Why is the U.S. government implementing the travel initiative?
WHTI is a joint Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State (DOS) plan that implements both a 9/11 Commission Recommendation and a Congressional mandate that will close a significant security vulnerability. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), as amended, mandates that DHS and DOS develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport or other appropriate identity and citizenship documentation when entering the United States from within the Western Hemisphere. For many years, U.S. and Canadian citizens were exempt from the presentation of a passport or other document to enter the United States. On January 31, 2008, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), using its existing authority, ended the practice of accepting oral declarations of citizenship and identity alone at the land and sea ports of entry to address a security vulnerability that has existed for years at the border. CBP officers h
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) mandated that the U.S. secretaries of Homeland Security and State develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport or other appropriate identity and citizenship documentation when entering the United States. For many years, U.S. citizens, and some citizens of other countries in the Western Hemisphere including Canadians and Mexicans with Border Crossing Cards (BCCs or “Laser Visas”), have not been required to present a passport to enter the United States. Currently, a traveler may make a verbal declaration of citizenship, or present other forms of documents to enter the country that cannot currently be validated or verified in a timely manner, such as birth certificates and driver’s licenses. This change in travel document requirements is also the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Refor
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) mandated that the U.S. Secretaries of Homeland Security and State develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport or other appropriate secure identity and citizenship documentation when entering the United States. For many years U.S. citizens, and some citizens of other countries in the Western Hemisphere including Canadians, have not been required to present a passport or other specific forms of secure identification to enter the U.S. Instead, a wide variety of less secure documentation has historically been accepted. In light of the new security efforts, the United States is requiring travelers to have a passport or other accepted secure document for entry into the United States.
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) mandated that the U.S. secretaries of Homeland Security and State develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport or other appropriate identity and citizenship documentation when entering the United States. For many years, U.S. citizens, and some citizens of other countries in the Western Hemisphere including Canadians and Mexicans with Border Crossing Cards (BCCs or “Laser Visas”), have not been required to present a passport to enter the United States. Currently, a traveler may make a verbal declaration of citizenship, or present other forms of documents to enter the country that cannot currently be validated or verified in a timely manner, such as birth certificates and driver’s licenses.
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) mandated that the U.S. Secretaries of Homeland Security and State develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport or other appropriate secure identity and citizenship documentation when entering the United States.
