The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today condemned the new U.S. Government proposal that airlines and their employees collect biometric information from all non-U.S. citizens when departing the U.S. in the U.S. Exit Plan. U.S. Exit Proposal A Step Backward

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today a notice of proposed rulemaking that will establish biometric exit procedures at all U.S air and sea ports of departure. The majority of non-U.S. Citizens and non-permanent residents except for Canadians are already required to submit digital fingerprints and a digital photograph for admission into the country.* The US-VISIT Exit proposal would require non-U.S. citizens who provide biometric identifiers for admission to also provide digital fingerprints when departing the country from any air or sea ports of departure. DHS Exit Procedures

Now, in addition to handing over a passport to Customs and Border Protection agents, every noncitizen visitor has to place all four fingers and thumb from each hand on the glowing screen. Within seconds, CBP has their 10 digital fingerprints on file. US Fingerprinting

On 21 December 2007, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia became part of the Schengen area. On Sunday 30 March 2008 at 0:00, the enlargement process will be completed by lifting air border controls between these countries and with the 15 states that were already part of the Schengen system.Europa Press Release

The U.S is planning to expand it's registered traveler program to international travel. Registration to ease international travel

Ann Barrett, deputy assistant secretary for passport services at the State Department answered some questions regarding the new passport card at New passport card may be ready by April. The complete ruling can be found in the Federal Register at Federal Register Page 74169.

Effective January 1, 2008, the application fee for a U.S. non-immigrant visa will increase from $100 to $131. U.S. Department of State, Media Note

State-issued enhanced drivers licenses provide proof of identity and U.S. citizenship. These new documents are being developed by many states to comply with travel rules under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). Department of Homeland Security

Nearly two years after it was first proposed, the government still hasn't finished work on a wallet-size passport card intended to ease the financial and logistical crunch on residents in border communities who need to cross frequently. New passport cards still not ready

Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia will join the current 15 Schengen countries. They will begin to implement the agreement on 21 December 2007 for overland borders and seaports, and on 29 March 2008 for airports. For all of the details on the Schengen agreement, see the Wikipedia Entry

The temporary accommodation, allowing U.S. citizens to travel by air within the Western Hemisphere using a receipt of passport application, will end as scheduled at midnight on September 30, 2007.Department of Homeland Security Memo

Chapter 5: Border Monitoring & Control Measures Associated With Pandemic Influenza or read the entire plan at North American Plan for Avian and Pandemic Influenza

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security agreed to launch a project with the state of Vermont that will enhance the security of state driver's licenses and potentially serve as an acceptable alternative document for crossing the United States' land and sea borders. http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1187646614580.shtm

Testimony of Andrew Simkin, Director, Office of Fraud Prevention Programs, to the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security, Interrupting Terrorist Travel: Strengthening the Security of International Travel Documents

For those who have not seen the U.S. Department of State's Web Site Redesign, it may be found at http://travel.state.gov/.

The IRIS (Iris Recognition Immigration System) program is a fast and secure way to clear immigration at British security checkpoints. Successfully enrolled passengers can save time when entering the United Kingdom since they can proceed through automated immigration control barriers after looking into an iris recognition camera. U.S Passport holders can apply for IRIS membership as long as they travel through the UK at least twice in a six-month period. Registration takes about 10 minutes and can be done at most UK airports. More information can be found at http://www.iris.gov.uk./

International trusted traveler program sought

Flyers can buy speed pass

U.S. to let people apply to get off no-fly lists

Read the full article at Sen. Clinton calls for full review of passport card.

European Union nations agreed Tuesday to expand the bloc's borderless travel zone to the 10 new members that joined the EU in 2004. The deal foresees a phased-out removal of land border checks starting Dec. 31, 2007 and remaining airport and sea border checks will be removed by March 2008. More details can be found at EU ministers expand borderless travel.

According to the Associated Press, "Nationals from all 12 South American nations will soon be able to travel freely throughout their region without needing visas, a regional foreign ministers summit in Chile has agreed.
The decision exempts the visa requirement for nationals from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.
The decision 'represents a step in our efforts to eliminate our traditional divisions,' said Chilean Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley who inaugurated the daylong conference. The visa exemption is expected to become effective within 90 days. Regional integration is the main subject in the ministers' agenda."

Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of State announced the official requirement to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere beginning January 23, 2007. They say this is the final rule for the air portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. More information may be found at the DHS website at New Document Requirements for Air Travel and the complete rule from the Federal Register may be found at Documents Required for Travelers.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice did announce "the United States has decided this year to recognize the APEC business travel card''. The 17 other APEC members that recognize the card are Australia, Brunei, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Each country is responsible for issuing the card to its own citizens. There is no information on when or even IF the U.S. will begin issuing the card to U.S. citizens.
For more see APEC Business Mobility Group

The U.S. State Department has a page with 10 Tips for Safe International Travel.

Many business travelers may not be aware that they can have the contents of their laptops inspected. This has caused concern among corporate travel managers because of the proprietary information typically carried on an executives laptop. The law that gives U.S. government officials the right to examine, download or even seize laptops is being tested in federal court. Read more at Laptop seizure raises concerns over firms data

"The federal government disclosed details yesterday of a border-security program to screen all people who enter and leave the United States, create a terrorism risk profile of each individual and retain that information for up to 40 years. The details, released in a notice published yesterday in the Federal Register, open a new window on the government's broad and often controversial data-collection effort directed at American and foreign travelers, which was implemented after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks." Read the full Washington Post article at U.S. Plans to Screen All Who Enter, Leave Country

Business for Diplomatic Action, a group of educators, executives and citizens is working to combat the spread of anti-American sentiment. They have put together a World Citizens Guide featuring tips on how Americans can help improve America's battered international image. The federal government is even considering distributing the guide with every U.S. passport.

