Passports or other limited forms of ID will be required to enter the US
by air beginning January 23, 2007.

Persons arriving by land and sea (including returning US citizens)
*may* be *required* to cary a passport as early as January 2008.
Currently, most people presenting at Customs to enter the US are
carrying a passport voluntarily. The current law requires that the
person entering be able to prove "to the satisfaction of the Customs
Examiner" their country of origin and citizenship, and a valid passport
is a document that any Customs Examiner must accept as satisfactory.

Comments from the State Department:
(note: this information from the State Department Web Site reads that
the January 23, 2007 implementation is "proposed". The State Department
finalized the requirement on November 22, 2006)

New Requirements for Travelers


Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)
The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:
· Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens,
traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central
and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to
present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant
Mariner Document.
· As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens,
traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South
America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries),
may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as
determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent
legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State
and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as
possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to
obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.
Travel Documents for U.S. Citizens Under WHTI
Under the proposed implementation plan, the following documents will be
acceptable to fulfill document requirements:
· U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport
when traveling via air between the United States and Canada, Mexico,
Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, and may also use
a U.S. passport when traveling via sea and land borders (including
ferry crossings).
· The Passport Card (also referred to as the PASS Card): This
limited-use passport in card format is currently under development and
will be available for use for travel only via land or sea (including
ferries) between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and
Bermuda. Similar in size to a credit card, it will fit easily into a
wallet.
· DOS and DHS also anticipate that the following documents will
continue to be acceptable for their current travel uses under WHTI:
SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, and the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner
Document. As proposed, members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty
traveling on orders will continue to be exempt from the passport
requirement.
Background
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires
the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to develop
and implement a plan to require all travelers, U.S. citizens and
foreign nationals alike, to present a passport or other document, or a
combination of documents, that denote identity and citizenship when
entering the United States. Congress amended portions of the Act in
2006. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is the
Administration's proposed plan to implement this mandate.
The goal of the Initiative is to strengthen border security and
facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and
legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized, secure and
reliable documentation which will allow the Department of Homeland
Security to quickly, reliably and accurately identify a traveler.

Why make it so hard for American citizens to get in, but so easy for
Mexicans?




On 28 Nov 2006 22:32:40 -0800, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:

Passports or other limited forms of ID will be required to enter the US
by air beginning January 23, 2007.

Persons arriving by land and sea (including returning US citizens)
*may* be *required* to cary a passport as early as January 2008.
Currently, most people presenting at Customs to enter the US are
carrying a passport voluntarily. The current law requires that the
person entering be able to prove "to the satisfaction of the Customs
Examiner" their country of origin and citizenship, and a valid passport
is a document that any Customs Examiner must accept as satisfactory.

Comments from the State Department:
(note: this information from the State Department Web Site reads that
the January 23, 2007 implementation is "proposed". The State Department
finalized the requirement on November 22, 2006)

New Requirements for Travelers


Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)
The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:
· Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens,
traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central
and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to
present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant
Mariner Document.
· As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens,
traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South
America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries),
may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as
determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent
legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State
and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as
possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to
obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.
Travel Documents for U.S. Citizens Under WHTI
Under the proposed implementation plan, the following documents will be
acceptable to fulfill document requirements:
· U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport
when traveling via air between the United States and Canada, Mexico,
Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, and may also use
a U.S. passport when traveling via sea and land borders (including
ferry crossings).
· The Passport Card (also referred to as the PASS Card): This
limited-use passport in card format is currently under development and
will be available for use for travel only via land or sea (including
ferries) between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and
Bermuda. Similar in size to a credit card, it will fit easily into a
wallet.
· DOS and DHS also anticipate that the following documents will
continue to be acceptable for their current travel uses under WHTI:
SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, and the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner
Document. As proposed, members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty
traveling on orders will continue to be exempt from the passport
requirement.
Background
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires
the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to develop
and implement a plan to require all travelers, U.S. citizens and
foreign nationals alike, to present a passport or other document, or a
combination of documents, that denote identity and citizenship when
entering the United States. Congress amended portions of the Act in
2006. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is the
Administration's proposed plan to implement this mandate.
The goal of the Initiative is to strengthen border security and
facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and
legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized, secure and
reliable documentation which will allow the Department of Homeland
Security to quickly, reliably and accurately identify a traveler.

--
John H

**** May your Christmas be Spectacular****
******and your New Year even Better!******

JohnH wrote:
Why make it so hard for American citizens to get in, but so easy for
Mexicans?


We better not go there, or this thread outlining updated requirements
for arriving by air and the proposed implementation date for tightening
requirements for arriving by boat would very quickly become political.

That might be a good question to ask your elected congressional
representatives. Both those who shaped the current policies and
regulations as well as the newly elected representatives who will have
the opportunity to amend current policies and regulations.

wrote:
On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:43:29 -0500, JohnH wrote:

Why make it so hard for American citizens to get in, but so easy for
Mexicans?

