In a move to make the jobs of border agents in the United States and Canada easier and make the borders more secure government officials created the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). Before U.S. and Canadian citizens were allowed to offer oral declaration alone or present any of 8,000 documents proving identity and citizenship. This was a laborious task for Customs Agents on both sides of the Border with gaping holes in security. Seeing this huge hole in border security the 9/11 Commission recommended and Congresses agreed that there needed to be a standard set of documents. This acknowledgement would become one of the many mandates of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.
To successfully accomplish this task the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security joined to create The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The Program has over hauled border security by changing procedures and establishing a limited number of secure documents that can be presented for entry into the U.S by land, air and sea for U.S. citizens and foreign visitors.
As of June 1st 2009 these are the documents put down by WHTI for entry into the U.S. by land and sea ports between Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. U.S. Citizens entering the United States by land or sea are required to have one of the following:
U.S. or Canadian Passport
Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL)
A driver’s license that can be used as a cross-border travel document that denotes both identity and citizenship. Issuing states are Washington, New York, Michigan, and Vermont. For more information visit your local driver’s license issuing office.
NEXUS card
Part of the Trusted Traveler Program between U.S. and Canada, this can also be used all U.S. land and sea port of entries.
SENTRI card
Part of the Trusted Traveler Program between U.S. and Mexico, like the Nexus card it to can be used at all U.S. land and sea port of entries.
For travelers moving within the U.S. and its territories directly - Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands – travel documents are not necessary because it is not considered leaving the country.
There is a lot to know before you go so check outgetyouhome.gov/h the links below.
Safe travels!