AAA Urges Travelers to Prepare for New Border Requirements
Phoenix, Ariz., January 24, 2008 – On Thursday, January 31, the land and sea phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) will go into effect, making oral declarations at the border ineffective for United States citizens. The WHTI was passed into law in 2004 as the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission.
Under the new phase of the WHTI, citizens of the United States, Canada, and Bermuda will need to present the following to enter or depart the United States by land or sea:
- Adults ages 19 and older will be required to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license and proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate (original or certified copies only) or naturalization certificate.
- Children and young adults ages 18 and younger will be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
Adults and children who have passports and/or a trusted traveler program card, such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST, will be able to continue to use these forms of identification for cross-border travel.
U.S. Citizens traveling to and returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the U.S. territory and do not need to present a passport. However, a valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries by air, including Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region.
Travelers with plans to travel by air abroad should apply for a passport well in advance of their trip. According to the State Department, the agency is currently processing passport applications within four to six weeks of receipt. However, abroad bound travelers who find themselves in a time crunch can utilize AAA’s partnership with Travisa, a service in which passports can be processed in as little as 48 hours.
As a result of the new border requirements, significant delays are expected at the border in the coming weeks as officials verify travelers’ appropriate documents. Border patrol officials are advising travelers who plan on returning to the U.S. on Sundays and Mondays to do so before 9:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. To cope with weekend travelers, border patrol will open the commercial lane for RVs returning on Sundays and Mondays. They request that travelers have their paperwork ready before approaching the checkpoint, answer all questions truthfully and make any necessary declarations. AAA would also like to remind Mexico bound motorists to purchase Mexico auto insurance for their trip. U.S. auto insurance is not accepted in Mexico and drivers without proper auto insurance can be arrested. Motorists interested in purchasing affordable Mexico auto insurance can do so at any AAA branch office or by visiting http://www.aaaaz.com/insurance/mexico.htm.
AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 775,000 Arizona members. Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists. Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
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