to re-enter the USA

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Need it for Belize currently

There is a lot more to read. what it says to me is, all us citizens cannot leave the country UNLESS they have a passport.

And the million mexican workers can no longer just cross back and forth . And Canada.

Might be some good changes with the way the world is today.

That is exactly what is says JP.....for ALL exits and returns from those specified areas. Old news with a delay in execution and small refinements.

Mine's in use sooooooooonnnn

Yes, I will need my passport when I cross back and forth at the Mexican/Us border to just have dinner, which 15 miles from my house.

womder if the Domino's guys get relief?

n o p e

All,
they're talking about secure ID instead of passports now. Here's a snip from today's Arizona Republic:


Republic Washington Bureau
Jan. 18, 2006 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON - A new federal ID card that may be used like a passport will be available by the end of the year, making it easier to follow a new law requiring U.S. citizens to prove their nationality at Mexican and Canadian land border crossings.

The card, the size of a driver's license, should cost about half that of a passport, officials said Tuesday.
<etc.>

Dan

I think that's a good idea. NEver understood why they didn't already have that law in place.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see this as any different from what it's been for US citizens. We cross the border from San Diego into Mexico all the time. IF we're asked for id upon return a driver's license has always been sufficient. A review of the cite posted above says that still works for US citizens:

"If traveling in the Western Hemisphere, (Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America) a U.S. citizen should have either a valid U.S. Passport OR a certified copy of their birth certificate or baptismal record with current photo identification issued by a government agency (state I.D. card, driver's license, Military I.D.). (Minors under the age of 14 are not required to show a photo ID, State Departments of Motor Vehicles will usually provide a non-driver's license for people 14 and older. Public School photos are also acceptable.)"

The difference law, as I see it, is that the US Gov't will, when placed into effect, only accept "secure" documents, as defined by them. Apparently they think d/ls are not secure enough so they are going to make us either use our passports, or pony up additional $ (revenue generator) for another thing to carry in our wallets. Most currently accepted doc's will no longer be acceptable. Verified also by an Immigration official I have frequent communicatin with ( but then again, he is a gov;t employee )

I can't get too worked up about it as whatever they decide will ultimatley be modified by the actual implementation date, per SOP

DL's will not be acceptable as they are determined to not be secure substitute docs...
"No currently existing documents other than the BCC, SENTRI, NEXUS or FAST cards are under active consideration as substitutes for the passport. The Departments of Homeland Security and State are working to determine acceptable alternative documents other than a passport as soon as possible. We are using new technologies to create other acceptable travel documents. We will make public additional travel document options as they become available."

Hi sandb,
at the present time, driver's licenses won't be a substitute for a passport. However, there's a movement afoot to make driver's licenses more secure, so that the passport requirement might change. From this article in the Arizona Republic. This is an important issue in border states. We have good relations with Mexico and we'd like to be able to have efficient exchanges across the border. For example, I was just in Douglas, AZ, a few weeks ago and I'd estimate that 3/4 of the cars in the parking lot for Wallmart had Sonora, MX license plates. Can you imagine how much revinue will be lost if 3/4 of their customers can no longer shop there?

Overall, security at the border is a situation that needs to be fixed. However, requiring passports for day-trippers might not be optimal.

That's just my BZ$0.02, of course.


Dan