01/29/2007

Effective January 23, 2007, individuals traveling by air to the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Bermuda are required to present valid passports or other acceptable travel documents when entering or re-entering the United States. The new passport requirement is the first phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), a two-part security program that will eventually extend the passport requirement to travelers by land and sea as early as January 1, 2008. The Western Hemisphere is comprised of the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America and Bermuda.

Previously, citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda generally enjoyed waivers of the requirement to present a passport when entering the United States from within the Western Hemisphere. U.S., Canadian and Bermudan citizens were not required to present a passport when entering from the Western Hemisphere as long as they provided satisfactory evidence of their identity and citizenship. Mexican citizens arriving in the U.S. at air ports of entry from a contiguous territory needed to present only Form DSP-150, the combined B-1/B-2 visa and Border Crossing Card (BCC). All other foreign nationals seeking entry into the U.S. through air ports of entry were required to present a valid, unexpired passport issued by the traveler's country of citizenship.

As of January 23, these passport waivers ceased. Beginning on that date, all individuals, including U.S. citizens, who are entering the United States by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere must present either (1) a valid passport; (2) a NEXUS Air Card; or (3) a Merchant Mariner Document (MMD). The NEXUS Air Card is issued pursuant to the NEXUS Air Program, an airport border clearance pilot project that allows pre-screened, low-risk travelers to be processed quickly by U.S. and Canadian border officials. Note that the NEXUS air card will be accepted only if presented at a participating NEXUS port. The MMD, also known as the "z-card," is issued by the United States Coast Guard to merchant mariners and can be used as a travel document only when presented in the course of official maritime business. Members of the United States military, when traveling on official orders, may continue to present their military ID and orders for entry into the U.S.

Travelers entering from U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, are not required to present a passport to enter the United States.

Note that other Western Hemisphere countries that currently waive the passport requirement may begin requiring valid passports for admission in response to the WHTI. Passports may be required when the final destination country is the United States, to ensure that foreign nationals possess the documents necessary to depart for and enter the United States. For example, Mexico currently exempts U.S. citizens from the requirement to present a passport for admission, but may begin requiring passports of U.S. citizens to ensure they have the documents required under the WHTI to depart Mexico and return to the U.S.

Although other Western Hemisphere countries have not yet announced plans to change their entry requirements in response to the U.S. WHTI, changes are anticipated. Fragomen will continue to monitor the situation and circulate updates as more information is released.

The content herein is provided for informational puropses only.
 

Source: http://pubweb.fdbl.com/news1.nsf/c8abb103352ef95a86256e3100809438/d0e7cab5852ec49b85257272007d049f?OpenDocument