New Passport Requirements
Dec 20th, 2006, 01:56 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New Passport Requirements
You knew this, but do your friends and family?
US citizens will need passports to return home
Tourism officials fear rule requiring passports for returning US citizens will hurt their industry
By Peter J. Howe, Boston Globe December 20, 2006
Three years after Congress first moved to require every traveler entering this country hold a passport, including US citizens, the rule is finally taking effect Jan. 23 -- and roiling the tourism industry from Toronto to Tortola.
For years, US citizens have been able to travel to Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, and many Caribbean destinations and get back into the United States without a passport, as long as they had proof of identity, such as a birth certificate and driver's license. That ends Jan. 23 for everyone traveling by air.
Sometime before mid-2009, people driving across the Canadian and Mexican borders will have to flash a passport or begin carrying a new federally issued, passport-like identity card . . . .
US citizens will need passports to return home
Tourism officials fear rule requiring passports for returning US citizens will hurt their industry
By Peter J. Howe, Boston Globe December 20, 2006
Three years after Congress first moved to require every traveler entering this country hold a passport, including US citizens, the rule is finally taking effect Jan. 23 -- and roiling the tourism industry from Toronto to Tortola.
For years, US citizens have been able to travel to Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, and many Caribbean destinations and get back into the United States without a passport, as long as they had proof of identity, such as a birth certificate and driver's license. That ends Jan. 23 for everyone traveling by air.
Sometime before mid-2009, people driving across the Canadian and Mexican borders will have to flash a passport or begin carrying a new federally issued, passport-like identity card . . . .
Dec 20th, 2006, 09:13 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The whole point of a passport is that you need it to get INTO a country, of course you need one to return home because it's to check entering people.
This is the wrong board, but I heard a radio talk show about this recently where I live, and for some strange reason, some people won't get passports who travel to these countries. I don't know why, I guess they are just really really cheap (Americans). For example, one of the callers to the radio show complained about how terrible this was going to be for him because he goes to some Caribbean islands 2-3 times a year and has for 15 years or so. Why this guy doesn't buy a passport if he can afford so many vacations abroad is beyond me. I think it's a good thing, maybe people will get a little more educated about the world and understand geography and politics better.
This is the wrong board, but I heard a radio talk show about this recently where I live, and for some strange reason, some people won't get passports who travel to these countries. I don't know why, I guess they are just really really cheap (Americans). For example, one of the callers to the radio show complained about how terrible this was going to be for him because he goes to some Caribbean islands 2-3 times a year and has for 15 years or so. Why this guy doesn't buy a passport if he can afford so many vacations abroad is beyond me. I think it's a good thing, maybe people will get a little more educated about the world and understand geography and politics better.
Dec 20th, 2006, 01:14 PM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for all the notes telling me I posted on the wrong board. Sorry! This wasn't my usual boneheadism but a function of posting at 5:56 AM (see header)! Never again! I may _read_ the board to counteract insomnia, but I won't post until fully awake!
