NEW U.S. PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS (RELAXED)

Funjet Vacations wants to make sure you have the most up-to-date, official information in regards to the relaxed passport requirements.  We know this is confusing not only to us in the industry, but particularly to you, our customers.  That’s why we continue to provide you the most complete and up-to-date information.  We look forward to seeing you on a Funjet Vacation soon!

U.S. Citizens with pending passport applications allowed temporary travel flexibility within western hemisphere.

The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced June 7, 2007 that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received passports can nevertheless temporarily enter and depart from the United States by air with a government issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through September 30, 2007.  The federal government is making this accommodation for air travel due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand.

Who is affected?

This accommodation is available to Americans traveling by air and returning from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. 

U.S. citizens who take advantage of this accommodation will need to present the official proof of passport application to air carriers and to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at air ports of entry*.  Such individuals may be subject to secondary inspection.  

Adults who have applied for but not yet received a passport should present government-issued photo identification and an official proof of application from the U.S. Department of State.  Children under the age of 16 traveling with their parents or legal guardian will be permitted to travel with the child’s proof of application. 

UPDATED ENTRY REQUIREMENTS BY DESTINATION
The following are the entry requirements by destination.  Please note that passengers must adhere not only to the US requirements (either a US passport OR a government-issued photo ID AND the official proof of application from the US Department of State), but the entry requirements of their vacation destination as well.

All of Mexico:  Government-issued photo ID AND official proof of application from the US Department of State
Jamaica:  Government-issued photo ID AND official proof of application from the US Department of State
Antigua:  Government-issued photo ID AND official proof of application from the US Department of State
Aruba:  Government-issued photo ID AND official proof of application from the US Department of State
Barbados:  Passport only
Bermuda:  Passport only
Curacao:  Government-issued photo ID AND official proof of application from the US Department of State
Grand Cayman:  Government-issued photo ID AND official proof of application from the US Department of State
Dominican Republic:  Government-issued photo ID AND official proof of application from the US Department of State
Nassau:  Government-issued photo ID AND official proof of application from the US Department of State
St. Kitts:  Government-issued photo ID and Birth Certificate with a raised seal
St. Lucia:  Government-issued photo ID and Birth Certificate with a raised seal
St. Martin:  Government-issued photo ID and Birth Certificate with a raised seal
Turks & Caicos:  Government-issued photo ID AND official proof of application from the US Department of State

Note that these regulations apply for adults 16 and older.  Children under the age of 16 will be required to have the official proof of application from the US Department of State.  An ID is not required for those destinations requiring an ID, though it is recommended that if they have a school id card that they bring that along.  For countries that require a passport for entry, the same regulations apply to children.

What will be acceptable proof of application for a passport?

A print-out of the online status check accessed at http://travel.state.gov/passport, showing an application has been received by the Department of State. 

NOTE: A passport receipt obtained from your local post office or passport agency will not be accepted.

How long will these relaxed rules be in place?

Through Sept. 30, 2007.

Are the relaxed passport requirements ONLY for travelers who applied for a passport prior to Friday, June 7?

NO.  These relaxed rules are for all passengers returning to the US by air from Mexico, the Caribbean or Canada BY September 30, 2007.  Note that if you are departing the US prior to September 30, 2007 but returning after that date, you MUST have a Passport.

What is the requirement for children under 16 who are United States citizens?  What about older teens (16-17) who do not have a photo ID?

Children under age 16 traveling with a parent or legal guardian will be required to present the receipt from the Department of State Passport Services indicating confirmation of an application upon arrival to and departure from the United States.

Requirements by destination are listed above.  For those destinations that required both a government issued ID as well as proof of application from the US department of state, only the proof of application is required.  For those that required a passport, a passport is required for all travelers to that destination, including children.  A birth certificate or government issued id are not required for entry back into the United States for children under the age 16.

For children 16-18, the adult requirements apply for entry into the destination as well as entry back into the United States.  For children who do not have a government issued ID card, one can be obtained at the Department of Motor Vehicles.  The following are required to obtain a government-issued ID card:  birth certificate, social security card and student id card (if available).

What steps do travelers who have APPLIED but not yet received their passport have to take to ensure they can take their trip?

Customers can go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html and follow the instructions to print out your passport status page. This may only be done within 7-10 days of receipt of the application by the US Department of State, faster if customers choose to expedite their passport and clearly mark EXPEDITE on the outside envelope.

What steps do travelers who have NOT YET APPLIED for their passport or NEED TO RENEW their passport have to take to ensure they can take their trip?

CM.Travelonline.com recommends that customers apply for their passport at least two weeks prior to departure if they haven’t already.  In order to print the official proof of application from the US Department of State, it is 7-10 days from the US Department of State receives the application unless customers’ clearly marked EXPEDITE on the outside envelope and paid the $60 expediting fee.

Have passport requirements been relieved for countries that previously required a US Passport?

NO.  Countries that required a passport prior to the new regulations that went into effect in January still require a passport for entry back into the United States.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 23, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. In order to facilitate the implementation of this requirement, the Administration is proposing to complete it in phases following a proposed timeline, which will be published in the Federal Register in the near future.

In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline will be as follows:

• January 23, 2007 - Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

• June 1, 2009 - Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement.

For more information on passport services, visit the U.S. State Department web site.

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