The U.S. Department of Homeland Security today said that beginning Jan. 23 all air passengers traveling to and from the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda must present a valid passport.
The new rule is the result of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, the passage of which had been tied up in legislation and faced delays
(BTN, June 5). While today's announcement applies only to air travelers, the U.S. State Department said that beginning as early as Jan. 1, 2008, all travelers—whether traveling by air, land or sea—would be required to present a passport.
DHS in a statement said, "The only acceptable alternative documents to a passport for air travel will be the Merchant Mariner document and the Nexus Air card," which is issued by the U.S. Customs and the Canada Border Services Agency to expedite border crossings for prescreened travelers.