Angie,<BR>If you name is different on your various identifying documents, you must carry proof of name change (marriage certificate...the notarized one, or in more unfortunate circumstances, a notorized copy of divorce decree).<BR><BR>Yes, this gets complicated, which is why all those people are recommending a passport. It certainly is the ideal solution, but not the only one.

I am curious. What is the proceedure for returning into the USA without a passport these days? A birth certificate and driver's license all that is needed to get in? I wonder why anybody would bother to get a visa for first time US entry? It was just indicated that the US embassies out of the country can not longer relace a lost passport. It has to come from the US as they have increased the security of their construction and the local embassies do not have the right equipment. I guess I will continue to take mine with me.

I would recommend if you want a passport photo, the place where you apply for the passport, provides photo service for $10. It is worth it to avoid an extra trip to a Sears for the photo.

Louis,<BR>I used my birth certificate and driver's license to clear Customs and Immigration in San Juan, PR after returning from a January 2002 vacation in Anguilla. Had no problems whatsoever, and no delays. However, I am a US citizen. I don't know the visa requirements for non-US citizens. So...your question, "Why would anyone bother with getting a visa for first time US entry?" remains. I'm speculating that entry requirements might be different for non-US citizens. (grin).<BR>

I realize that this is a very old post, but had to chuckle when reading it, because it reminded me of our experience 15 years ago in St. Lucia. We stayed at Couples ( now Rendezvous) for a week, then flew an intra-island plane to Martinique for a week. The security people at Vigie told us that we needed a passport to fly from SL to Martinique and sent us scrambling up the hill (in the rain!) to the U.S.Embassey for travel documents that we did not need! Have had a passport ever since, to avoid the needless hassles!

I am a different Sam. A passport is not required, but you already know that. A certified birth certificate (with the raised seal) and a government issued photo ID are required. A work issued ID won't work.
If your name has changed you do need to provide official documentation as noted above.
Children are not required to have a photo ID as long as their parents or guardian can vouch for them. Minors can get a passport though. I think my sons is valid for 5 years rather than 10.
Earlier this month a friend at work had his passport application processed and returned to him within 2 weeks, but he did pay for expidited service. Otherwise expect 4-6 weeks for processing.
A passport is the easiest way to travel IMHO.
sam

Things are changing fast with Homeland Security. As of now, a U.S. Voter Registration Card + photo ID can get you into the Bahamas, there is much talk between the U.S. State Department and Bahamian Government to phase this out, and a phase out date will be scheduled, but now one as yet knows for sure. So, if you're planning a trip to the Bahamas or any other Caribbean island, prepare to carry a passport + original birth (or notorized copy of one with raised seal)+ photo ID when traveling to the Bahamas or eventually every Caribbean nation. There are indications that terrorists may be setting up shop or creating money raising campaigns via front operation businesses in the U.S. southern flank. Robert

Robert, did you really mean to say &quot;passport + original birth (or notorized copy of one with raised seal)+ photo ID&quot;? All three?? Sounds wacky!

I know that a phot ID will definately be required, either on a passport or driver's license. The Passport plus birth certificate are both in the proposed requirements; neither one alone will be sufficient. Apparently, our intelligence services don't want to cause hassles for U.S. citizens, but they definately want to make it extremely difficult NOT to leave a paper trail for the &quot;bad guys.&quot; I guess they want to make it difficult for unknown associates of terrorist cells to travel easily throughout the Caribbean and set up front operations to collect monies. Robert

This is huge news...I see what you mean though. Having to bring both your BC and passport will be a stumbling block, but I guess we can all learn to adapt. Do you think this will be widespread all over the Carib, or just limited to Bahamas?

It will definately be initiated throughout the Bahamas, soon, due to the close proximity to our southern flank. As to the other Caribbean countries, it will eventually be too. There was a large gathering in Kingstown and St. Vincent recently with officials from most Caribbean nations to discuss the U.S. concerns of terrorists moving undetected throughout the entire Caribbean basin. Unfortunately, those of us who like to go to out islands in the Bahamas and remote, undeveloped islands may feel the Homeland Security pinch, which is coming. The U.S. intelligence services believe terrorists could carry out attacks against the U.S. mainland via these islands, by passing through small airports or reach us via small boats from poorly patrolled coastlines as they head north through, say, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, BVI, etc. The U.S. mainland is a hop, skip and a jump from these islands. Or, terrorists could obtain safe houses and fake Passports, driver licenses, etc., from unidentified collaborators on these islands. As anyone knows who visited the Grenadines, St. Vincent, Bahamian out islands, Nevis, and thousands of other remote cays and smaller islands; finding stop off points wouldn't be too difficult for highly-intelligent and skillful terrorist cells. Like the awful nightclub bombing in Bali, who said a packed nightclub ful of U.S. tourists wouldn't be a good target? Intelligence officials, through our state department, are analyzing the drug trafficking connection to terrorist cells in the Caribbean, no longer just through Columbia and Peru. I know also, through my contacts with the Defense Intelligence Agency, that the U.S. is worried about the hundreds of U.S. corporations operating in the Caribbean basin. For example, Petroleum refinaries in Trinidad, which cares for most of world's methanol, ammonium sulphate and almost half of the U.S. imported liquified natural gas. What a target! Getting back to the northern Caribbean, if on of these cells were able to hijack an airliner after departing from the Bahamas could reach Florida in a hearbeat. And, what about a cruise ship full of Americans visiting these ports being seized?
In sum, when the U.S. intelligence services move in, our freedom to move around will not be an easy feat anymore. They already know that fals passports and visas are being issued in many Caribbean island nations, and you can be sure when the intelligence community steps in, we'll most likely have to carry a driver's license, original birth certificate, and passort/visa + have our fingerprints analyzed, even in remote, tin-roofed airports with a handful of employees and dogs sleeping in the shade outside. I sum, to answer your question, all Caribbean nations are considered vulnerable by U.S. intelligence, and travel among them by U.S. citizens will be scrutinized more closely. But, the pristine beaches, turqoise waters, and palm groves will always be awaiting us! Robert