Is a passport needed to travel the US Virgin Islands?

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Clamdigger

+ Yes if you are not a US citizen.

â™¥ Sono A â™¥

At the moment, it is not a requirement within US territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).

HOWEVER, a passport is just a good thing to have. I've had one since I was born and will keep it up to date always. I probably wouldn't go to any of the above countries without it. Not only is it an obvious necessity for most intl travel, it is also a reliable form of photo ID if your wallet gets stolen etc since one usually does not carry it around on a daily basis.

So make your life easy and just get one. Besides, you never know when you might enter a sweepstakes and win a trip to France or have to go abroad for work at short notice. Getting a rush passport is a pricey endeavor.

Charlie

Sorry, but Duoak is incorrect. The regulation clearly states that U.S. citizens travelling to the U.S. Virgin Islands DO NOT need a passport. See the website below to read for yourself for peace of mind. Scroll down to the 3rd paragraph of the article.

roundater

no but it is very helpful to have one for travel to neighboring areas - see below:

New Requirements for Travelers

* Media Notes
* Flyers & Fact Sheet
* Frequently Asked Questions
* Federal Regulations

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:

* Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
* As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.

The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Travel Documents for U.S. Citizens Under WHTI

Under the proposed implementation plan, the following documents will be acceptable to fulfill document requirements:

* U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, and may also use a U.S. passport when traveling via sea and land borders (including ferry crossings).
* The Passport Card (also referred to as the PASS Card): This limited-use passport in card format is currently under development and will be available for use for travel only via land or sea (including ferries) between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Similar in size to a credit card, it will fit easily into a wallet.
* DOS and DHS also anticipate that the following documents will continue to be acceptable for their current travel uses under WHTI: SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, and the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document. As proposed, members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty traveling on orders will continue to be exempt from the passport requirement.

Background

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to develop and implement a plan to require all travelers, U.S. citizens and foreign nationals alike, to present a passport or other document, or a combination of documents, that denote identity and citizenship when entering the United States. Congress amended portions of the Act in 2006. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is the Administrationâ€™s proposed plan to implement this mandate.

The goal of the Initiative is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized, secure and reliable documentation which will allow the Department of Homeland Security to quickly, reliably and accurately identify a traveler.

Media Notes

* 11/22/2006 Passports Required for Air Travel to United States as of January 23, 2007
* 10/17/2006 Department of State to Introduce Passport Card

Flyers & Fact Sheet

* Fact Sheet - Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (pdfPDF)
* Flyer on Passport Requirement for Air Travel to United States as of January 23, 2007 (pdfPDF)

Frequently Asked Questions

* Frequently Asked Questions about the New Travel Initiative Requirements (FAQs)

Federal Regulations

*
Final Rule - Air Phase (pdf PDF)
*
Proposed Rule - Passport Card (pdf PDF)
*
Comments Submitted in Passport Card Rule Making Proceeding (DOS-2006-0329-0001)

Other Relevant Links

* Department of Homeland Security
* U.S. Customs and Border Protection

P_Floid

No, but if you want to take a day trip to thr BVI you'll need one.

roast_breadfruit

No, no , no......

US citizens going to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin lslands WILL NOT REQUIRE PASSPORTS. Read the papers people and dont give questioners wrong information.

As already stated, if you intend to travel to the BVI (British Virgin Islands)......you will need one.

just_treva

There are too many answerers giving out the wrong information!

Proof of citizenship is NOT required for travel entirely within the U.S.; however, if you are at least 18y.o., you must present a government-issued photo ID in order to board that plane. A passport is a great photo ID, but a driver's license or state-issued non-driver's ID is just as acceptable!

Sa_San

* As of January 23, 2007, passports will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling to or from the United States via air, to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean (with the exception of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and Bermuda.

* As of January 1, 2008, passports will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling to or from the United States via land and sea, as well as air, regardless of destination.

campmor

This is a trick question right, U.S as in United States Virgin Islands why would you need a Passport doesn't make sense does it! But if you are planning to go to any other out-lying islands that do not belong to the U.S. you WILL need a passport.

coolliz2444

IF your on a cruise no, if your traveling by yourself and flying directly there yes and they are going to be very strict on taht and make sure you have a picture ID like a drivers license just in case they ask for it etc and have fun its a wonderful and beautiful place.

maamu

Yes no yes no yes no

I went to the VI in May of this year. You did not need one then. But I was told that if I went in 2007 I would need one.

Just get one, it will save you so much grief and worry in the long run.

M

dedisa2

A passport is needed to travel ANYWHERE in the world effective January 1st 2007.

londonmh

Travelling as a US citizen to the USVI you need a birth certificate with photo id or passport. If you want to go by short boat ferry to any of the BVI, you do need the passport.

Any citizen of a country other than US, you definitely need the passport

que

any time after 1/27/07 you will need a passport but if you have futher concerns you can go to the airlines web for ther most updated info i went to st thomas stayed at sugarbay resort (wydrham resort)had a blast

rita2bx

yes it is owned by the United States of America.

sweetbaby98

yes

duoak

Yes, starting in January you will need a passport to travel to the US Virgin Islands (even if you are a US citizen). Anytime you cross any border or body of water you will need a passport.

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