Travelers must have passports

WASHINGTON — After numerous delays, the first phase of the government's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is about to become a reality. On Jan. 23, U.S. citizens traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda must present a valid passport. (U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are exempt.)

Phase 2: Travelers will need passports if going by land or sea to the regions mentioned above as early as January 2008 and no later than June 2009.

Since the initiative was announced by the Homeland Security and State departments in April 2005, there has been a surge in passport applications. Yet "we are turning them around in the same amount of time — four to six weeks," says Derwood Staeben, senior adviser.

To simplify land and sea crossings, the agencies are developing a "passport card." The wallet-size card, which would be limited to travel between the States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda, would cost $20 for adults and $10 for children, plus a $25 processing fee.

For information: U.S. State Department, travel.state.gov/travel.