- U.S. citizens and residents were once able to travel by land or sea to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda without a valid U.S. passport. However, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) mandates that all travelers leaving the United States bring a valid U.S. passport for the return trip regardless of their destination or method of travel. So while the customs and border officials in the traveler's destination country may or may not ask for a passport or visa, U.S. border officials will not permit the traveler re-entry to the United States unless a passport or other secure form of identification is shown. WHTI was a result of recommendations set forth by the 9/11 Commission in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The recommendations later became law when Congress passed them under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The purpose of WHTI, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is to secure and strengthen the U.S. borders.
- When traveling by land or sea, travelers bound for Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda may present a U.S. passport card instead of a U.S. passport book at the border. A U.S. passport card is a less expensive, wallet-size alternative to a passport book and can be used only for land/sea travel to those four destinations.
- According to the U.S. Department of State website, the only other WHTI-compliant travel documents that will be accepted at the border or a seaport are a U.S. Merchant Mariner Document (MMD) when conducting official maritime business, trusted traveler cards, a U.S. military ID, enhanced tribal cards, a Native American Tribal photo ID card, a Form I-872 American Indian card or an enhanced state-issued driver's license. Enhanced driver's licenses, unlike regular state-issued driver's licenses, are proof of identity and U.S. citizenship. In addition to serving as a permit to drive, enhanced driver's licenses contain a radio chip that border officials use to digitally access your biographic information. Applicants for enhanced driver's licenses pay higher fees and must present proof of U.S. citizenship, identity, state residency, a Social Security number and certified documentation of name changes to state licensing agencies.
- Valid U.S. passport books are always needed for international air travel. Remember, a valid U.S. passport is one that has not yet reached its expiry date and will not expire during the length of your stay abroad. Passport cards will not be accepted for international air travel. Airport officials are required by law to check passports, so make sure to carry one on your person at all times.
- The only other forms of secure ID accepted as passport substitutes for international air travel are the NEXUS air card or a Merchant Mariner Document (MMD) while conducting official military business.
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