The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced today the final rule for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), a core 9/11 Commission recommendation. The WHTI final rule requires travelers to present a passport or other approved secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the United States. WHTI establishes document requirements for travelers entering the United States who were previously exempt, including citizens of the U.S., Canada and Bermuda. These document requirements will be effective June 1, 2009.
"We are on course to implement and enforce the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative which is an important step forward in securing the homeland," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Limiting and standardizing the types of documents presented will result in a more secure and efficient border. We will continue to encourage cross-border travel and trade while at the same time decreasing identity theft and fraud."
In addition to the release of the WHTI final rule, DHS is officially designating the Washington State Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) a WHTI-compliant document. As of March 24, Washington State had already scheduled more than 18,600 appointments for EDL interviews and issued more than 6,400 EDLs.
DHS is publishing the WHTI land and sea final rule more than a year in advance of its implementation to give the public ample notice and time to obtain the WHTI-compliant documents they will need to enter or re-enter the United States on or after June 1, 2009.
Many cross-border travelers already have WHTI-compliant documents such as a Passport or a Trusted Traveler Card (NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST), or a Washington State EDL. The Department of State is already accepting applications for the new Passport Cards and additional states and Canadian provinces will be issuing EDLs in the next several months—all of which are options specifically designed for land and sea border use.
Beginning June 1, 2009, DHS will institute special provisions that allow school or other organized groups of children ages 18 and under who are U.S. or Canadian citizens to enter the U.S. with proof of citizenship alone.
Over the next 14 months, the Departments will be conducting public information campaigns to inform U.S. and Canadian citizens about the new document requirements. These campaigns will include special outreach to residents of border communities who may be most impacted by the new document requirements. DHS and DOS are working with the Canadian government to ensure widespread and consistent communications on both sides of our land borders.
This announcement comes two months after January 31, 2008, when DHS ended acceptance of oral declarations alone of identity and citizenship at the land borders. Since that time U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older have been asked to present proof of identity and citizenship. Children ages 18 and under are currently asked only to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
The changes that took place in January marked the beginning of a transition period intended to prepare the public for WHTI implementation on June 1, 2009. This common sense approach is designed to lessen the impact on individuals and allow time for travelers to become accustomed to the change and obtain the appropriate documents.
Upon implementation of WHTI, travelers will be required to present a single WHTI-compliant document denoting both citizenship and identity when seeking entry into the United States through a land or sea border. Standardized, secure and reliable documentation will enable Customs and Border Protection officers to quickly and accurately identify travelers at land and sea ports of entry. The WHTI secure document requirement is already in place for all air travelers.
Both the EDL and the Passport Card will contain security features to prevent counterfeiting and will include vicinity Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to help speed the entry process at the land borders.
The WHTI land and sea final rule and a notice on the Washington State EDL will be sent to the Federal Register for publication. Specific information on documentation requirements may be found at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/. For general information on WHTI or other travel-related programs, please visit www.dhs.gov or www.travel.state.gov.
Maybe this will end all the confusion regarding "should we or shouldn't we" get a passport.
Hopefully those without a passport currently, will apply for theirs as soon as possible so they won't have to worry about that before traveling next year.
I thought minors already had to have passports, but if I read the official announcement correctly, that doesn't become necessary until June 1 of 09. Is that how the rest of you understand the statement?
OK- I'm confused. I've never had a passport, and was told last month that we would all need to get passports for our cruise on February 28, 2009 going to Grand Cayman & Cozumel. Does this mean that we really don't HAVE to have one, as the cruise is before the June 2009 date mentioned above?
And I just read something today about this new "passport card"- am I understanding it correctly that this is an alternative to the regular passport, and is a lot cheaper? I think I read that you can only go to Mexico and the Caribbean with it, but that's probably only as far as I'll ever go for a while anyways. Help!!??
Two points here, Flying requires passports to GET BACK INTO THE STATES NOW, NOT to fly within the States!! Cruising does not until June 2009,, but if there is an emergency and you become ill or injured and are taken off a ship at a port you will have a hard time flying back to the states WITHOUT a passport, Children 16+ also requires a state ID also NOW besides the Birth Certificate to board the ship!!
The "card" is for land Border crossings, Canada, Mexico, from/to the US, not a passport. The passport is for flying and leaving the country and having to return to the States!!
What is the passport card?
The passport card is a wallet-size card that can only be used for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. The card will provide a less expensive, smaller, and more convenient alternative to the passport book for those who travel frequently to these destinations by land or by sea.
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. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the U.S. passport book and will be adjudicated to the exact same standards.
How much will the passport card cost?
For first time applicants, the passport card will cost $45 for adults and $35 for children under the age of 16, which includes the execution fee of $25. Adults with fully-valid passports issued within the last fifteen years can apply for the card by mail using Form DS-82, at a cost of $20.
To me, this sounds like it is supposed to be just like a passport- you just can't fly with it, and you're only able to use it within the above mentioned areas. Just seems to me like a more affordable option for some. I do see the advantage of having a regular passport, but just think this is a nice option... unless I am really missing something here? Again, I'm a passport virgin so I'm just learning about all of this...
DH and I had to get our passports for our upcoming cruise.
I had a passport that was near extinction (and, didn't have my married name on it), and DH never had one before.
He applied at the county courthouse, and on the same day, I mailed my app in with the new photos and marriage license.
I got mine in 8 business days, he got his in 9! I was amazed!! We didn't pay for expedited, either...
Apparently, the bottle-neck clog of passports is now cleared, and it's quicker. Still, I wouldn't put it off overlong!
If you are really interested, I would suggest reading the entire document. There were several proposals made in the Federal Register in June of last year that proposed round trip cruise ship passengers from a US port be exempt from the final phase of the WHTI regulation. The final document has adopted this with some restrictions. The cruise must depart and return to the same US port and all travel must be within the Western Hemisphere. I find no mention that this excemption will expire at any determined time. The requirement for these cruise passengers is a government issued photo ID and a original or copy of a birth certificate instead of a document designated in this final rule.
This information is on page 29 of the final rule.
I appreciate all your information. DH and I have our passports, but are cruising with some first time cruisers, who don't usually travel, so I was trying to find all of their options and they can choose from there. Personally, because you never know when something will happen, I like having my passport in case of an evacuation, be it medical or an emergency at home. This the most pleasantly informative board!
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Passports-FINAL RULE released today!!
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So June 1 of next year is the official date you MUST have your passport.
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Minors
Thanks again
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