New ID Rules for Border Crossings
The new border protection law takes effect Monday, June 1. Under a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require secure travel documents when departing and entering the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and 17 nations of the Caribbean by sea or by land.
Travelers who do not comply with the new requirements will get a warning and be allowed to enter the U.S. after a background check. Officials say that drivers may be assured they will be able to re-enter the U.S. once their identity and citizenship is verified. (Requirements covering air travel went into effect in 2007.)
The documents for land and sea travel include:
U.S. or Canadian passport.
U.S. passport card.
Trusted Travelers Card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST/EXPRES).
State or provincial enhanced driver’s license
The passport card issued by the U.S. State Department to cross land borders is specifically for those not traveling by air. It costs $45 for first-time applicants in contrast to passports, which cost $100.
Identification documents available under the “Trusted Traveler” programs cost from $50 to more than $100. Developed by the U.S, Canadian and Mexican governments, these documents allow vetted travelers faster access to the border. In some cases, members in these programs have their own lanes at border crossings.
Enhanced driver’s licenses, which use a microchip to store a person’s information, also can be used to cross the northern and southern borders of the U.S. Currently Vermont, Washington State, New York, and Michigan are the only states to offer them.
Exceptions from the new ID rules include children under 16 traveling with family, people under 19 traveling in youth groups, Native Americans and members of the military, who will be able to use different forms of identification. Also, travelers on cruise ships departing from a U.S. port, sailing only within the Western Hemisphere and returning to the same port do not have to comply.
For more information, go to www.travel.state.gov/passport.