Countdown to June 1: New rules for Mexico, Canada travel

Procrastinators’ alert: In less than two weeks, tougher border rules take effect for Canada and Mexico. Starting June 1, most Americans will need a passport or other high-security ID to drive back into the U.S. from these countries.

Don’ t have the right documents? Basically, you’ve run out of time to get them before June 1, unless your trip  is an emergency. The good news: You’ll probably be allowed across the border anyway, although you may face delays.

The 411:

What docs you’ll need: If you’re arriving by land or sea from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean or Bermuda on June 1 or later, you’ll generally need to show a passport or passport card, which is a new type of document that the U.S. began issuing last year.  You can also use a so-called enhanced driver’s license, or EDL, a new high-tech version issued by only four states (not California) ; or a Trusted Traveler card, issued to frequent border crossers.

There are some exceptions. U.S. and Canadian children younger than 16, for instance, will need only proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. Passengers on cruise ships that sail round-trip from a U.S. port may need only a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID.  For a rundown on the rules, visit the government’s GetYouHome website.

Why you’ll need them: After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the U.S. government decided to tighten its borders. Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, or WHTI, you already need a passport to fly between the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean or Bermuda. The new rules for drivers and cruise-ship passengers are the final phase.

How to get them: Passports and passport cards are issued by the U.S. State Department, which posts info on how to apply on its travel website. Turnaround times are at least two weeks, even if you pay extra for expedited service. So if you need a passport by June 1, you’ll need to make an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency.
Trusted Traveler cards are issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Enhanced driver’s licenses are issued only by the states of Michigan, New York, Vermont and Washington.

What if you don’t have them: “We will not deny entry to noncompliant travelers,” said Kelly Ivahnenko, spokeswoman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. But checkpoint officers will need to verify your identity. That means you may be referred to a secondary inspection and get delayed, she said.

— Jane Engle, assistant Los Angeles Times Travel editor

[Photo: The San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego. Credit: Denis Poroy / Associated Press]

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This entry was posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 2:00 pm by Jane Engle and is filed under Acapulco, Baja California, Business Travel, Cabo San Lucas, California, Cancun, Caribbean, Cozumel, Global, Guadalajara, Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo, Latin America & Caribbean, Los Cabos, Mexico, Mexico City, News, Tips & Advice, Oaxaca City, Puerto Vallarta. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.