Travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda,
Panama, Mexico and Canada will be required to have a passport
to enter or re-enter the United States. 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.
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. Essentially, you must have a passport if you wish
to enter the United States, even if you are a U.S. citizen.
When It Goes Into Effect
The travel initiative requirements will be rolled out in phases.
The proposed implementation timeline is as follows:
December 31, 2005 - Passport required for all travel to or from
the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America.
December 31, 2006 - Passport required for all air and sea travel
to or from Mexico and Canada.
December 31, 2007 - Passport required for all air, sea and land
border crossings.
How Do I get a passport?
U.S. citizens may visit the Passport section of the State Department
web site [state.gov] for information on how to apply for a U.S.
passport. You should allow yourself a sufficient amount of time
to apply and receive your passport in advance of travel. Current
processing time estimates are 6 to 8 weeks.
In Closing
As the world becomes a more dangerous place, borders are being
tightened. How depressing.
About the Author
Rick Chapo is with Nomad
Journals - Preserve the experience with writing journals
for your travels. Read more articles and travelogues on NomadJournalTrips.com.
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