Do I Need A Passport???

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Mexico Traveler

If you travel via AIR you will need one by January 23, 2007. If you travel via land you will need one by January 1, 2008. See below.

To answer your specific question by the way you travel you will not need a passport until January 1, 2008. Driving to TJ and then flying down to GDL and back to TJ is ok until 2008. However there is no reason to wait in getting a passport..

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.

Good Luck and Enjoy!

dances with unicorns

For now, if you are crossing the border by land, you do not need a passport. If you are coming in by air or sea, then you will need one as of January 23. Those crossing the border by land will need one in 2008, so get the applications in NOW.

melomego

I believe there was a date set, federally, which mandated the use of passports for everyone, when he is coming back into the country from ANY other coutry.

However, honestly, I would secure my passport as soon as possible, for my own protection, because it is a federal document, and it MUST be recognized by foriegn governments. If you ever get into any kind of trouble, you will wish you had one.

David L

Not immediately. But if you fly to mexico, then yes you will. There are conflicting stories about whether you need a passport. You can walk or drive to TJ and just show your ID and maybe a birth certificate because you won't need a passport until 2008. Then I read where yes you will need a passport to get back into the country. So, you could play it safe and spend the $97 for a passport and you will have it.

Khushi

yes, u need !!!!

Kev

yes

trojan

Not unless you don't want to return the U.S.

cell-hell

If you are a US citizen and want to leave/return, you need a passport no matter what country you are going to. You may need more, depending on where you are going.

highyellow

In the past they never really checked for passports at the Mexican-US border (especially if you look "American"), but that is changing in the next few years. Get a passport ASAP.

Jim C

Yes!!

evil_kandykid

I have heard about the laws changing and you needing a passport to go to mexico, even if you are a us citizen. However, I live in so. cali. and I have a friend that was in tj just last weekend, and didn't need a passport to get back into the US. Whether or not this was a fluke, I do not know. But to my knowledge, the law or whatever requiring passports to go to mexico has not been implimented.

milwaukiedave

Yes, the new rules which take effect this month mean if you travel to Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean you have to have a US passport.

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