Establishments catering to gringo underage drinkers, Americans wanting to toke up in Canada, and Tijuana donkey shows expected to be hardest hit....If you're thinking of flying or taking a cruise in 2007 that will include destinations in Canada, the Caribbean or Mexico, you should plan to get a passport this fall.
Under new government regulations, by Dec. 31, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada—plus Bermuda and Panama—will be required to have a passport to enter or re-enter the United States. A year later, on Dec. 31, 2007, the requirement will be extended to all land-based border crossings as well.
This is a change from prior travel requirements under which you could go to Canada, Mexico or most Caribbean countries and re-enter the U.S. with a driver's license and birth certificate.
Only about 25 percent of Americans have current, valid passports. But the State Department is experiencing unprecedented demand for passports, due in part to this new regulation. More than 10 million passports were issued during the last fiscal year, and the State Department reports that it is on track to issue over 13 million this year.