Nothing has been published yet to address the requirements after 01 September 2007. I suspect that when that time comes, they will probably have the same requirements currently in place: either have a valid passport or proof of application for passport when you travel. Here is a copy from the State department website:

Are you a U.S. Citizen traveling to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region by air and you have NOT APPLIED for a passport yet, or, you HAVE NOT APPLIED TO RENEW an expired passport yet?
If so, access the Passport Page to apply for a new passport or to renew an old passport

Once your application is in process with the U.S. Department of State (which could take up to 7 to 10 days to track online), you should:

Go to Checking the Status of Your Application and follow the instructions to print out your passport status page. Keep this status page with you during your entire trip for both exit from the U.S. and re-entry to the U.S.

Next, find out what the entry requirements are for the country you are visiting. In some cases, you may need to contact the Embassy of the country you are visiting.

Be sure to present the documentation required by the country you are visiting along with your printed passport status page to the airline personnel upon departure and re-entry to the U.S.

The USVI you don't need a passport if you are an American citizen. But you won't be able to go to the BVI's and a passport just makes sence.

"Are you a U.S. Citizen traveling to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region by air and you have NOT APPLIED for a passport yet..."

Ambassador - your information is incorrect. The "countries in the Caribbean region" clause does not refer to the US Virgin Islands which are a US territory and are exempt from the new rules. US Citizens are not required to have passports to travel here but proof of US citizenship on departure is recommended.

After Jan 08, a US Citizen WILL require a passport to travel between the BVI and the USVI so, mimicita. if you plan on even a day trip to the BVI you should get a passport. Get a passport anyway - old habits die hard where immigration personnel are concerned. Having a passport makes travel so much easier and you've plenty of time to get one!

How can you state that when nothing has been announced yet addressing passport issues that fall within her wedding in April 2008?

STT, ambassador's correct. How can you say that? After all we still don't know whether or not San Francisco will start requiring passports either. Travel restrictions to Mass also haven't been announced either.

Again STT, how can you say these things when 2008 is so far away? Huh, gotcha and you thought you were being so smart.

Well, I have decided to advise my guests to just get passports if they don't already have them. I don't want to tell them that they don't need them now, and then if things change, there will be a lot of stress about getting them in time for the wedding. There's already a huge backlog (even up to 6 months) in getting new passports and I can only imagine what it will be like come January if the laws are changed. I think this is the easiest thing to do. As for myself, I already have a passport...I was more concerned about what to tell my traveling guests.

Thanks for everyones' input!

tell your guests to get a passport. it's good for 10 years, you don't have to worry about where you can or can't go without one or with just your birth certificate and license. why is everyone so against getting passports or why do they tell you to wait and see what happens??? the fed's have already extended the deadline for getting passports and they'll probably not be too keen on any further extensions or excuses after January 2008 since it's all out in the open now that you will need a passport for travel no matter where you go................

Hey Morty, no one told mimi not to get passports. They are the easiest way in which to travel. However, they aren't needed for the USVI no matter when the Department of State makes up their mind on documentation.

that's great. as long as you're just travelling to the usvi and back. makes sense to get passport anyway for travel in future just in case they want to travel someplace else other than usvi. ya think????

ambassador: In answer to your question, ("How can you state that when nothing has been announced yet addressing passport issues that fall within her wedding in April 2008?") simply and precisely because the State Department has already decreed that US citizens do not and will not require passports for travel within the US and its territories.

Promoguy - you are as usual being very naughty!

STT Resident: Yes, as per 22 CFR part 50.1, which, as always, can be changed at any time.

Hell, ambassador given your line of reasoning we could always take away the woman's right to vote. It can be changed also at any time with the necessary votes.

Nice come back, but any CFR can be changed.

We CAN take away women's rights to vote!

No to tempting.

I'll get spammed.

Never mind!

ambassador: with no desire to beat a dead horse, the following is from this site's FAQs which is kept up to date:

"Travel Documents
Q: Do I need to bring proof of nationality?
A: U.S. citizens are not required to have passports or proof of citizenship when ENTERING the U.S. Virgin Islands from a U.S. airport. All arrivals to the U.S. Virgin Islands from foreign airports are required to show proof of citizenship and pass through customs. All persons leaving the U.S. Virgin Islands, whether American citizens or not, must be prepared to show proof of citizenship upon leaving the islands to return to the mainland. "

Further, if any change were to be made to the already well publicized passport exemptions for US citizens travelling to the US Virgin Islands, this obviously is a far-fetched notion at best and is unlikely to occur without considerable forewarning and certainly not within any few months. This is why the USVI has been spending a considerable amount promoting the territory as a "no passport necessary" tourist destination.

With all due respect, the information one gives in response to a question by a potential visitor, particularly on a subject such as this, should be based on current fact and not on pure speculation which only serves to muddy the water.

Down, promoguy!

Promo and STT...you by chance related? 🙂

We may have just lucked out, but hubby got his passport in less than 3 weeks...and didn't pay extra to have it expedited.
He just sent it priority mail. Funny thing is, a week after he received it, he got a letter from the Nat'l Passport Ctr saying that they were working hard to process his paperwork and get his new passport sent off to him!!! LOL

Geez, this thing is soooooo jacked up.

As a United States Territory, a U.S. passport is not required, I am uncertain why they'd want it going and not coming... but considering how things have been evolving with the clusterf00k that is the Western HemisphereTravel Initiative, I must humbly say... they appear to be making this thing up as they go along.

In spite of best efforts, it's just NOT working right now and we are all now caught in the middle of it. I am just trying to keep my head low here, and now I am concerned because when it's time to add pages to my passport (I do a lot of Caribbean travel, outside of the Unites States Virgin Islands which ARE a part of the United States of America), I am afraid to send the blasted thing in! Tears are welling up right now, poised to tumble forth onto my tremblin' cheek, I tellya.

Oh, and by the by... proof of citizenship can be your certified, state issued birth certificate.

Lord, hurry deh judge...

*cringing while running... but not past the checkpoint*

I think it's smart to get a passport, because traveling ANYWHERE the year before a Presidential Election Year will require one. I imagine that travel in my own State from one county to the other will require one.

And as I've said before, it's wrong that the USVI is not allowed to vote for the US President. I only hope your numerous Senators are working on your behalf as we will need all the help we can get for 2009!

Yo Eagle!! What's happening in 2009 that will require the help of the senators from the USVI. Be careful of what you wish.

Promo,
Good point...did you catch the YouTube debate? Not to get off the subject...but sort of is the subject