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New Travel Document
Requirement for U.S. Citizens / Canadians
Posted
Aug 05, 2005
©MurthyDotCom
Travel document requirements for U.S. and Canadian citizens are changing. As
explained below, the changes begin to be phased in December 31, 2005, with
completion scheduled for December 31, 2007. Since these changes increase the
needs for certain travelers to carry passports, it may be necessary to take
action several months in advance of travel to acquire the requisite passport
in time for travel in December 2005.
©MurthyDotCom
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
©MurthyDotCom
The changes requiring additional documents and, preferably, the passport for
the traveler are part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. This
Initiative requires people traveling to and from North, South and Central
America, the Caribbean and Bermuda to have passports. (There are some other
documents that may be acceptable, but the passport is preferred.) This is a
significant change, as it eliminates passport exemptions for U.S. and
Canadian citizens that are now in place. These changes are tied to security
initiatives.
©MurthyDotCom
Nationals of Neighboring Countries Affected
©MurthyDotCom
The Initiative will apply to all travelers to and from the Caribbean,
Bermuda, Panama, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America who are seeking
to enter or reenter the United States. This is a U.S. requirement pertinent
to those entering or reentering the United States. This is separate from any
travel document requirements or exemptions that may exist for the countries
being visited.
©MurthyDotCom
This requirement will impact U.S. citizens, who previously were exempt from
the need to present a passport when reentering the United States from
certain destinations, including Canada and Mexico. It will also affect
Canadian citizens, citizens of Bermuda, and Mexican citizens who will now
need passports to enter the United States.
©MurthyDotCom
Effective Date of New Requirements as early as
Dec 2005
©MurthyDotCom
The program is effective in stages, starting December 31, 2005.
-
December 31, 2005 Requirement applicable to all air and sea
travel to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America.
[Canada and Mexico are not yet included.]
-
December 31, 2006 Requirement applicable to all air and sea
travel to and from Mexico and Canada. [Land border crossings not yet
included.]
-
December 31, 2007 Applies to all air, sea, and land border
crossings.
Obtaining a U.S. Passport
©MurthyDotCom
Information for U.S. citizens on
how to obtain a passport is available on the U.S. Department of State
WebSite. Passports should be requested well in advance of planned travel.
This new requirement is prompting an increase in passport applications.
While there are provisions to expedite processing, these involve additional
expense. One who needs or desires the freedom to make last-minute travel
plans may want to get a passport and keep it current, just in case.
©MurthyDotCom
Canadian Passports
©MurthyDotCom
Information for Canadian citizens who need a passport is available on the
Passport Canada WebSite. Canadian passports also involve the payment
of application fees.
©MurthyDotCom
Travel Industry Concerns over Additional
Documents
©MurthyDotCom
The new requirement for passports has raised concerns in the travel
industry. The current fee for a U.S. passport is between $67-$97, depending
upon whether the applicant is an adult or a child and whether it is an
initial application or a renewal. The fee to expedite is $60. While this may
not seem like a lot of money for a document that is valid for ten years for
adults, it does add to the overall cost of travel. This is particularly true
if the expense is multiplied by several family members who do not normally
go abroad or if the trip under consideration was a short, reasonably priced
vacation to the Caribbean or Mexico. That little jaunt for two people who
need initial passports would now be almost $200 more. These additional
expenses could result in making certain U.S. destinations, like Hawaii, more
attractive to U.S. citizens.
©MurthyDotCom
The requirement's resulting increased costs for travel, in addition to the
limitations to spontaneity and the opportunity for last-minute bargain
sales, have caused anxiety among those in the travel industry. Because of
this, some tour operators are offering to cover the expense of passports for
those booking vacations within a certain timeframe.
©MurthyDotCom
Other Issue
©MurthyDotCom
The air and sea carriers will need to check documents on outbound trips to
confirm that those using their services will be able to return to the United
States. Travelers without proper documents should not be permitted to
depart. The question does arise, however, as to what would happen at the
U.S. border if a U.S. citizen is without a passport after flying to, for
example, Bermuda after December 31, 2005. There are provisions permitting
the Port of Entry to waive the need for proper documents. This is not
routine and cannot be guaranteed, however. Moreover, the forms involved have
filing fees exceeding the cost of a passport.
©MurthyDotCom
Conclusion
©MurthyDotCom
In a post-September 11th world, one must now be prepared for
additional roadblocks when traveling to and from the United States. U.S.
citizens, who have enjoyed certain exemptions, will no longer be excluded
from these documentation requirements.
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