Passport and Visa Requirement for 2010 no change

Just one way of speeding things up behind the scenes, the Transportation Security Administration is allowing the airlines to drop the chore of checking passenger names against the government watch list. However, you must have your passport ready and be prepared to submit your full name including your middle name, your gender and your birth date before purchasing your next air line ticket. This is all part of an effort to move things along more effectively at the airports.

Passports

Currently Passports are required on all air travel outside of the United States. No Passport or Visa is required between United States and itsCaribbean Islands Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. A picture ID will suffice.

Passports on cruises, hmmmm they should make it easy on us and JUST REQUIRE THEM since they keep saying as of June 1. But every year about this time they extend the passport requirement to June 1 of the next year. So as it stands, as long as you are CRUISING from US on a closed loop (meaning returning to same US port) a passport will not be required. A certified birth certificate (not copy) along with your photo id is required. PLEASE check with your travel agent or the cruise ships yourself.

I encourage people to just go ahead and get their passports. They are good for 10 years. You are ready to go anywhere. But most important, if anything did happen outside the US where you have to fly home, you don't want to have to deal with the hassle of flying without a passport.

Once the actual requirment does change, a Cruiser can take advantage of the less expensive passport alternative, the U.S. Passport Card, geared for travelers in border states and Cruise passengers. This will work fine for regular Cruisers not interested in flying outside the US. But the U.S. Passport card is not acceptable for air travel.

Visa

The United States share a Mutual Visa Waiver with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, as well as 34 other countries. Areas that fall under the WHTI are: Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and The Caribbean region including 17 nation.

Mutual Visa Waiver Countries:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom .

All inbound Visa Waiver travelers will be require to obtain an electronic travel authorization, ESTA. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization is an Online Application for an electronic travel authorization. Currently the process is free and is valid for multiple entries over a two-year period or the traveler's passport expires.

For more information visit the U.S. Department of State