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New Passport Requirements in 2007
Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:14 am
by California Girl
I just received this in my e-mail from Side Step. Since this question always comes up on the forum I thought I'd post it.
As part of SideStep's commitment to providing our customers with the most-up-to-date travel information, we want to inform you of some important new requirements for air travelers.
As of January 23, 2007, all persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air to Canada, Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean will be required to present a valid passport to re-enter the country. A valid driver's license will no longer suffice for re-entry documentation.
If you are planning on traveling out of the country next year, we recommend applying for a new passport, or checking your current passport to ensure it is still valid. It can take up to six weeks to process a new one, so plan ahead. For more information please visit the U.S. State Department web site at:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html
Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 6:49 am
by RonUSVI
And once again, this does not apply to the US Virgin Islands.
Q. Will travelers from U.S. territories need to present a passport to enter the United States?
No. These territories are a part of the United States. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the U.S. territory and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:58 am
by RickG
Abosulutely no passports are required for traveling between the US Virgin Islands and the US continent. You never left the US. People over 18 need a government issued photo id. People under the age of 18 do not need id. We went through immigration in St. Thomas last Saturday using everything from a Maryland driver's license, expired passports, birth certificates and valid passports. No one was hassled.
Cheers, RickG
Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 7:57 am
by FlaGeorge
Thanks California Girl for passing that on. With regulations constantly changing at the whim of our government – I see that “more” information is always welcome. It seems as of now – a passport is not required for the USVI – but I can see this changing.
As RonUSVI stated in his post “These territories are a part of the United States. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the U.S. territory and do not need to present a passport.”. Maybe someone can explain to me as to why you have to go through emigration/customs on the way back to the mainland if you never left the United States. This has always puzzled me.
We always travel with our passports, even domestically – it just makes life so much easier at the airports.
Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:19 am
by ScubaGirl
It's my understanding that the reason why you go through customs in STT, before entering the US is because it(STT) is a free port, i.e. no taxes. There a limits as to how much STUFF you can bring back. Being a CDN this is just part of everyday life going to and from the US.
NY Times information
Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:21 am
by PA Girl
In yesterday's New York Times, the travel section reported the WHTI does not require passports for the USVI. The article had a nice picture taked from a Maho unit.
Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:57 pm
by sitter
I just had a ~dis-agreement~ with hubby about this....so I went to the
www.state.gov/, then opened up passport page, then new requirements.
It CLEARLY states that citizens traveling to or returning from a U.S. territory (INCLUDING...U.S Virgin Islands)does
NOT need a passport.
We returned begining of Dec. with our 2 daughters & they never even asled for their ID's when leaving St. Thomas! Stephanie is 22 & Lindsay is 17. Guess they thought they looked like us!!
But...as we all know with our government...that could all change too!
Re: New Passport Requirements in 2007
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2023 5:26 am
by California Girl
California Girl wrote:As of January 23, 2007, all persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air to Canada, Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean will be required to present a valid passport to re-enter the country.
I believe that when they say "Caribbean" they are referring to other Caribbean islands that are NOT U.S. territories.
When I originally posted this maybe I should have made that clear. I never thought they meant the USVI, I only posted it to share information.