What is currently required at land and sea borders?
As of January 31, 2008, oral declarations of citizenship alone are no longer sufficient to establish identity and citizenship for entry into the United States. U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older are asked to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a drivers license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate. Children ages 18 and under are currently asked only to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. Passports and trusted traveler cards, such as NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST, are considered WHTI-compliant documents and are accepted for cross-border travel. The period between publication of the final rule and June 1, 2009, is designed to lessen the impact on individuals and allow time for travelers to become accustomed to the change and obtain the appropriate documents. Implementation of WHTI, which will further narrow the types of accepted documents, will take place on June 1, 2009.
