Special to the Pioneer Times
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reentering the United States from Canada will become a bit more complicated early next year.
Beginning Jan. 31, 2008 verbal declarations of citizenship will no longer be accepted when crossing land or sea borders into U.S. from Canada. American citizens ages 19 and older will be required to present a government issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license) along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate. Valid passports will also continue to be acceptable as both identification and proof of citizenship.
The change is the first phase of the new regulations under the Department of Homeland Security’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The initiative is based on the recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress passed into law as the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The initiative aims to increase border security by requiring “WHTI-compliant documentation” of all travelers entering the U.S.
“It’s anticipated by the summer of 2008 that we will move into the next phase of implementation, but we don’t have an exact date yet,” said Ted Woo, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection regional chief of public affairs.
A “final ruling” on what documentation will be required at that time is not yet available.
“The most important thing is that there shouldn’t be any confusion about what documents will be required as of January 31,” Woo explained.
Although driving into Canada for dinner or a day’s shopping trip may not feel like a foreign excursion, Homeland Security urges Americans to obtain all proper documentation before leaving home. Incomplete documentation will lead to port delays.
Homeland Security also notes that the State Department does assist U.S. citizens traveling abroad in obtaining emergency documentation to replace lost or stolen passports.
For new or renewing passports, the United States Post Offices in Houlton, Patten, Mars Hill, Presque Isle, and Caribou all offer passport application services. A new passport for anyone 16 and older costs $97 and is valid for 10 years; a passport for children under 16 costs $82 and is valid for five years. Required documentation includes a government issued photo ID and proof of citizenship.
Processing for new passports generally takes four to six weeks, but the new regulations may lead to increased demand, which could result in delays. For detailed information on obtaining passports, visit the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Web site at travel.state.gov.
Detailed information and updates about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative are available on the Department of Homeland Security Web site at www.dhs.gov.
