least* one hour before the ship’s scheduled departure.
In order for the ship to be able to depart port on time (and for your clients to be on board and not waving to the ship from the pier), following these suggested travel tips will ensure an on-time departure for all:
- Each passenger should submit their full and accurate identification information** to the cruise line as soon as possible but at a minimum prior to arriving at the departure port. Many cruise lines have online check-in available for guests that reduces the time they have to wait for their final boarding documents at the pier. Travel agents should encourage their clients to check-in online or offer to provide passengers’ information to the cruise line with final booking.
- To avoid last-minute boardings (and possible denial of boarding), ensure your passengers’ travel arrangements leave plenty of time to make it to the ship. Cruise lines outline suggested arrival times at the pier on their Web sites and/or their cruise documents. Encouraging cruise guests to arrive the day or evening before and enjoy the port city is the best recommendation for a stress-free start to their cruise.
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*Check with the individual cruise line for final boarding times (some are requiring guests to be on board 90 minutes prior to departure to meet this new government requirement).
If a passenger does not make it aboard the ship in the allotted hour-before-departure timeframe, they may be denied boarding because their name has not been vetted by U.S. government databases.
** These fields include:
- Last Name
- First Name
- Middle Name (if there is one)
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Nationality
- Country of Residence
- ID Type
- ID Number
- ID Country
- ID Expiration Date
- Destination address
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Effective January 31, 2008 - Oral declaration of citizenship will no longer be accepted
(Previously sent by CLIA on Dec. 21, 2007) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that effective January 31, 2008, all travelers, including U.S. citizens, entering the United States through all ports of entry (including land and sea ports) will no longer have the option of orally declaring their citizenship. This previously accepted, but rare, practice of proving citizenship through oral declaration will no longer be sufficient. Cruise passengers must present the appropriate identification or risk being denied boarding.
What does the January 31, 2008 discontinuation of the oral citizenship declaration option mean to you and your clients?
--- Currently, CLIA member lines generally require proof of citizenship and a government-issued ID for boarding. This typically means a driver’s license along with proof of citizenship in the form of either a:
--- These requirements have been industry standards, but will now be required by regulation and enforced as of January 31, 2008.
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Cruise passengers on international voyages who do not have proper citizenship and identification documentation will not be allowed to board their cruise after January 31, 2008. Please advise your clients of this change.
Once again, as of January 31, 2008, all travelers, including U.S. citizens, seeking to enter the United States through land and sea ports of entry must present documents proving citizenship (such as a birth certificate or passport) and government-issued identification (such as a driver’s license). |
