New Passport Initiative Announced, April 6, 2005

[Here4Beer]

Here's the press release from Homeland Security:

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0652.xml

 

 

It states:

"The Departments of Homeland Security and State announced today the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative to secure and expedite travel. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require all U.S. citizens, Canadians, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and citizens of Mexico to have a passport or other accepted secure document to enter or re-enter United States by January 1, 2008."

 

 

 

Also has a FAQ that states:

"When will Travel Initiative be implemented?

The Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline is as follows:

 

• December 31, 2005 - Apply the requirement to all travel (air/sea) to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America.
  
• December 31, 2006 - Apply the requirement to all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.
  
• December 31, 2007 - Apply the requirement to all air, sea and land border crossings"
  

[traveller99]

Hi, here4beer. Good post. I feel like I'm making this my life's priority. I don't know why folks are fighting the "Do I need a Passport?" question.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I think that those rules should have been put into place right after 9/11.

We have had passports for over 40 years.

After our May cruise, DH will be sending his in for renewal.

[traveller99]

GEEZ... what are we going to talk about, now? The Passport/Driver's License/Birth Certificate/Marriage License questions will finally be put to bed. And it's about time. I guess the VISA questions will begin to show up, soon.