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