In order to return to the Continent you need to prove that you have a right to enter the US. A passport (or "green card") is the easiest way, but a certified birth certificate along with a drivers license is acceptable. And if your name on the BC is different than the drivers license you may have trouble.

Travel outside the US and it's territories will require a passport.

Didn't they amend the rules to make a passport a requirement, starting on the first of the year? I remember something about it a while back, and then they changed the date, and then they changed it again, so I'm not 100% up to speed on it. Anyone?

I went on the US Gov passport site and it says:

January 1, 2007 - All persons who travel by AIR must have a valid US Passport.

January 1, 2008 - All persons who travel by AIR and SEA must have a valid US Passport.

At least that's what it meant to me. But it's government, so it always has to be confusing.

Connie, can you share the website you went to? Thanks!

BUT, I read that travel from the US to the USVI still only requires a birth certificate and ID in 2007. Air travel anywhere outside the US territories will require one in 2007, land and sea travel in 2008.

There will become a day that we'll have to have them to travel anywhere, so might as well get one. It is an easy thing to do - go to a post office that will take your picture and send it with your application. Take your birth cert. and drivers license with you. Takes about 10 minutes.

here's a link a happen to run across.
gocaribbean.about.com/b/a/256807.htm - 24k - Nov 17, 2006

and another..
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

There has been much discussion about what the exact rules are. Since the State Department website includes the Caribbean, yet doesn't parenthetically exclude USVI and Puerto Rico, I'd err on the side of being able to get back to mainland US.

I am all for getting a passport, even if you have no plans to leave the US in the near future. Do you really want to travel with your birth certificate? Believe me, it is MUCH easier to replace a lost or stolen passport than a birth certificate.

When I first became a flight attendant in the early '90s, I only travelled domestically, but on occasion went to Canada. We were required to carry proof of citizenship. Being too lazy to get my passport, I carried my birth certificate and social security card in my filofax. A few days after a trip, I realized that I had left it in my hotel room in Chicago! Visions of those documents being sold to an illegal immigrant ran through my head. Fortunately, the hotel had them and they were returned to me the next day. PHEW! Put my application for a passport in immediately.

The passport application process is painless. Most post offices have a special passport application person, the hours they are there vary. Since we will be travelling to STT for Christmas, I decided to get a passport for my 13 year old. The standard time line given for receipt of the passport is 6 weeks. I didn't want to risk it, so I paid for it to be expedited. You have a choice of 2 or 4 weeks, I opted for the 4 (less money than 2). The passport arrived in less that two weeks!

My apologies for sounding "lecturey" (is that a word?). Just don't want anyone to get into a pickle that can easily be avoided!

Happy Trails!

The VI and Purerto is exempt from they regulations because they are US territories.

I agree about getting a passport. I never have to pay attention to the changing regulations because my passport is always going to be sufficient. I've had one for decades and always renew it, even if I don't have any trip planned. It's a valuable document to have, especially in our increasingly security-conscious world. It makes travel go smoother.

I don't want to take any chances either. I'm so glad that I already have a passport and I don't have to deal with getting another one for awhile, but, our friends that are going with us are getting one because we don't want to take any chances.

The website i went to was travel.state.gov

Another recommendation. If you're going to travel within the next 6 mos, and you want a passport, you better start the paperwork now because I believe that there will be a backup.

ron: You do NOT need one for the USVI, but if you are here and you want to go to the BVI, you will need one.

I was told that as of 1/1/2007 all people traveling in the caribbean (including USVI) will need a passport to return. We have them so it's a non-issue but as most have mentioned there is always conflicting information so error on the side of safe and get one, eventually we'll all need one and with the way things happen lately we'll probably need one just to cross from one U.S. state to the next. But, no passport, I could think of no better place to be "STUCK" than in St. John.

Jill: The USVI lobbied for an exemption and won. I stand by my statement. Once someone is actually in the Caribbean, they frequently want to see more, so getting a passport is a great idea. BUT you will be able to come to St Croix, St John, St Thomas and Water Island without.

Tourism is mounting a huge (well, for the USVI) campaign to get the word out, like this: http://www.virgin-islands-hotels.com/press/passport-newsnet.html

You will only need a passport to come back to the US in 2007.

Again, Savee, NOT from the USVI, but from other Caribbean nations, yes.

Check the Frequently Asked Questions section at US Dept of State

//travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2225.html#9

"Q. Will travelers from U.S. territories need to present a passport to enter the United States?

No. These territories are a part of the United States. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the U.S. territory 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."