| Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) puts a | | | | traveling to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the |
| damper on many travel plans. | | | | Caribbean is now considered "traveling abroad," |
| As many of you may know by now, especially if you | | | | where once we could travel to the above countries |
| have upcoming plans to travel to one of our | | | | with limited or no documentation needed at all. |
| neighboring countries like Canada or Mexico, your | | | | So how does this affect travel to Canada? Or |
| travel plans just might be at risk. "The Intelligence | | | | Mexico? Or Bermuda? Or the Caribbean? Well the |
| Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act or 2004 | | | | short answer for you is not much. But if you're like |
| requires the Department of Homeland Security and | | | | me, and take family vacations annually to Mexico, it |
| Department of State to develop and implement a | | | | might cost a bit more this year. Take for example a |
| plan to require all travelers, U.S. citizens and foreign | | | | family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children under 16 years). |
| nationals alike, to present a passport or other | | | | The cost of our trip just exploded because by law, I |
| document, or a combination of documents, that | | | | am now required to obtain a passport for each |
| denote identity and citizenship when entering the | | | | individual crossing in and out of the United States. So, |
| United States. Congress amended portions of the | | | | lets see, not only do I have to pay for the monetary |
| Act in 2006. The Western Hemisphere Travel | | | | cost associated with obtaining a passport, 4 |
| Initiative is the Administration's proposed plan to | | | | passports in this example, but I now have to take |
| implement this mandate." So what does this mean? | | | | the time out of my day to find out where I can pick |
| Well, for starters, if you're traveling to Mexico, | | | | up 4 passport applications; then fill them out, and |
| Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean, you are now | | | | then find a place that will take my passport photo to |
| required to obtain a passport for your travels outside | | | | be attached with the passport application. I'm not |
| the United States. | | | | done...I have to round up my entire family to go on |
| You could, not to long ago, travel to Canada or | | | | this passport excursion. Do I pull my kids out of |
| Mexico as easily as traveling to visit your parents 5 | | | | school for this? Do they miss band or sports practice |
| states away. Not anymore. The Federal | | | | after school? Do I waste an hour and fight traffic |
| government's goal to "strengthen border security and | | | | with my family just to find our passport applications |
| facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens | | | | and a place that will take our passport photo? |
| and legitimate foreign visitors" now requires all | | | | Unfortunately, this scenario will look all too common in |
| travelers to basically "check-in" by obtaining a | | | | 2007 and beyond as the Federal government |
| passport for identification and proof of citizenship. | | | | continues to increase security for our Country. My |
| This is an absolute necessity to secure our borders | | | | advice is to get your passport early and beat the |
| against un-authorized access with the foremost | | | | rush. And if you're lucky, find someone who will come |
| hopes of preventing terrorist acts by individuals | | | | out to your work place or home and furnish all your |
| abroad. Unfortunately, the policy and enforcement on | | | | passport needs, from forms to photos like Moble |
| border security will affect both incoming travelers and | | | | Passport Photos. |
| domestic travelers going abroad. As of January 2007, | | | | |