New International Travel Requirements
June 4, 2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, June 1st, new document requirements for international travel in North and Central America went into effect, requiring anyone entering the country, including U.S. citizens, to show a valid passport or passport card.
“This summer 19 million Americans will make trips abroad,” explained Congressman Bart Gordon. “I want to be sure everyone is aware of the new regulations in place so no Middle Tennessean gets stranded abroad. To be clear, you will no longer be allowed back in the country from Canada or Mexico with a birth certificate and standard driver license.”
The new requirements are part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), which was created by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA). The initiative requires all U.S. citizens and residents to present an authorized document when returning to the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. Authorized documents include a passport, passport card, U.S. permanent resident card, trusted traveler program card, and U.S. Military identification card when traveling on official orders.
“Any traveler trying to enter the U.S. either by land, air, sea, or foot will be affected by this change,” said Gordon. “These new regulations will create uniformity along our borders – it will not only make our borders stronger, but also make international travel more efficient for U.S. citizens and residents.”
Prior to the June 1st change, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had to determine the authenticity of dozens of different documents presented at border crossings, many of which turned out to be fraudulent. Since 2005, CBP has intercepted more than 129,000 counterfeit documents and caught more than 118,000 people making false verbal claims of United States citizenship. Standardized, secure travel documents will make it easier for CBP officers to accurately identify travelers that should not be entering the U.S.
If you are planning a trip and currently do not have the required travel documents, it is recommended that you apply for a passport 2-3 months in advance. For more information or assistance on obtaining a passport, contact Gordon’s Murfreesboro office at 615-896-1986 or visit http://travel.state.gov.
