The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or depart the United States from within the Western Hemisphere.

The travel document requirements make up the departments of State and Homeland Security’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. This change in travel document requirements is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.

ATA worked with Congress, the Canadian Government and other border stakeholders to ensure that the FAST card is accepted as commensurate to a U.S. passport. WHTI will require all U.S. citizens (and others) to carry a passport to regain entry into the U.S., with a deadline of June 1, 2009, for implementation at the land borders. Several states have signed MOU’s with DHS to enhance state drivers’ licenses for WHTI use.

This travel initiative is being implemented in two phases:

• Air travel requirements went into effect January 23, 2007 and now all travelers including children must present a passport or secure travel document when entering the United States by air.
• Land/Sea requirements are transitioning toward standard and consistent documents for all travelers entering the country with full implementation on June 1, 2009.  Originally, land borders were scheduled to go into effect on January 28, 2008 but the requirement was delayed due to legislation by Congressowman Louise Slaughter (NY-28).  Congresswoman Slaughter had several concerns about how U.S. and Canadian citizens that live near the Canadian border would maintain their current ease of access to the other country.  In April 2009, Congresswoman Slaughter indicated that DHS and the Department of State have not adequately addressed her concerns and stated that she was considering filing legislation that would delay the land border date until June 1, 2010.