Passport regulations changed
As part of the “omnibus spending bill,” H.R. 2764, under section 545, passports will not be required for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada until June 2009, at the earliest.
The change was buried in the multi-agency spending bill, which was signed into law by President George Bush on Dec. 26, 2007.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) are reminding the traveling public that as of Jan. 31, 2008, all adult travelers will be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, and proof of identity, such as a driver’s license, when entering the United States through land and sea ports of entry.
This change is a step to prepare travelers for future requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). WHTI proposes to establish documentation requirements for travelers entering the United States who were previously exempt, including U.S. and Canadian citizens. As recommended by the 9/11 Commission, Congress enacted WHTI in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.
Currently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers may accept oral declarations of citizenship from U.S. and Canadian citizens seeking entry into the United States through a land or sea border. However, as of January 31, 2008:
• Oral declarations of citizenship alone will no longer be accepted
• U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older will need 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
• Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate
• Passports and trusted traveler program cards (NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST) will continue to be accepted for cross-border travel
All existing non-immigrant visa and passport requirements will remain in effect and will not be altered by this change.
The current turnaround time for a passport is four to six weeks, so Americans planning international travel may wish to apply now. For information on obtaining a U.S. Passport visit www.travel.state.gov or call 1-877-487-2778. Specific documentation requirements for land, sea and air travel may be found at www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/. To learn more about NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST, visit www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/.
