Everyone - I'm a US citizen living in North Carolina visiting St Thomas on June 1. I am flying directly to St Thomas from North Carolina and directly back. Here is what my condo rental agreement says:

10.PASSPORTS: Every person in your party needs a current passport beginning January 1, 2007! Everyone departing St Thomas, even Americans, are required by US Immigration to show a current passport for every individual. You will also need passports should you decide to visit the British Virgin Islands ( 45 minutes from St Thomas via ferry.).

Here is what the US State Dept site says:

The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States 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.

Now I obviously believe the State Dept site over a rental agreement, but it still has me nervous. Do I need a passport or not? If I do I may have to call the trip off; its getting late, even if I use the expedited service.

Thanks