Could the new U.S. PASS card be your next frequent shoppers card for business on the border? Because of the design of the RFID chip in the PASS card, it would be possible. These RFID chips will be more like those found in highway toll payment systems. PASS card: RFID "passport light" has more details.

More and more clients are registering their international trip at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country they will be visiting. This allows the U.S. State Department to contact them in an emergency. The coup in Thailand and the war in Lebanon have shown that one never knows when an unforeseen event can occur. Some of the ways the State Department can assist in an emergency can be found in
"Register Your International Travel With the State Department".

The legislation dealing with the new rules to enter the U.S. is Section 7209 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), Public Law 108–458, 118 Stat. 3638 (Dec. 17, 2004).
"Section 7209 does not apply to Lawful Permanent Residents, who will continue to be able to enter the U.S. upon presentation of a valid Form I–551, Alien Registration Card, or other valid evidence of permanent resident status. Section 211 (b) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1181(b). It also does not apply to alien members of U.S. Armed Forces traveling under official orders. Section 284 of INA, 8 U.S.C. 1354. Additionally, section 7209 does not change current requirements for nonimmigrant aliens from anywhere other than Canada, Mexico, or Bermuda. See section 212 (d)(4)(B) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182 (d)(4)(B) and 8 CFR 212.1.

The New PASS card will utilize Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. It will only be used to store and transmit a unique reference number. This will serve as a link to information safeguarded in a secure database managed by Customs and Border Protection. The Department of State will assign the reference number when the passport card is issued and no personal or biographic information will be stored or transmitted using the RFID technology.
Time magazine spoke with the acting director of DHS's U.S. VISIT program and the director of DHS's newly created Screening Coordination Office in "EZPass for the Border".

The U.S. Department of State announced the first official information regarding the new passport card. The passport card is intended as a lower cost means of establishing identity and nationality for American citizens crossing U.S. land borders and traveling by sea between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda. The rule, published today, proposes a wallet-sized card that would cost $35 for children and $45 for adults.
The rules are open for public comment. If you would like to make a comment or review the text of the rule, the docket ID is DOS-2006-0329. Because of the way the web site is setup, you will need to enter the docket ID in the search found at Regulations.gov.

Wikipedia has a great deal of information on passports. While I have not read all of the information, what I have read does appear to be correct and up to date. Some examples of what can be found there include:
"Many Arab and Muslim countries will not allow entries to people with evidence of visits to Israel or used or unused Israeli visas in their passports, since the existence of the state of Israel is not recognized by these countries. To help foreigners circumvent these restrictions, Israel does not require visitors to have their passports stamped upon entry or advanced visas, making it difficult for those countries to tell if a citizen or tourist went there."
"Citizens of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua do not require a passport to travel between any of the four countries. A National ID card is sufficient for entry. In addition, the CA-4 agreement implemented the Central American Single Visa for citizens of all other countries, eliminating the need for separate entry visas for each of the countries"
For further information see Passports on Wikipedia

For those who would like to see the design of the new e-Passport, the U.S. Department of State has images of one at Design of the New U.S. e-Passport and answers to some questions at The U.S. Electronic Passport Frequently Asked Questions.

At a presentation I was giving before a Chamber of Commerce, I was asked if a passport was required to travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
No, I said. They are a part of the United States and U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the U.S. and do not need to present a passport. (U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.)
The chamber member proceeded to tell the story of an airline employee who was not going to let him board a flight to the U.S. Virgin Islands without a passport. He was finally allowed to board, after a lengthy discussion and being asked to sign a waiver.
I came across another story, Beware Your Passport, of a traveler with a similar experience. This traveler was not as lucky.
With the new passport regulations coming into effect in phases, with airlines that can apply their own rules, and with immigration officials who are given a broad allowance for interpreting the rules, traveling with a valid passport can reduce the stress and headaches.

Congress has passed a bill that changes the passport requirement for travelers. Passports will still be required for air travel as of Jan. 8, 2007. The requirement to have a passport for land crossings and cruise passengers has been delayed until June 1, 2009.
In 2004 the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) was implemented. This required that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. It was to be implemented in phases. For those who want to learn more about the original requirements, the U.S. State Department has information at WHTI.
An amendment was added to the Homeland Security Department appropriations bill that makes some changes to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. There is an article in Travel Weekly that contains some of the details about these changes. You may be required to create a user ID before viewing the article, entitled "Congress passes bill delaying passport rule for land, sea travel".

We continue the discussion of the new ePassport. Currently only the Colorado Passport Office is issuing the new e-Passport, with the rest of the offices scheduled to begin before the first of the year. An article that takes the opposite view of the new computer chip that will be embedded in U.S. passports can be found at " Fears of ePassport technology vastly overblown".

We have decided to start a blog as a place to reference the many articles we come across that deal with the changing requirements of International Travel. Most of the entries will not qualify as specific procedural updates. Those are already covered on Updates and travel warnings are covered on Travel Warnings. This will be a place to see what others have to say.
We begin with an article on the computer chip new U.S. passports will contain. E-Passports, the name the U.S. State Department has given them, will contain an RFID or radio-frequency identification chip. Washington Post columnist, Bruce Schneier, recommends renewing your passport now in "The ID Chip You Don't Want in Your Passport".