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New
Passport Requirements as of June 1st, 2009
On
June 1, 2009, the
U.S.
government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of
the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The proposed rules require most
U.S.
citizens entering the
United States
at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or WHTI-compliant
document.
U.S.
citizens on 'closed-loop' cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same port
in the
U.S.
) will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as
a birth certificate and laminated government-issued picture ID, denoting photo,
name and date of birth. A
U.S.
citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original or a
certified copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth
Abroad issued by DOS, or Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services.
All
persons traveling by air outside of the
United States
will be required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter
or re-enter the
United States
. Currently,
U.S.
citizens need to present either (A) a passport, passport card or WHTI-compliant
document; or (B) a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, along
with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
Any
U.S.
citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present the original or copy of
their birth certificate, or other proof of
U.S.
citizenship, such as a naturalization certificate or citizenship card.
Groups
of children ages 16 through 18, when traveling with a school or religious group,
social organization, or sports team, will be able to enter under adult
supervision with originals or copies of their birth certificates or other proof
of citizenship. See the Department of Homeland Security's GetYouHome.gov for
more information on the changing travel requirements.
Note:
The passport requirement does NOT apply to
U.S.
citizens traveling to or returning directly from a
U.S.
territory.
U.S.
territories include
American Samoa
, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico,
Swains
Island
and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Read
more about updates on passport requirements
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