New 2008 USA Passport Rules

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

Frequently Asked Questions about the New Travel Document Requirements (FAQs)

NEWS FLASH

The U.S. State Department: Passport Services unit is experiencing a major backlog in processing applications. Rather than taking the usual four to six weeks, routine applications or renewals are now up to 12  weeks. Even the more expensive expedited service takes about three to four weeks. Please plan appropriately, allow 3 month max regualr passport service or 6 weeks for expedited passport service.

What is the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative?

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require all travelers, including U.S. citizens, to and from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States.  This is a change from prior travel requirements.  The goal is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors. 

Who will the Travel Initiative affect?

The travel document initiative will affect all United States citizens traveling within the Western Hemisphere, who will now be required to carry a passport or other accepted document. 

It will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States namely most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda and Mexican citizens.

When will the Travel Initiative be implemented?

In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, 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 will be as follows:

The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:

• JANUARY 31, 2008
  U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a WHTI-compliant document, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. DHS also proposes to begin alternative procedures for U.S. and Canadian children at that time.
   
• SUMMER 2008
  At a later date, to be determined, the departments will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have either a U.S. passport; a U.S. passport card; a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, FAST, or SENTRI; a valid Merchant Mariner Document (MMD) when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business; or a valid U.S. Military identification card when traveling on official orders.
  
  The implementation date will be determined based on a number of factors, including the progress of actions undertaken by the Department of Homeland Security to implement the WHTI requirements and the availability of WHTI compliant documents on both sides of the border. DHS and DOS expect the date of full WHTI implementation to be in the summer of 2008. The precise implementation date will be formally announced with at least 60 days notice.

How do I get a passport?

United States citizens can visit the State Department’s travel website www.travel.state.gov, or call the U.S. National Passport Information Center: 1-877-4USA-PPT; TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793. 

You should allow yourself a sufficient amount of time to apply and receive your passport in advance of travel.  Please allow 6 weeks for processing of your passport application if you apply from inside the U.S.  If you need to travel urgently and require a passport sooner, please visit http://www.travel.state.gov for additional information. Overseas passport processing times vary; you should contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for specific information.

Peak domestic passport processing is between January and July.  For faster service, we recommend applying between August and December.

Foreign nationals should contact their respective governments to obtain passports.

Other than a passport, what types of documents will be acceptable under this initiative?

The passport is the document of choice right now because of security features and general availability.  Individuals traveling within the Western Hemisphere are encouraged to obtain a passport. 

For land border crossings, other documents that we are considering for acceptance under this Initiative are SENTRI, NEXUS and FAST program cards.  These are current international frequent traveler programs (see www.cbp.gov for further information).

We anticipate that the Border Crossing Card, (BCC – also known as “laser visa”) will also be acceptable as a substitute for a passport and a visa for citizens of Mexico traveling to the United States from contiguous territory. 

No currently existing documents other than the BCC, SENTRI, NEXUS or FAST cards are under active consideration as substitutes for the passport.  The Departments of Homeland Security and State are working to determine acceptable alternative documents other than a passport as soon as possible.  We are using new technologies to create other acceptable travel documents.  We will make public additional travel document options as they become available.

Why is the U.S. Government implementing the Travel Initiative?

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) mandated that the U.S. Secretaries of Homeland Security and State develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport or other appropriate secure identity and citizenship documentation when entering the United States.   

For many years U.S. citizens, and some citizens of other countries in the Western Hemisphere including Canadians, have not been required to present a passport or other specific forms of secure identification to enter the U.S.  Instead, a wide variety of less secure documentation has historically been accepted. 

In light of the new security efforts, the United States is requiring travelers to have a passport or other accepted secure document for entry into the United States. 

How will the Travel Initiative impact travel at the land borders?

DHS and the State Department understand that the greatest potential change will occur at the land borders.  The new statute specifically mandates that the concerns of border communities be considered.  We recognize the implications this might have for industry, business and the general public, as well as our neighboring countries, and they are important partners in this initiative.  The advanced notice of proposed rule making will allow these affected publics to voice concern and provide ideas for alternate documents. 

Will this requirement apply to travel between the United States and Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands?

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will not affect travel between the United States and its territories.  U.S. citizens traveling between the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa will continue to be able to use established forms of identification to board flights and for entry. 

If traveling outside the United States or a U.S. territory, a passport or other secure document will be required.  For example, a person may travel to and from the United States to the U.S. Virgin islands without a passport or other secure document, but under proposed regulations, a passport or other secure document would be required to re-enter the U.S. Virgin Islands from the British Virgin Islands or another country as of December 31, 2006.

New Application for a U.S. Passport