We are talking about going through customs, not wading across the
river. I always get waved through with a "do you have anything to
declare" but a latin looking person better have his papers in order.

I am aware of these new rules and I do have a new passport coming,
just in case they are profiling rednecks some day. The picture on mine
looks like my high school yearbook picture and so does my driver's
license. I need to show my CCW if they want a recent picture.

Coming back in by boat is a little more complex than driving across in
a car.

Everybody who isn't previously enrolled in NEXUS or a similar program
has to report to a US Customs Port of Entry. Once there, only the
skipper is allowed to go ashore until cleared by customs and the
skipper has to proceed directly to the customs office. Better have 1)
ship's papers, 2) Photo ID, preferably a passport but in any case
sufficient to prove residence and citizenship, for everybody aboard. 3)
A list of items being brought back into the country. 4) An inventory of
alcohol and tobacco aboard. 5) A disclosure of any firearms on the
boat. 6) A list of fresh fruits and vegetables aboard. 7) $25 to buy a
decal/permit to reenter the US. The decal is an annual deal, so the $25
only applies to the first reentry every year. Boaters who are
pre-screened by the NEXUS or similar programs can clear by telephone
upon reentry, but they must be prepared to report to a Customs Office
if so ordered by the party on the phone.

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:28:27 -0500, wrote:

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:43:29 -0500, JohnH wrote:

Why make it so hard for American citizens to get in, but so easy for
Mexicans?

We are talking about going through customs, not wading across the
river. I always get waved through with a "do you have anything to
declare" but a latin looking person better have his papers in order.

I am aware of these new rules and I do have a new passport coming,
just in case they are profiling rednecks some day. The picture on mine
looks like my high school yearbook picture and so does my driver's
license. I need to show my CCW if they want a recent picture.

I am in the 'everyone should have a passport', or a national ID of some
sort, camp. It works for the Europeans.
--
John H

**** May your Christmas be Spectacular****
******and your New Year even Better!******

On 29 Nov 2006 21:27:53 -0800, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:


wrote:
On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:43:29 -0500, JohnH wrote:

Why make it so hard for American citizens to get in, but so easy for
Mexicans?

We are talking about going through customs, not wading across the
river. I always get waved through with a "do you have anything to
declare" but a latin looking person better have his papers in order.

I am aware of these new rules and I do have a new passport coming,
just in case they are profiling rednecks some day. The picture on mine
looks like my high school yearbook picture and so does my driver's
license. I need to show my CCW if they want a recent picture.

Coming back in by boat is a little more complex than driving across in
a car.

Everybody who isn't previously enrolled in NEXUS or a similar program
has to report to a US Customs Port of Entry. Once there, only the
skipper is allowed to go ashore until cleared by customs and the
skipper has to proceed directly to the customs office. Better have 1)
ship's papers, 2) Photo ID, preferably a passport but in any case
sufficient to prove residence and citizenship, for everybody aboard. 3)
A list of items being brought back into the country. 4) An inventory of
alcohol and tobacco aboard. 5) A disclosure of any firearms on the
boat. 6) A list of fresh fruits and vegetables aboard. 7) $25 to buy a
decal/permit to reenter the US. The decal is an annual deal, so the $25
only applies to the first reentry every year. Boaters who are
pre-screened by the NEXUS or similar programs can clear by telephone
upon reentry, but they must be prepared to report to a Customs Office
if so ordered by the party on the phone.

Sounds fair to me, except that I can't figure out what anyone would be
trying to smuggle in from Canada. :)
--
John H

**** May your Christmas be Spectacular****
******and your New Year even Better!******

"JohnH" wrote in message
...
On 29 Nov 2006 21:27:53 -0800, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:


wrote:
On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:43:29 -0500, JohnH wrote:

Why make it so hard for American citizens to get in, but so easy for
Mexicans?

We are talking about going through customs, not wading across the
river. I always get waved through with a "do you have anything to
declare" but a latin looking person better have his papers in order.

I am aware of these new rules and I do have a new passport coming,
just in case they are profiling rednecks some day. The picture on mine
looks like my high school yearbook picture and so does my driver's
license. I need to show my CCW if they want a recent picture.

Coming back in by boat is a little more complex than driving across in
a car.

Everybody who isn't previously enrolled in NEXUS or a similar program
has to report to a US Customs Port of Entry. Once there, only the
skipper is allowed to go ashore until cleared by customs and the
skipper has to proceed directly to the customs office. Better have 1)
ship's papers, 2) Photo ID, preferably a passport but in any case
sufficient to prove residence and citizenship, for everybody aboard. 3)
A list of items being brought back into the country. 4) An inventory of
alcohol and tobacco aboard. 5) A disclosure of any firearms on the
boat. 6) A list of fresh fruits and vegetables aboard. 7) $25 to buy a
decal/permit to reenter the US. The decal is an annual deal, so the $25
only applies to the first reentry every year. Boaters who are
pre-screened by the NEXUS or similar programs can clear by telephone
upon reentry, but they must be prepared to report to a Customs Office
if so ordered by the party on the phone.

