OK, Here it is...Peeps from the USA MUST have passports!!!

[Shammy]

Ok people, I have the OFFICIAL word regarding alllllllll those thousands of questions that are asked regarding the need for passports. This is hot off the presses today from the U. S. Department of State.


Travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada will be required to have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement.

The travel initiative requirements 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 implementation timeline is as follows:

December 31, 2005 – Passport or other accepted document required for all travel (air/sea) to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America.

December 31, 2006 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.

December 31, 2007 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air, sea and land border crossings.


You can read all about it HERE

[Shammy]

Damn, I can't pull anything over on you guys!

Sorry, didn't notice that vacationstar already posted this info. But since it's not 2008, rather 2006....I guess something may of come from my tardiness!

As they say, always a day late and a dollar short, huh?

[ewill]

Thanks for the info Shammy, rumors have been floating around for a while. I'm surprised they are giving us until the end of 2006.

[SunDowner]

Thanks for the heads up Shammy

[babs31]

That should put it to rest...get the passports!

[Jesus]

But Shammy, What are those "other accepted document" they talk about?

[vacationstar]

Thanks for the additional info. Shammy. AP had only posted by 2008. I'm glad to see it being implemented sooner. Anything for our countries safety.

[Jdmoon1]

to have and check in with.
Plus since I can't always remember my dates of travel I can ck it for the dates.

[beachenit]

Yep, heard about it on the news this morning. There is alot of controversy(sp) about how this will affect tourism. I guess time will tell.

Shammy, what is the difference between the 2007 date and the others? If you can't go to the caribbean, mexico or canida after 2006 and most other's require a passport now, what places are there that are pushed to 2007?

[pmb]

Thanks for the info Shammy.

[DavidB]

Originally Posted by beachenit

Yep, heard about it on the news this morning. There is alot of controversy(sp) about how this will affect tourism. I guess time will tell.

I don't think it'll affect tourism to much in areas like Playa that get alot of repeat visitors but I think it will have a big impact on the springbreakers in Cancun.

[chocoligato]

So if I am reading it right then I do not need to obtain a passport for my June trip--I need the dummy instructions!!

[westy]

Originally Posted by chocoligato

So if I am reading it right then I do not need to obtain a passport for my June trip--I need the dummy instructions!!

You will NOT be required to have a passport for June but why not do yourself a favor and just get one. Now that the requirements are changing, unless you never plan on leaving the Sates again you will eventually need one. You won't believe how much easier you will pass through customs.

[Bumper]

Originally Posted by chocoligato

So if I am reading it right then I do not need to obtain a passport for my June trip--I need the dummy instructions!!

No, you will not require a passport for your trip this June, but why not get on with it and get one in the works now? You may well need it for your next trip, depending on when that takes place, and where you go. Passports just make the whole process so much easier and less time consuming.