New Requirements for Travelers
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires
that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda,
Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted
document to enter or re-enter the United States. In order to facilitate
the implementation of this requirement, this transition will be completed in phases.
- January 8, 2007 - Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or
from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
- January 1, 2008 - Requirement extended to all land border crossings
as well as air and sea travel.
This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all
United States citizens entering the United States from countries within
the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who
currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the
United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas
Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be
affected by the implementation of this requirement. |
