Paladin - 4-26-2007 at 08:18 AM
Does the new passport rules also apply to flying in on a private plane???
Thanks
osoflojo - 4-26-2007 at 09:03 AM
I believe so, but check in with the Baja Bush Pilots for a more definative answer.
David K - 4-26-2007 at 09:04 AM
http://www.bajabushpilots.com a few of them are also Baja Nomads (Capt. Mike, Bonanza Bucko, etc.)
The answer is YES:
US Passports Required Jan 23 to enter the US. - 12/3/2006
UNCLASSIFIED STATE 00192368
VZCZCXRO0643
PP RUEHAT
DE RUEHC #2368/01 3322155
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 282101Z NOV 06
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 0498/0499
BT
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 192368
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (CAPTION
CONSULAR SECTIONS, DHS ATTACHES, AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTIONS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC, CMGT, CPAS, KPAO, AMGT, XM, XL, CA, BD
SUBJECT: WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE - AIR FINAL
RULE MAKING
STATE 00192368 001.4 OF 002
1. This is an action request (paras 13-14).
2. Summary. On November 24, the Federal Register
published the Final Rule regarding the plan set forth
jointly by the Departments of State and Homeland Security
(DHS) regarding the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
(WHTI) Air Implementation Phase. This is the first
implementation phase for Section 7209 of the Intelligence
Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA),
which requires nearly all U.S. citizens and non-U.S.
citizens alike to present a passport or other accepted
travel document as evidence of identity and citizenship
when entering the United States. The WHTI Air Rule
becomes effective January 23, 2007, and will require
virtually all U.S. citizens and nonimmigrant aliens from
Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico departing from or entering
the United States from within the Western Hemisphere at
air ports-of-entry to present a valid passport.
3. This final rule differs from the Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register on
August 11, 2006, by finalizing new documentation
requirements for only travelers departing or arriving in
the United States by air. The portion of the NPRM that
proposed changes in documentation requirements for
travelers arriving by sea is not finalized under this
rule. Requirements for U.S. citizens and nonimmigrant
aliens from Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico departing from or
entering the United States at land and sea ports-of-entry
will be addressed in a separate, future rulemaking.
4. WHTI aims to strengthen border security and facilitate
entry into the United States for American citizens and
legitimate foreign travelers by ensuring that travelers
possess secure, verifiable identity and citizenship
documents. Citizens of the United States, Bermuda, and
Canada traveling within the Western Hemisphere have been
exempt by regulation from the passport requirement.
Evidence of citizenship and identification required for
entry into the United States could consist of a wide
variety of less secure documents (driver´s licenses, birth
certificates, school IDs, etc.), which requires U.S.
Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to be familiar
with numerous types of documents to make entry decisions.
The IRTPA eliminates this exemption and requires the
Secretary of DHS, in consultation with the Secretary of
State, to develop and implement a plan to require U.S.
citizens and all foreign travelers to present a passport or
other document(s) deemed by the DHS Secretary to be
sufficient to denote identity and citizenship when entering
the United States. Only a limited number of specific
documents will be acceptable for presentation at U.S. ports
of entry under this plan.
5. The IRTPA imposes a document requirement on all
international travel including entry/exit within the
Western Hemisphere (travel to/from Mexico, Canada, the
Caribbean and Bermuda), affecting many travelers who were
previously exempt. Guidance to WHA posts will be provided
septel. Posts are asked to make the information available
to American citizens in their districts. See action
request paras 13 and 14. End Summary.
--------
Timeline
--------
6. Implementation timeline: This Final Rule will be
effective on January 23, 2007 for air travel between the
United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South
America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
-----------------
Definition of Air
-----------------
7. Air entry under this Final Rule is defined generally to
include:
-Commercial flights
STATE 00192368 002.4 OF 002
-Charter flights
-General Aviation flights (private/corporate planes)
Not included in this phase:
-Private pleasure vessels (fishing boats, private yachts)
-Ferry boats
-Land Travel
-Cruise Lines
-Commercial marine vessels
-Commercial charter vessels with crew
-------------------------------------
Passport or Alternative Documentation
-------------------------------------
8. Under IRTPA, U.S. citizens and foreign nationals must
have "a passport or other document, or combination of
documents, deemed by the Secretary of DHS to be sufficient
to denote identity and citizenship" to enter the United
States. The U.S. Passport Office has been increasing
capacity to meet the rising demand for passports. In
fiscal year 2006, workload reached 12.1 million passports
(an increase from 10.1 million in FY 05 and 8.8 million in
FY 04).
9. In addition to the passport,
-The NEXUS Air card, when used in conjunction with a NEXUS
kiosk, would be acceptable in lieu of a passport for U.S.
and Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents
enrolled in this trusted traveler program. U.S. permanent
resident NEXUS Air members would also need to present
their Alien Registration Card ARC ("green cards" or I-
551).
-The Merchant Marine document (MMD) issued by the Coast
Guard would be sufficient alternative documentation for
U.S. citizen seamen when traveling on business.
10. There will be no change to the requirements for:
-U.S. or NATO military members, they will still be able to
enter with U.S. military ID or a NATO country ID plus
official orders.
11. Documentary Requirements for special groups are
defined:
-Mexican citizens arriving by air would need to present a
valid Mexican passport along with a Border Crossing Card
(BCC) or Visa.
- Native Americans (born in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico)
would be required to carry a passport when arriving by
air.
-There would be no change to travel between the United
States and U.S. territories.
12. Exceptions for individual cases of emergency travel
and for humanitarian and national interest cases remain in
place.
---------------------------------------
Action Request: Public Affairs Outreach
---------------------------------------
13. A detailed message on the initiative and how it may
affect travelers is available on the State Department´s
consular website www.travel.state.gov and the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security´s website www.dhs.gov.
Overseas, posts should ensure there is a link to this
announcement from their Embassy web pages.
14. Posts can use Talking Points available on the CA
Intranet for information dissemination.
15. Minimize considered.
RICE
BT
#2368
[Edited on 4-26-2007 by David K]
David K - 4-26-2007 at 09:08 AM
Here is the key lines from above:
6. Implementation timeline: This Final Rule will be
effective on January 23, 2007 for air travel between the
United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South
America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
-----------------
Definition of Air
-----------------
7. Air entry under this Final Rule is defined generally to
include:
-Commercial flights
STATE 00192368 002.4 OF 002
-Charter flights
-General Aviation flights (private/corporate planes)
Paladin - 4-26-2007 at 09:47 AM
Thanks for info
You have made it perfectly clear
Thanks again