A Question of Identity
April 12, 2005
Within the next three years, the requirements for U.S. citizens re-entering the United States and for foreign nationals visiting the U.S. from countries within the Western Hemisphere will be going through some major overhauls. The Departments of State and Homeland Security have announced the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, a new plan with the focus of better securing America's borders.
These changes will come in three phases, each beginning a year apart from one another. The first phase comes into effect on January 1, 2006; anyone going to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America via air or sea will need a passport to enter the U.S. upon returning. The second phase affects those traveling to or from Mexico and Canada, as well. By January 1, 2008, those traveling to any of the aforementioned destinations via air, sea, or land will require a passport before returning to American soil.
Currently, U.S. citizens and some citizens of other countries in the Western Hemisphere are not required to present a passport to enter or re-enter the U.S. when traveling in the Western Hemisphere; citizens of Canada, for example, require only a driver's license.
However, when the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 was signed into law on December 17, 2004, it mandated that the Secretary of Homeland Security consult with the Secretary of State to develop a plan requiring U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport, or other secure document when entering the U.S. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was the fruits of their labor.
Although some in the travel industry worry that this initiative will hamper tourism, government officials state the new policy will actually speed up the process of entering America. "Our goal is to strengthen border security and expedite entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors. By ensuring that travelers possess secure documents, such as the passport, Homeland Security will be able to conduct more effective and efficient interviews at our borders," Homeland Security Acting Under-Secretary for Border and Transportation Security, Randy Beardsworth stated. Whether the new policy will do in reality what it promises in theory remains to be seen.
Those who are planning a cruise that will take place after December 31, 2005 are advised to begin the process of obtaining a valid passport now. Although the new implementations are still technically tentative, do not assume that a birth certificate and driver's license will be sufficient documentation to see the red, white, and blue.
Michael Gloss Jr.Book your cruise online
