| Travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, | | | | follows: |
| Panama, Mexico and Canada will be required to have | | | | December 31, 2005 - Passport required for all travel |
| a passport to enter or re-enter the United States. | | | | to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and |
| This is a change from prior travel requirements and | | | | South America. |
| will affect all United States citizens entering the | | | | December 31, 2006 - Passport required for all air and |
| United States from countries within the Western | | | | sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada. |
| Hemisphere. This new requirement will also affect | | | | December 31, 2007 - Passport required for all air, sea |
| certain foreign nationals who currently are not | | | | and land border crossings. |
| required to present a passport to travel to the | | | | How Do I get a passport? |
| United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the | | | | U.S. citizens may visit the Passport section of the |
| British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a | | | | State Department web site [state.gov] for |
| lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by | | | | information on how to apply for a U.S. passport. You |
| the implementation of this requirement. Essentially, | | | | should allow yourself a sufficient amount of time to |
| you must have a passport if you wish to enter the | | | | apply and receive your passport in advance of travel. |
| United States, even if you are a U.S. citizen. | | | | Current processing time estimates are 6 to 8 weeks. |
| When It Goes Into Effect | | | | In Closing |
| The travel initiative requirements will be rolled out in | | | | As the world becomes a more dangerous place, |
| phases. The proposed implementation timeline is as | | | | borders are being tightened. How depressing. |