We do not have passports...will a birth certificate work?Or do we need to get passports?Thanks in advance.

Until December 31, you can still enter Jamaica with an official, government-issued birth certificate (not one given out by a hospital) with a raised seal and in addition government-issued photo ID. After that, you must have a passport. You will generally receive closer scrutiny from immigration in both directions if you use a birth certificate/driver's license.

Thanks Doug.

Why not just get the passport and be done with it?? You still have plenty of time before November.

We are going in September (15-19th) after that I will get a passport for the future.

I'm willing to bet a cup or Blue Mountain Coffee that you can get your passports in time for your September trip if you want to. If you're going to get passports later, why not now? If you get them in time, fine. If you don't, you already have plan B in place.

Christie: Use a passport expediting service (costs about US$75+UP) but you'll be assured to have passports in 10 days or less time, if need be -- while standard service can take 2-3 months.

Sam, christie will have to surrender her original birth certificate, so she would be without any proof of citizenship if it did not come in time.

I remember when I went to get my passport a few years ago. I had used my birth certificate numerous times for trips to the Caribbean. Yet the official at the passport office rejected it, made me order another one from my birth state first, then bring that one in to send off for the passport. Said it was too old and faded (not me of course, just the piece of paper ), and couldn't feel the seal!

Christie, you talked your husband into Jamaica fast! Before you know it, you will have seen all the islands!!!!

Everyone..thanks for the advice.I think we will do the expediting service that Tiver recommended or just use Birth Certificates this last time.

girlonthego,
I have been trying to talk my husband into Jamaica since April 04 when we went to Aruba.He is excited about the trip now.

Expediting services (you may have some others closer to you):
NH PASSPORT EXPRESS:1.800.841.6778 (since there'a a major US passport processing center in this state) and
PASSPORT PLUS in NY:1.800.367.1818

Just to clarify: the January 1, 2006 date has nothing to do with entering Jamaica or any other place. ONCE YOU LEAVE, YOU CAN'T GET BACK INTO THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT A PASSPORT AFTER THAT DATE.