Passport Restrictions for US Visitors Eased

US SENATE PASSES COLEMAN/DORGAN AMENDMENT TO IMMIGRATION REFORM ACT
The United States Senate has passed the Coleman/Dorgan bipartisan amendment to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill, a move the National Tour Association is applauding.

According to officials, the decision is a "significant step of tremendous importance to the North American travel industry," since the amendment addresses several critical issues embedded in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which will require all travellers, including United States citizens, to have a passport or other accepted document to enter or re-enter the U.S. from Canada, the Americas and the Caribbean.

Currently, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative has an implementation date of Dec. 31, 2007, but the Coleman/Dorgan amendment postpones implementation until June 1, 2009, allowing time for a comprehensive public education campaign on cross-border travel requirements.

NTA and the Student Youth Travel Association told senators that WHTI would seriously curtail educational travel to and from Canada. The Coleman/Dorgan amendment addresses this concern since it "authorizes the Secretary (of Homeland Security) to waive documentary requirements for children travelling in groups of six or more to/from Canada, provided that each child can demonstrate parental consent." Furthermore, fees established for the proposed People Access Security Services card, which would be accepted for cross-border travel, have been capped at $20 and would be waived for travellers age 18 and under. Additionally, the amendment establishes a 72-hour "day pass" for those not possessing a passport or a PASS card.

"This is a huge victory for the travel industry," said NTA president Hank Phillips. "These common-sense changes to WHTI will help to maintain border integrity yet facilitate cross-border tourism. But the fight is not over. We have to keep working to ensure this amendment survives the conference committee."

Author: Canadian Travel Press
Organization: Baxter Travel Group
Contact: ctp@baxter.net