Effective June 1, 2009, all U.S. citizens entering the U.S. by land or sea must present a passport book or card. This requirement is part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) that was developed after Congress passed legislation that required all travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the United States.
Thus starting June 1, 2009 American citizens traveling by car into and from Canada or Mexico to the U.S. must present a passport book or car. Some border states are providing an enhanced driver’s license that will verify U.S. citizenship as well when crossing the border by land.
However, any American citizen traveling overseas by air must present a passport book to show proof of identity and citizenship.
U.S. citizen children under the age of 16 are 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 U.S. citizen 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.
NAPVS members can assist citizens in obtaining a passport card at the same time they are renewing or obtaining a new passport book. Citizens are finding the passport card a convenient and authoritative identity document to have with them at all times.
For more details on travel documents required for traveling abroad, go to the State Department web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html.
To get an expedited passport book and card from an NAPVS member, go to Get A U.S. Passport and Visa.
This entry was posted on Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 at 11:38 am and is filed under Passport Rules. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.