Quick Question-

[karen547]

Hi everyone, how is everybody doing? Good I hope.

Anywho, my question is, when do the PASSPORT rules change? My sister wants to go to Niagara Fallls for a day with her Hubby and I during the time she's here for the holidays. Her and I are dual citizens, but the thing is I don't have my Passport yet I want to know if just having proof of citizenship, etc is enough or can I not pass into Canada?

[boxman55]

I am not 100% sure but I think you do need your passport...Boxman

[Hawkeye]

Here is the info from the U.S. Department Of State website.

AIR TRAVEL

Implemented on January 23, 2007, ALL PERSONS traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.

LAND AND SEA TRAVEL
The following summarizes information available on the Department of Homeland Security’s website.

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.
Note: The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory.

U.S. PASSPORT AND OTHER TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air, land or sea between the U.S. and the aforementioned Western Hemisphere countries.
The Passport Card: This limited-use, wallet-size passport card is not yet available and is under development.  When available it will only be valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean region (includes Bermuda).
Other Accepted Travel Documents: SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST and the U.S. Coast Guard Mariner Document.  Members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty traveling on orders are exempt from the passport requirement. DHS has more information on these travel documents.  This information may be seen at www.dhs.gov.
ABOUT WHTI


The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), requiring all travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the U.S.


The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on February 22 its intent to propose, as part of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), significant flexibility regarding travel documents required for U.S. and Canadian children as part of WHTI requirements for U.S. land and sea border entry in 2008.


The goal of the initiative is to strengthen U.S. border security while facilitating entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized documentation that enables the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler.

[Bajanne]

Caribbean countries are scared that this is going to hurt tourism.  Before US tourists just had to have a driver's licence or birth certificate to enter our countries.  So the tourism authorities feel that many tourists will think twice before they choose the non-US Caribbean countries for a vacation.
Where we are concerned, we always had to have passports even to go from island to island so we are accustomed having our passports.

[Hawkeye]

Caribbean countries are scared that this is going to hurt tourism.  Before US tourists just had to have a driver's license or birth certificate to enter our countries.  So the tourism authorities feel that many tourists will think twice before they choose the non-US Caribbean countries for a vacation.
Where we are concerned, we always had to have passports even to go from island to island so we are accustomed having our passports.

Getting a passport is easy to do it's just a bit costly and takes a while to get once applied for.  If you can afford to go on long expensive trips you can afford a passport that lasts 10 years, and for those that just want to cross the border once in a while the length of time the passport lasts is well worth the cost.  We got ours back in May I think it was as a just in case so we would have them if needed since the laws are changing.

[paddbear0000]

I just visited Niagara Falls for a day during a trip to Buffalo on November 5th and all I needed was my Driver's license.

[KT0930]

Caribbean countries are scared that this is going to hurt tourism. Before US tourists just had to have a driver's licence or birth certificate to enter our countries. So the tourism authorities feel that many tourists will think twice before they choose the non-US Caribbean countries for a vacation.
Where we are concerned, we always had to have passports even to go from island to island so we are accustomed having our passports.

Having visited Jamaica before the law changed, I wouldn't hesitate to go back, even if it meant the hassle of getting a passport ahead of time. Best vacation I ever took! (My avatar pic was taken there, btw.)

[Jannie]

I got my passport in April 2007. i was going on a Princess Cruise from Long Beach California to Hawaii. They told me I needed it. Isn't Hawaii the 50th state?

[kitkatz]

No, it is coming back into California that is the problem.

[thegrammalady]

Caribbean countries are scared that this is going to hurt tourism.  Before US tourists just had to have a driver's licence or birth certificate to enter our countries.  So the tourism authorities feel that many tourists will think twice before they choose the non-US Caribbean countries for a vacation.
Where we are concerned, we always had to have passports even to go from island to island so we are accustomed having our passports.

it isn't getting into another country the us is concerned about, it's getting back into the us.

[Hawkeye]

I got my passport in April 2007. i was going on a Princess Cruise from Long Beach California to Hawaii. They told me I needed it. Isn't Hawaii the 50th state?

Yes Hawaii is a U.S. state but you are leaving the mainland U.S. and then coming back in, that is where the problem lies.