Information for Travelers
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
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. WHTI document requirements for air travel went into effect in 2007. For current travel document requirements visit the Customs and border Protection website.
You can obtain State Department Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets from the Consular Section any workday during normal business hours. Consular Information Sheets are available for every country in the world. Travel Advisories (warnings) are issued when the State Department believes a situation exists that seriously threatens the lives of American citizens.