U.S. Skiers Will Need Passports

This is a two months reminder to all U.S. skiers thinking about a ski trip out of the country. On December 31, 2006 new travel regulations go into effect requiring U.S. citizens traveling to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by air and sea to have a passport to enter or re-enter the United States.

This is part of a phase-in of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. On December 31, 2007 the requirement will be extended to all land border crossings as well. The U.S. State Department advises to allow 6 weeks for processing of your passport application if you apply from inside the U.S.

For more information on passports, visit the United States State Department’s travel web site, or call the U.S. National Passport Information Center: 1-877-4USA-PPT; TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793.