“Think of Canada as a foreign country,” wrote the Buffalo News on May 31, 2009, that’s because those Western New Yorkers who take weekend jaunts to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Toronto and Niagara Falls (because everyone knows the view is better on the Canadian side) now need a passport, passport card, enhanced driver’s license, trusted traveler program card or proof of being a member of a special group (i.e.: U.S. Military) to drive across the border.

It’s not just Western New Yorkers who need to think of Canada as a foreign country but it’s every American citizen looking to travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. This is thanks to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), which is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The goal is to strengthen U.S. border security, expedite re-entry into the U.S.

The first phase of WHTI went into effect for air travelers in 2007. No longer is a driver’s license acceptable (unless it was issued in either Washington or New York and is used specifically for land or sea cross-border travel) nor is a birth certificate (in most cases) for those driving across borders or taking a cruise.

U.S. travelers using air travel are required to have a passport but for those traveling by car or sea, there are a myriad of options which are thoroughly explained on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Web site run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (It’s also a great site for Americans traveling abroad, too.) In brief, the following documents are acceptable when crossing a border either by land or sea:

• U.S. Passport
• U.S. Passport Card (limited-use travel document that fits nicely in a wallet)
• Enhanced Driver’s License
• Trusted Traveler Program Cards (issued to pre-approved, low-risk travelers to expedite entry into the U.S.)
• Special Groups (includes groups of children, Native Americans, U.S. Military, etc.)

The safest bet when planning a vacation to Mexico, Caribbean (including the Dominican Republic), Canada or booking a cruise or driving across the borders, just smile pretty for the camera and apply for a passport to ensure a pleasant trip.

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