U.S. Citizens with Pending Passport Applications Allowed Temporary Travel Flexibility (Updated 06/07/07)
WITHIN WESTERN HEMISPHERE
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced June 7, 2007 that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received passports can nevertheless temporarily enter and depart from the United States by air with a government issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through September 30, 2007. The federal government is making this accommodation for air travel due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand.
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) was mandated by Congress in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for citizens and legitimate international visitors. WHTI requirements for air travel took effect on January 23, 2007.
Adults who have applied for but not yet received a passport should present government-issued photo identification and an official proof of application from the U.S. Department of State. Children under the age of 16 traveling with their parents or legal guardian will be permitted to travel with the child’s proof of application. Travelers who have not applied for a passport should not expect to be accommodated. U.S. citizens with pending passport applications can obtain proof of application at: http://travel.state.gov.
This accommodation does not affect entry requirements to other countries. Americans traveling to a country that requires passports must still present those documents.
Since implementation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has and will continue to exercise its current authorities in unique circumstances to allow individuals subject to the WHTI requirements into the United States based on other evidence of identity and citizenship.
As early as January 2008, the departments will begin to implement WHTI at land and sea ports of entry. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking outlining a phased implementation is expected to be published in the Federal Register within the next two weeks.
Travel document security remains a top priority for the U.S. Government. Both the 9/11 Commission and the U.S. Congress urged strengthening of travel documents to prevent entry of terrorists across our borders, reduce use of fraudulent documents, and speed up entry procedures.
2007 Passport Requirements (see 06/07/07 update above)
On January 23, 2007, under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), the Department of State implemented the following new passport requirement for all people, including U.S. citizens, entering the United States by air.
• Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
• Beginning January 1, 2008, those same requirements will be extended to all persons entering the U.S. by land or sea (including ferries), in addition to those entering by air.
(U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs)
Americans Experiencing Delays
The new requirements have resulted in a surge of passport requests by Americans planning to travel to places including Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. Because of the high volume of requests, the Bureau of Consular Affairs is experiencing a backlog that has resulted in delays beyond the anticipated 12 week waiting period to process requests for new passports and renewals.
Assistance with Passport Requests
Over the past few months, Congressman Porter and his staff have been helping hundreds of residents of Nevada’s Third Congressional District meet the new requirements by assisting with their passport requests.
Residents who may be traveling outside the U.S. in the coming year and do not have a passport or have an expiring passport are strongly encouraged to begin the passport application process sooner rather than later.
If you are experiencing a delay with your passport request or need to expedite a request, please contact Congressman Porter’s District Office at (702) 387-4941. The office is located at 2470 St. Rose Parkway, Suite 204, Henderson, Nevada, 89074 .
More information on the new requirements can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html.