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NEW TRAVELER IDENTIFICATION
RULES
International travel requirements, as defined by
recent passport rules, are changing constantly. As of May, 2011, we offer the following
advisory information. It is important for all travellers to verify that their identification
documents meet the rules at the time of travel.
More FAQs explaining current passport rules and updates are available at the
US Department of State's Website.
1.
Rules relating to pending passport
applications for certain travel within western
hemisphere?
The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security - This linked
article provides the latest clarification of travel rules, published in 2009, by CLIA
(The Cruiseline Industry Association)
View the most recent article from the CLIA, (Cruise Line Industry
Association) . Please note, THE U. S. GOVERNMENT does not want you to leave the Country
without proper documentation.
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- Who is affected?
Certain accommodations are available to Americans traveling by air and
returning from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
U.S. citizens who take advantage of such accommodation will need to
present the official proof of passport application to air carriers and to
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at air ports of entry*. Such
individuals may be subject to secondary inspection.
Adults who have applied for but not yet received a passport should present
government-issued photo identification and an official proof of application from the U.S.
Department of State. Children under the age of 16 traveling with their parents or legal
guardian will be permitted to travel with the child’s proof of application.
U.S. citizens with pending passport applications can obtain proof of
application at: Direct link to the U. S. Department of State Information Website.
Travellers may track the progress of their application within 7-10 days after their
application arrives in the processing office.
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3.
Updated Travel Requirements by
destination.
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ENTRY
GUIDELINES
Please note that passengers must adhere to the US requirements
(a US passport ONLY), and also the entry requirements of their vacation
destination as well
These regulations apply for adults 16 and older. Children under the
age of 16 will be required to have the official proof of application from the US
Department of State. An ID is not required for those destinations requiring an ID,
though it is recommended that if they have a school ID they bring that along. For
countries that require a passport for entry, the same regulations apply to
children.
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4.
What meets "acceptable proof of application" for a
passport?
A print-out of the online status check accessed at http://travel.state.gov/passport, showing an application has been received
by the Department of State.
NOTE: A passport receipt
obtained from your local post office or passport agency will not be
accepted.
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5.
How long will earlier temporarily relaxed rules be in
place?
Refer
to The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland
Security - This linked article provides the latest clarification of travel
rules, published in 2009, by CLIA (The Cruiseline Industry Association)
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6. Were the former relaxed passport
requirements ONLY for travelers who applied for a passport prior to Friday, June 7,
2007?
NO. These relaxed rules were for all passengers returning to the US by air from Mexico, the
Caribbean or Canada bySeptember 30, 2007. Note that if passengers departing the US prior to
September 30, 2007 but returning after that date, MUST have a Passport.
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What is the requirement for children under 16
who are United States citizens? What about older teens (16-17) who do not have a photo
ID?
Children under age 16 traveling with a parent or legal
guardian will be required to present the receipt from the Department of State Passport Services
indicating confirmation of an application upon arrival to and departure from the United
States.
Requirements by destination are listed above. For those
destinations that required both a government issued ID as well as proof of application from the
US department of state, only the proof of application is required. For those that required a
passport, a passport is required for all travelers to that destination, including children. A
birth certificate or government issued id are not required for entry back into the United States
for children under the age 16.
For children 16-18, the adult requirements apply for entry
into the destination as well as entry back into the United States. For children who do not have
a government issued ID card, one can be obtained at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The
following are required to obtain a government-issued ID card: birth certificate, social security
card and student id card (if available).
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What steps do travelers who have APPLIED
but not yet received their passport have to take to ensure they
travel?
Travellers can go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html and
follow the instructions to print out your passport status page. This may only be done within
7-10 days of receipt of the application by the US Department of State, faster if customers
choose to expedite their passport and clearly mark EXPEDITE on the outside
envelope.
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What steps do travelers who have NOT YET
APPLIED for their passport or NEED TO RENEW their passport have to take to ensure they can take
their trip?
We
recommend that customers apply for their passport at least two months prior to departure
if they haven’t already. In order to print the official proof of application from the US Department
of State, it is 7-10 days from the US Department of State receives the application unless
customers’ clearly marked EXPEDITE on the outside envelope and paid the expediting
fee.
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Have
passport requirements been relieved for countries that previously required a US
Passport?
NO. Countries that required a passport prior to the new
regulations that went into effect in January still require a passport for entry back into the
United States.
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