Important Travel Guidelines |
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There have been significant changes in travel regulations for ALL persons traveling to the United States, including U.S. Citizens, over the past several years. Please visit the following federal agency website pages to ensure that you are fully aware of and compliant with entry/exit requirements. |
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| The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the ESTA Interim Final Rule (IFR), which establishes a new online system that is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and is required by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. As of January 12, 2009, all nationals or citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries who plan to travel to the United States for temporary business or pleasure will require an approved ESTA prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the United States under the VWP. The rule does not apply to U.S. citizens traveling overseas. | |
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| The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires U.S. and Canadian travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the U.S. It is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA). The goal of WHTI is to facilitate entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors, while strengthening U.S. border security. Standard documents will enable the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler. WHTI went into effect June 1, 2009 for land and sea travel into the U.S., after having gone into effect for air travelers on January 23, 2007. |
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| The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's US-VISIT program provides visa-issuing posts and ports of entry with the biometric technology that enables the U.S. government to establish and verify your identity when you visit the United States. In many cases, this process begins overseas at a U.S. visa issuing post, where a traveler's biometrics—digital fingerprints and a photograph—are collected and checked against a watch list of known criminals and suspected terrorists. When the traveler arrives in the United States, we collect the same biometrics to verify that the person at our port is the same person who received the visa. Immigration officials use this information to help them make visa-issuance and admission decisions as part of the visa application process or entry inspection. Unlike names and dates of birth, which can be changed, biometrics are unique and virtually impossible to forge. Collecting biometrics helps the U.S. government prevent people from using fraudulent documents to enter the country illegally. Collecting biometrics also helps protect your identity in the event your travel documents are lost or stolen. |
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| Whether you are an international visitor traveling to the United States, or an American citizen traveling abroad, the U.S. Department of State has a wealth of information ranging from new requirements when traveling to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico, or Canada (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) to information on obtaining passports and visas. | |
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| Know before you go. The Department of Homeland Security provides travelers with important information one needs when traveling. | |
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| CBP outlines exactly what documents you need to enter the United States and everything you wanted to know about clearing customs, what you can and cannot bring into the United States, and important travel alerts. | |
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| The Transportation Security Administration provides travelers to and from the United States with a myriad of useful data. What can and cannot bring in your bags; preparing for security screenings; air, rail, passenger vessels, and even mass transit travel tips and information. | |
