Do I Need a Passport to Reenter the United States?
A passport is an official government document issued to United States citizens by the Department of State. A passport verifies an individual's identity and citizenship and can be used for international travel.
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Function
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The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requires all travelers, including children, who enter or depart the United States via air, land or sea to present a passport or other secure travel document. This includes travelers who are reentering the United States from any international location, including Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean region. This initiative is the result of recommendations from the 9/11 Commission, subsequent to the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.
Exceptions
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Some people do not have to show a passport upon reentering the United States, whether by land, sea or air. Those people include members of the United States military, who can show a military identification card, and Native Americans, who are permitted to show tribal documents with an attached photo.
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Passport Card
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A United States passport card is similar to a passport, but it cannot be used for international air travel. It permits U.S. citizens to enter the United States by land or sea from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean. A radio-frequency identification chip in the card allows customs and border agents to access government databases to view biographical information on the card holder.
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References
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- Photo Credit us passport image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
