Passports will soon be required for Canadians and Mexicans entering the USA

The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State have announced that passports will be required as of December 31, 2005 from United States citizens returning from and Canadians and citizens of Bermuda entering from Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The current policy does not require these groups of people to present passports to enter or re-enter the USA from the western hemisphere.

This is part of a phased in plan, known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which is being implemented to increase security and expedite travel. At the end of the phase in period, on January 1, 2008, all U.S. citizens, Canadians, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and citizens of Mexico will be required to have and present their passports or other accepted secure documents to enter the USA.

The second phase of the plan, due to take effect in December 2006, will expanded the passport requirement to people entering the USA by sea or air from anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, including Canada and Mexico. The final phase, to take effect as of January 1, 2008, will expand the passport requirement to people entering the USA via all land borders, including Canadians coming south for a day of shopping and hundreds of thousands of
migrant workers. At that time, all travel into the USA by US citizens, Canadians, Mexicans, and anyone else will require a passport or other accepted document.

While U.S. or foreign passports will be the documents of choice for entering or re-entering the USA, other documents are expected to be acceptable, such as the Border Crossing Card (BCC or "laser visa," which is currently in use for Mexican citizens entering the USA from neighboring territories), the Customs and Border Protection Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI), NEXUS, and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program cards. It is expected that acceptable documents will establish citizenship and identity, enables electronic data verification and checking, and include biometrics and significant security features.