Initiative Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) Puts A Damper On Many Travel Plans

How many of you already know, especially if you have any future plans to travel to a neighboring country like Mexico or Canada, travel plans just might be in danger. "Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, or 2004 requires the Department of Homeland Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to develop and implement a plan to require all travelers, U.S. citizens and foreign ones to present a passport or other document or combination of documents that express their identity and citizenship when entering the United States. Congress to amend the law in 2006. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is the Administration has proposed a plan to implement this mandate. "What does this mean? Well, first of all, if you travel to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean, it is time to get a passport traveled outside the United States.

Can not long ago, travel to Canada or Mexico, as easily as trips to visit his parents five states away. Neither. The federal government's objective to "strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors" now requires that all passengers on the bottom "check-in" by obtaining a passport for identification and proof of citizenship. It is an absolute necessity to protect our borders against unauthorized access, hoping above all to prevent terrorist acts by individuals abroad. Unfortunately, policy and enforcement in border security have an impact on travelers entering and Canadian travelers abroad. In January 2007, traveling to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean is now regarded as "abroad", where once they could travel to these countries, with little or no documentation at all.