U.S. State Department and the Department of Homeland Security Mandates All Travelers Entering or Re-Entering the U.S. from the Caribbean to Carry Passports Starting December 31, 2005
The U.S. State Department and the Department Homeland Security recently announced the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which will require all U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, to carry a passport or other accepted secure documents to enter or re-enter the U.S. from vacations or business travel anywhere in the Caribbean, Bermuda and Central and South America, effective December 31, 2005. * This requirement is applied to all travel (air/sea).
The Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) understands the impact of the new initiative and is therefore pro-actively disseminating pertinent information to the island’s travel partners including travel agents, airlines and tour operators. Additionally, ATA, in an effort to assist its valued visitors, strongly encourages all travelers to apply for their passports in anticipation of their vacations to Aruba, where happiness lives.
The Aruba Tourism Authority advises all travelers to allow six to eight weeks to process U.S. passport applications. With peak processing times falling between January and July it is recommended to submit applications between August and December for faster service. Foreign nationals should contact their respective governments to obtain passports. Aruba remains one of the three Caribbean destinations that provide U.S. pre-clearance services, allowing flights from Aruba to enter the U.S. as domestic flights, ensuring an expedited departure process.
For more information on the new U.S. passport initiative, please visit http://www.travel.state.gov or http://www.dhs.gov
For Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, please visit www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0651.xml
For more information on the application process for U.S. passports, please visit www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
