Change in International Travel Document Procedures

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. October 14, 2008

FEBRUARY 4, 2008. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced changes to international land and sea travel document procedures for individuals seeking reentry into the United States. In the past, an oral declaration of citizenship was sufficient for entry into this country, but new regulations require a person seeking to enter the U.S. present a form of identification from the list below. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will implement the new requirements over the next 18 months, with full implementation as early as June 1, 2009.

The following options have been announced for those seeking reentry into the country:

U.S. and Canadian Citizens - Single Document Option

One of the following documents should be presented to prove both identity and citizenship, as of Jan. 31, 2008:

o U.S. or Canadian Passport

o U.S. Passport Card (Available spring 2008)*

o Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)*

o State or Provincial Issued Enhanced Driver's License (when available - this secure driver's license will denote identity and citizenship)*

o Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)*

o U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders

o U.S. Merchant Mariner Document

o Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card

o Form I-872 American Indian Card

o Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Card

• Frequent Land Border Crossers - To expedite processing into the United States, CBP recommends using one of the above asterisked documents.

U.S. and Canadian Citizens - Two Document Option

All U.S. and Canadian citizens who do not have one of the documents from the list above must present both an identification and citizenship document from each of the lists below.

Identification Documents:

o Driver's license or identification card issued by a federal, state, provincial, county, territory or municipal authority

o U.S. or Canadian military identification card

• All identification documents must have a photo, name, and date of birth.

Citizenship Documents:

o U.S., or Canadian birth certificate issued by a federal, state, provincial, county, territory, or municipal authority

o U.S. Consular report of birth abroad

o U.S. Certificate of Naturalization

o U.S. Certificate of Citizenship

o U.S. Citizen Identification Card

o Canadian Citizenship Card

o Canadian certificate of citizenship without photo

U.S. and Canadian Citizens - Procedures for Children

Effective as of January 31, 2008, U.S. and Canadian citizen children ages 18 and under will be expected to present a birth certificate issued by a federal, state, provincial, county, or municipal authority.

For Travelers other than U.S. and Canadian Citizens

All existing nonimmigrant visa and passport requirements will remain in effect and will not be altered by the changes that are implemented on Jan. 31, 2008. U.S. lawful permanent residents will be required to present a Permanent Resident Card (I-551) or other valid evidence of lawful permanent residence. Mexican citizens, including children, must present a valid passport and a B-1/B-2 nonimmigrant visa or a Border Crossing Card.

DHS strongly recommends that anyone who will be traveling outside the U.S. verify in advance the documentation needed to enter their destination country. This material can be obtained by contacting the embassy of the nation being visited, or by visiting the official website for the U.S. Department of State at www.travel.state.gov. Additionally, the CBP website, www.cbp.gov, will have updated travel information as it becomes available.

For more information, contact AH&LA Vice President for Political Affairs Lisa Costello at 202-289-3124 or [email protected].