BajaBad
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No Passports needed for Land & Sea Travel until summer
Someone forwarded this to me, may be useful info for some - safe travels, 
BajaBad
Viva La Baja! Relocation Guide
http://www.vivalabaja.com
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Passport Requirement Delayed for Land and Sea Travel
January 9, 2008
Mexico City
As of January 31, U.S. citizens will need to present a government-issued photo ID and proof of citizenship to travel to Mexico, Canada, and the
Caribbean by land or sea. But the proof of citizenship can be a birth certificateג€”it does not need to be a passport.
Passports are already required for air travel to these areas, and passports were scheduled to be required for land or sea travel beginning this year.
But over the Christmas holidays the Bush Administration decided to delay implementing the passport requirement for land and sea travel. It will likely
be put into effect sometime this summer.
In the meantime, if youג€™re driving or taking a cruise to one of these countries, you donג€™t need a passport. But you must take an
original birth certificate (or naturalization certificate) and a government-issued photo ID such as a driverג€™s license. Children under the age
of 18 must present an original birth certificate.
If youג€™re applying for a passport, please note that the routine processing time is currently four to six weeks. Expedited service, which
includes overnight delivery service, is about three weeks.
In addition, all passports issued since August 2007 have a new design and one major new featureג€”a computer chip imbedded in the back cover
that includes all the personal information written in the passport, as well as a digitized photo.
Passports without computer chips will continue to be valid. But when your non-chip passport expires, youג€™ll be issued one of the new,
electronic passports.
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turtleandtoad
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Actually, it's the getting back that'll require a passport  Mexico doesn't require
much of anything in the way of ID to get in. You can drive or walk across most of the crossings without even being stopped! but I get the drift.
Mike & Robin; Full-Time RV\'ers
37\' Georgetown w/3 slides & 275 Watts of Solar Power
06 Taco TRD
www.turtleandtoad.com
I am here
To paraphrase Frank Lloyd Wright; I\'m all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let\'s start with keyboards. --
Mike Dean |
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David K
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Please see the official press release from the Dept. of Homeland Security/ Customs and Border Protection, posted by me Dec. 12, 2007: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=28607
Here are some key parts, if you don't read the whole thing:
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) remind the traveling public that as of Jan. 31,
2008, all adult travelers will be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, and proof of identity, such as a driver’s
license, when entering the United States through land and sea ports of entry. DHS will be issuing a notice in the Federal Register formally announcing
the change...
Currently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers may accept oral declarations of citizenship from U.S. and Canadian citizens seeking entry
into the United States through a land or sea border. However, as of January 31, 2008:
§ Oral declarations of citizenship alone will no longer be accepted
§ U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older will need to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of
citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate
§ Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate...
[Edited on 1-10-2008 by David K]
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by turtleandtoad
Actually, it's the getting back that'll require a passport Mexico doesn't require
much of anything in the way of ID to get in. You can drive or walk across most of the crossings without even being stopped! but I get the drift.
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Only air travelers need passports... as of this time. No date has been confirmed when land traveles will need them...
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turtleandtoad
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One of the bills that Congress passed before Xmas break had a provision in it that stated that the passport requirement for land crossings will not
take affect until June 2009.
I don't remember which bill it was and don't know if the Prez signed it or not. But this was in direct conflict with what the State Dept wanted to do.
Mike & Robin; Full-Time RV\'ers
37\' Georgetown w/3 slides & 275 Watts of Solar Power
06 Taco TRD
www.turtleandtoad.com
I am here
To paraphrase Frank Lloyd Wright; I\'m all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let\'s start with keyboards. --
Mike Dean |
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fdt
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Or better yet go to this one that was posted 4 days earlier by someone else.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=28506#pid2811...
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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David K
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I guess it just can't be said enough, eh Ferna?
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fdt
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I guess.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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wornout
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I did not verify this but read it in an RV Article about crossing the border from Mexico, after a day shopping trip in Los Algadones, Baja, Mexico.
The article is about long lines at the walk out gate.
"""At the end of January it could get worse. At that time, U.S. Homeland Security reminds border crossers that returnees will need to show proof of
citizenship. That is, bring a passport, OR a birth certificate AND government issued photo ID. If the border guards scrutinize birth certs, you can
bet the wait will get much longer. Bring your long-johns, folding chairs, maybe a pillow would be in order."""
"""Oh, and by the way, when President Bush signed the budget bill earlier this week, he also signed off on yet another extension of passport (or
passcard) requirements for Mexico/Canada/Caribbean travel. It appears you'll have until the summer of 2009 before you'll need the latter to make
crossings back into the US from these areas."""
This Space Available, E-Mail Me If Interested.
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nobaddays
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Passports are being issued very fast now .
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BajaBad
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Sorry if that was a `re-post' -- did a quick look through subjects but didn't see the earlier one. Maybe others missed the other post as well.
Appreciate the additional info - didn't know about the 'summer 2009' extension. BajaBad
Viva La Baja! Relocation Guide
http://www.vivalabaja.com
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MrBillM
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Delays
Since the purpose of the requirement is to improve Homeland Security, it is difficult to see justification for the delays simply because people will
be inconvienced, but that's Politics.
I pulled up yesterday afternoon, said "Good Afternoon" and handed over our two passports. He scanned them and asked what we were bringing North and
said have a nice day.
Crossing the border since they started asking for Passports has been quicker than ever.
BTW, yesterday I saw the shortest Customs Agent I have ever seen. I said she must have been 4' 6", but my wife thought she might be 5 foot zip.
MAYBE. Women's equality has given us Midget Law Enforcement Officers.
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