Passports - Info on - Becoming a Tour/Travel Guide

Documentation:

New Passport Rules took effect in January 2007 and you must now have a passport to travel to and from Mexico, Canada, and other destinations that once accepted birth certificates or driver's licenses only.

Note: Passport Rules were again updated in April of 2009 - not listed here so check with your local passport office

For international travel, a valid passport or passport and visa may be required depending on your nationality, travel destination, and country or countries in which connections take place. Passengers are responsible for compliance with all government travel requirements.

View specific documentation requirements on the U.S. Department of State's website:

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/documents.html

Note: U.S. Department of State information pertains to U.S. citizens only.

Birth Certificates for travel - July 2007

Note: Passport Rules were again updated in April of 2009 - not listed here so check with your local passport office

Plan ahead. For international travel - including Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico - you may be required to have a valid passport and possibly a visa, which can take several weeks to receive. Requirements vary greatly by country.

While some Caribbean nations accept an official State-issued birth certificate with a raised seal as proper identification, hospital birth certificates (including military hospital birth certificates) are never acceptable.

For more information see
http://www.usairways.com/documentation

Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean Travel after January 1, 2008

(As reported by AP on April 5, 2008)

Note: Passport Rules were again updated in April of 2009 - not listed here so check with your local passport office

The Bush Administration along with the administrations in Canada and Mexico* decided that all Americans returning from Bermuda, Mexico, or Canada will have to show a U.S. Passport, or a Frequent Travel Card to the border officials in order to enter the United States of America; no longer will photo IDs such as Driver's Licenses or an original birth or naturalization certificate be accepted.

Those travelers to and from Mexico or Canada will need to have a document called Sentri that is used for Mexico travel or a Nexus for Canada travel. Commercial users can use the FAST card. (If no card or passport, they cannot get back to their country?)

Not stated is what happens to an American that crosses the border and does NOT have a U.S. Passport or Mexican or Canadian citizenship. (A person without a country?)

Also, not stated is what happens to those who via legal battles with ex-mates have had their U.S. Passports taken away, but still have to travel to or through Mexico or Canada for employment reasons. (Lose job?)

This appears to be another boom for government taxation as there is a fee charged for obtaining a passport and millions of passports will be suddenly needed. (Does the money go for border security?)

Timetable for Phase in

Dec. 31, 2005 - for travel from Bermuda, the Caribbean and Panama.

Dec. 31, 2006, by air or sea for travelers entering the United States from Mexico and Canada

Dec. 31, 2007, for travelers entering the United States from Mexico and Canada by land

April 2009, rules updated

February 2010, rules updated

*The announcement follows a three-way summit last month that President Bush held with Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada and President Vicente Fox of Mexico. (Who spoke for the Caribbean and Panama?)