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I travel a lot for the company I work for and I have to use American Express Travel for travel arrangements. I was on hold the other day listening to their "while we have you on hold let me tell you stuff" when the recording cautioned travelers that beginning January/2007, all persons travelling to .....Caribbean need passports. I've since tried to notify them of their error and ask them to change the recording to say EXCEPT the USVI . Just wanted to emphasize here on this forum that passport is NOT required for USVI.
Now......I always DO bring my passport to the USVI because of the close proximity of other non-US islands and, if opportunity arises that I can visit these islands, I would hate to have to decline the opportunity because I didn't have proper documentation (e.g., passport) to go! But, please know that a passport is NOT required for USVI.
Good morning:
FYI - We are travelling in early April to STT and we were told that passports ARE required. We also called the airlines (American and United) and were told the same thing.
Better to be safe.
Kelly
I was just there, and I don't have a passport yet, as well as my parents who do, and getting a passport could be the smartest thing you could do when traveling.
No, they are NOT required, because the USVI is apart of the US, that's why they are not. But obviously, traveling to other parts of the Caribbean it IS required.
Instead of the hassle, JUST GET A PASSPORT. That's what I'm doing.
Officially:
Kelly, I can sure appreciate you taking your passport to avoid any confusion by some uninformed person. For the record, following is documented proof that travellers to US territories do NOT need a passport......no matter what some uninformed person tells us.
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html
"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."
USVI REPRESENTATIVE DONNA CHRISTIANSEN
http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2005/05/13/passport.shtml
"USVI Representative Donna Christiansen was contacted by Caribbean Net News regarding the new regulation. Rep. Christiansen, who is a member of the Congressional Tourism and Travel Caucus, made the following statement of clarification, "According to Officials of the Department of Homeland Security, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative which requires travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada to have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States, does not apply to US citizens traveling directly to and from the US Virgin Islands." "
HOMELAND SECURITY
http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/whtibasics.shtm
Traveling To and From U.S. Territories
U.S. Citizens traveling to and 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:
American Samoa
Guam
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
Swains Island
U.S. Virgin Islands
Yes the new passport requirements do start this month, 23rd Jan.
But in reading the requirements, they state that if traveling by land or sea (including ferries), a passport will not be required till 2008.
Am I the only one whose head just exploded?
If I had a dime for every time this subject was brought up, I'd own a house on Peter Bay.
PASSPORTS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE USVI.
(but it's a really good idea to get one anyway and bring it with you!)
It's really strange because when I called this week about seats on my flight, the representative told me to just bring my confirmation number, ourselves and our passports.
I'm not taking any chances...everybody is getting a passport even if we DON'T island hop.
