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New passport laws anyone? |
Travel Info I am leaving on a cruise to the bahamas this September. I port in Port Canaveral, Fla. do I need a passport to get on the crusise boat? I was told no, but if I needed to fly back on an emergency I couldn't unless I had a passport. I don't know what to believe, I need credible advice. Travel Tips I just got back from a cruise and had the same questions as you. We decided to apply for passports exactly because of the reason you stated (correctly). We however, because of the backlog, did not receive ours in time for the cruise. We had to get an additional copy because our originals were sent it with the passport application. But everything went very smoothly. I would recommend applying anyway because of the backlog it takes a long time (up to 12 weeks in some cases) and you will need one starting January 2008. Good Luck Others You absolutely DO need your passport with you. Even if its not specifically required on this cruise, its always handy to have it on you as a form of ID, and also as you said, to fly back in case of an emergency. you now need passports to go to canada, carribean, bahamas... so yeah you need it even for cruises or ferries. Lol the Bahamas are a territory of the US...No, you do not need a passport whether you go by plane, trane or automobile (I'd strongly discourage the third though) UNLESS you're going to a destination outside of the US (like some weird stop in Cuba or something). Enjoy your trip! *EDIT* I stand corrected...I didn't know they changed the rules to the Bahamas as well. Yes, you do need one, even at sea starting in 2008...here's the link... http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw... 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, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable. 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. The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Based on this information, I'd go ahead and get your passport. They're good for 10 years. http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbp... The Bahamas is an independent country and not US territory. It was a British colony before independence. You don't need a passport for ground or sea travel until 2008. You are correct that you would NOT be able to fly back to the USA since passports have been required for air travel since January of 2007. Get a passport anyway. You need to apply asap as it takes about 12 weeks unless you pay the extra $60 to expedite your application. Expedited applications are taking about 4 weeks. |
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