Sounds fair to me, except that I can't figure out what anyone would be
trying to smuggle in from Canada. :)


Real beer.

JohnH wrote:
On 29 Nov 2006 21:27:53 -0800, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:


wrote:

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:43:29 -0500, JohnH wrote:


Why make it so hard for American citizens to get in, but so easy for
Mexicans?

We are talking about going through customs, not wading across the
river. I always get waved through with a "do you have anything to
declare" but a latin looking person better have his papers in order.

I am aware of these new rules and I do have a new passport coming,
just in case they are profiling rednecks some day. The picture on mine
looks like my high school yearbook picture and so does my driver's
license. I need to show my CCW if they want a recent picture.

Coming back in by boat is a little more complex than driving across in
a car.

Everybody who isn't previously enrolled in NEXUS or a similar program
has to report to a US Customs Port of Entry. Once there, only the
skipper is allowed to go ashore until cleared by customs and the
skipper has to proceed directly to the customs office. Better have 1)
ship's papers, 2) Photo ID, preferably a passport but in any case
sufficient to prove residence and citizenship, for everybody aboard. 3)
A list of items being brought back into the country. 4) An inventory of
alcohol and tobacco aboard. 5) A disclosure of any firearms on the
boat. 6) A list of fresh fruits and vegetables aboard. 7) $25 to buy a
decal/permit to reenter the US. The decal is an annual deal, so the $25
only applies to the first reentry every year. Boaters who are
pre-screened by the NEXUS or similar programs can clear by telephone
upon reentry, but they must be prepared to report to a Customs Office
if so ordered by the party on the phone.


Sounds fair to me, except that I can't figure out what anyone would be
trying to smuggle in from Canada. :)
--
John H

**** May your Christmas be Spectacular****
******and your New Year even Better!******


Unfortunately, ports such as my home town are used by smuggling rings to
get product into the US indirectly.... especially in container traffic.

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Thu, 30 Nov 2006 07:16:36 -0500, JohnH wrote:

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:28:27 -0500, wrote:

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:43:29 -0500, JohnH wrote:

Why make it so hard for American citizens to get in, but so easy for
Mexicans?
We are talking about going through customs, not wading across the
river. I always get waved through with a "do you have anything to
declare" but a latin looking person better have his papers in order.

I am aware of these new rules and I do have a new passport coming,
just in case they are profiling rednecks some day. The picture on mine
looks like my high school yearbook picture and so does my driver's
license. I need to show my CCW if they want a recent picture.
I am in the 'everyone should have a passport', or a national ID of some
sort, camp. It works for the Europeans.

We already have one - it's called a driver's license.

Some states only require a phone bill or a electric bill to confirm
residency in the state rather than citizenship in the USA.

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Thu, 30 Nov 2006 07:29:41 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:


On 11/30/2006 7:18 AM, JohnH wrote:

On 29 Nov 2006 21:27:53 -0800, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:


wrote:

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:43:29 -0500, JohnH wrote:


Why make it so hard for American citizens to get in, but so easy for
Mexicans?

We are talking about going through customs, not wading across the
river. I always get waved through with a "do you have anything to
declare" but a latin looking person better have his papers in order.

I am aware of these new rules and I do have a new passport coming,
just in case they are profiling rednecks some day. The picture on mine
looks like my high school yearbook picture and so does my driver's
license. I need to show my CCW if they want a recent picture.

Coming back in by boat is a little more complex than driving across in
a car.

Everybody who isn't previously enrolled in NEXUS or a similar program
has to report to a US Customs Port of Entry. Once there, only the
skipper is allowed to go ashore until cleared by customs and the
skipper has to proceed directly to the customs office. Better have 1)
ship's papers, 2) Photo ID, preferably a passport but in any case
sufficient to prove residence and citizenship, for everybody aboard. 3)
A list of items being brought back into the country. 4) An inventory of
alcohol and tobacco aboard. 5) A disclosure of any firearms on the
boat. 6) A list of fresh fruits and vegetables aboard. 7) $25 to buy a
decal/permit to reenter the US. The decal is an annual deal, so the $25
only applies to the first reentry every year. Boaters who are
pre-screened by the NEXUS or similar programs can clear by telephone
upon reentry, but they must be prepared to report to a Customs Office
if so ordered by the party on the phone.

Sounds fair to me, except that I can't figure out what anyone would be
trying to smuggle in from Canada. :)

Cuban cigars, of course.


True, although I get mine from a different source - a very different
source. :)

Directly from Fidel himself??