WHTI Is Nothing New -
Only More Obvious

WHTI began requiring U.S. citizens to have valid passports for air travel back in 2007. This latest requirement is simply an interim step before valid passports are required for every kind of foreign travel by U.S. citizens.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), requiring all travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the United States.

Please Note: WHTI-compliant documents acceptable for entry or re-entry into the United States may not be valid documents for entering other countries. See Country Specific Information for more information on the country you are traveling to.

The stated goal of WHTI is to strengthen U.S. border security while facilitating entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors through standardized documentation that enables the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify travelers.

To WHTI Compliant Documents

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