Starting next year, there will be new changes in passport requirements for travelers. The Department of Homeland Security is initiating a new law called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) that will make passports a requirement for airline passengers.
The highlights of the new law include:
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All air travelers between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda must present a valid U.S. passport or other approved documentation that establishes their identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States.
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U.S. citizens traveling directly between the United States and its territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) do not need to present a passport.
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In addition, U.S. citizens may use a passport or other documents when traveling by land or sea, but such documentation will not be formally required until January 23, 2008.
So starting next year, remember to pack that passport. Keeping the new changes in mind will make your international business travel a lot more hassle-free.
