Delay in Passport Requirement

Travelers entering the U.S. by land from Mexico and Canada won't need to show a passport (or "PASS" card) until June 2009. House and Senate lawmakers agreed to push back the program by 17 months to allow time to design the PASS card and develop the technology and security standards associated with it. The PASS card will be a less expensive alternative to a passport. Those crossing the borders into the U.S. now only need a photo ID, such as a driver's license, and a birth certificate. This delay only applies to travelers entering the U.S. via land borders; people coming into the country by airplane or cruise ship will still have to show their passports to customs officials as of January 8, 2007.