Passports Will Be Required for Land and Sea Entry to the United States Beginning
June 1, 2009
Beginning
June 1, 2009, citizens of the United States, Canada and Bermuda will
soon be required to present a passport or an acceptable alternative
document when entering the United States by land or sea from Canada,
Mexico, the Caribbean region or Bermuda. The new requirements were put
in place by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), a border
security program.
U.S., Canadian and Bermudian citizens will be required
to present one of the following when entering the United States by land or
sea on or after June 1:
• A valid passport
• A valid U.S. passport card
(U.S. citizens only).
• A Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler program card, such as
a NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST program card.
• An enhanced driver's licensed (EDL).
EDLs are driver's licenses that require applicants to provide proof of their
citizenship or immigration status. Currently, EDLs are issued by some U.S.
states and Canadian provinces.
• A U.S. military identification card, with proof of military travel orders.
• A U.S. Merchant Marine Document.
• An enhanced tribal identification card,
issued by some Native American tribes.
Children
under the age of 16 will be able to enter with proof of citizenship, such as
a birth certificate, naturalization certificate or citizenship card.
Until
June 1, U.S., Canadian and Bermudian citizens will be able to enter the United
States by land or sea by presenting a document proving citizenship–such as
a birth certificate or citizenship certificate–together with government-issued
photo identification, though travelers age 18 and under may enter with proof
of citizenship alone. Note that citizens of these countries who are traveling
by air must present a passport when entering the United States; this requirement
has been in place under the WHTI since January 23, 2007.
U.S. lawful permanent residents are not affected
by the WHTI passport requirements. These individuals may continue to present
their Form I-551 permanent resident cards when entering the United States by
air, land or sea