Don't Forget To Pack Your Passport
Beginning June 1st, travelers wishing to reenter the U.S. at land or sea borders must now show a passport. Neighboring countries that once accepted a valid driver’s license for such travel – Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean – now require stricter personal identification.
Known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), the new rule was originally scheduled to take effect over a year ago but was delayed by Congress among concern that Americans weren't prepared for change and that relationships with United States' biggest trading partner, Canada, would be hurt.
Proponents of the rule feel that the security of our nation’s borders will be strengthened, while critics question how trade, tourism, and commerce will be affected. Air travelers have been required to carry passports to these neighboring countries since 2007, however many more people cross U.S. borders by car than by plane or boat. As a result, retailers in border towns are worried that consumers will stay in their home country rather than acquire the proper travel documents necessary to shop, even if the store is right down the street.
In addition to passports, Americans may enroll in “trusted traveler” programs, whose cards serve as sufficient border documentation, or obtain “enhanced driver’s licenses” from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is advised to plan two months ahead when acquiring a passport or other identification for travel as a processing delay is common. An estimated 30 percent of Americans currently have proper identification to cross into neighboring countries by car.
To facilitate travel between countries, border crossing stations are now equipped with electronic proximity readers which allow border agents to access information faster than ever. The savings in time per car is small, but multiplied by millions of travelers and it adds up to improved efficiency. For travelers who forget their identification, border patrols will work to verify that they are a U.S. citizen, acknowledging that it will take more time to do so. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said that no U.S. citizen will be denied entry back into their home country.
For more information on the new passport rule and to learn more about the “trusted traveler” programs and “enhanced driver’s licenses” please visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s website: www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/index.shtm.
