Passport Requirements to Resume October 1

Starting October 1, airline passengers will again need valid passports to travel between the United States and Bermuda, the Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The ruling was officially enacted last January as part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, but the influx of passport applications was so overwhelming, the DHS suspended the law until September 30, 2007. The law will be extended next year to land borders and seaports as well.

Through Sept. 30, 2007, U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received passports can temporarily enter and depart from the United States by air with a government-issued photo identification and official proof of application for a passport through the Department of State.

Effective October 1, 2007, U.S. citizens traveling by air to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda must present a passport or other WHTI-compliant documentation to enter or depart from the United States. Consult the Department of Homeland Security Web site for more information.