The travel.state.gov site is pretty vague about this. The new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative must be implemented by Jan 2008, but some sections of the website hint that it may be in place as of Dec. 2005. Does anyone know if a passport will be required for travel to Jamaica (actually, for re-entry to the U.S. FROM Jamaica) this winter? I have passport, but my friend doesn't.

This must be some kind of Saturday night joke.

If I'm not ranting about spelling errors, the passport question is a close second.

There are many posts here addressing the passport issue.

If you don't care to research, let me be succinct. GET ONE !

Marion

Marion, she has one, her friend doesn't

I just did a passport search and the most recent post I found was from May so......

I'd heard earlier they'd be required as of this January 1, 2006, but heard the other day that some are attempting to push that date back and may succeed, or have succeeded.

SO the answer is...I'm not sure

....so I googled it.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/...passport_x.htm

Looks like your friend will be OK with a birth cert and driver's license.

Liza,

I didn't mean to be so harsh to the OP, and I'm sure your research was helpful.

But I still have a problem understanding why getting a passport seems so intimidating to so many.

It's a painless process, unless you hate having your photo taken ;-), and you're good to go, anywhere, for ten years.

Marion

Please excuse me, I can't help it!
Here we go again.... the travel.state.gov site is not vague. Read it all.
We can not help you if you can not understand what it says, except to say go for the safe answer--
GET THE PASSPORT NOW
Will all the fodorites out there still like me after this post????

One issue that people aren't thinking about is that an island government could change the rules at any point, jeopardizing a non-passport holder's trip. Case in point: in May of this year, the government of French St. Martin announced that everyone arriving & departing from that side of the island by boat or plane had to have a passport effective July 1. Not much notice! So the people who fly to SXM and get to Anguilla by the Marigot ferry had to get a passport or get to Anguilla by plane or private charter. Again -- very short notice of the change; it could happen anywhere.

At the government level, this is STILL considerable discussion btw. Jamaica and U.S. (as well as other Caribbean countries) as to exactly WHEN the passport-only law will take effect. With slightly over half of its visitors from U.S. now travelling WITHOUT passports, Jamaica is pushing for extension. The RE-ENTRY into U.S. provision is entirely a different matter. Marion, however, is spot-on.
Have your friend get a passport and you can both ignore any potential developments.

I have to agree with many of the posters here.

GET ONE NOW!!!

A passport is perhaps the ONLY World recognized travel document. It's valid for 5 years here in Canada, 10 in the USA and is so absolutely painless to get (unless you're hiding something) so why not get one.

And don't give me the cost issue. If you can't afford the small fee (amortized yearly) forthe correct travel documents, you shouldn't be travelling.

In today's security conscious world, no-fly lists, and other identity issues, to travel without a passport is simply being an IDIOT!!!

Enough said.

Steve

Can't agree more--if you want to travel"get a passport".
MaryD is right on--an island can and do change rules, it isn't just the US government rules! We flew in and out of St. Martin in July with the kids, when booking NO ONE asked if we all had passports, what a nightmanre that could have been. We had ours and I recently got the kids their own. To me, if anyone plans to travel in the up coimg future, get one now. If it is a one time trip out of the US, maybe it does not make sense for you to leave the US and get a passport for only one trip.
I feel it is important to have the passport if you want to travel outside the country you live in, no matter the dead lines etc.
Just want to give my opinion here.

opps, correction---up "coming"

Hi PDersch, It would be in your friends best interest to obtain a passport. At this point in time you can pretty much travel between the US and the Caribbean with a BC and photo ID. Having said that I will share my experience from last yr.
I decided in Oct of last yr to visit St.Vincent/Grenadines. I have a passport but my friend who wanted to go didn't. A passport isn't necessary to enter SVD. I sail Windjammer cruises and read their travel board for helpful hints. I had read a posting re: PP being necessary when traveling thru Barbados. I contacted the Bajan consulate in NY and was assured BC & photo ID would be fine. That post continued to haunt me so I reread. I called my airline USairways and the service rep stated that a PP WAS necessary if connecting thru Barbados. She was kind enough to bring her supervisor on the phone for a conference call. The supervisor confirmed.
Moral of the story, get a passport. It will save your friend many a hassle down the line. Make sure you also keep a copy with you apart from where you normally carry your passport in case of loss.
My friend received hers about 3-4 days prior to departure. We had a few nervous days wondering if it was going to be here in time. The PP office has a number to track the status of a PP. There are also services available to expedite shoul you have less time than we did. Have fun.
Sandy

Whoops meant to abbreviate SVG for St.Vincent & Grenadines not SVD which is the airport on the mainland in Arnos Vale.

Why is this even an issue? When in doubt, get a passport. In worst case scenarios, you can get one in less than 72 hours.

Never travel without a passport. Better safe than sorry....

It's good for 5 years. Well worth the money!