You would be wise to check the State Department site for yourself. My understanding is that as of June 1,2009 you need a passport or passport card.

yes, current passport or passport card (latter for sea travel only). young children under 16 may travel with original copy of the birth cert.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

ALL PERSONS traveling by land and sea outside of the United States are required to present a passport book/card, or other valid travel documents to enter or re-enter the United States.

The following summarizes information available on the Department of Homeland Security’s website:

* Effective June 1, 2009, all U.S. citizens are now required to present a passport book, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document when entering the United States.
Please Note: Children under age 16 will be able to continue crossing land and sea borders using only a U.S. birth certificate (or other form of U.S. citizenship such as a naturalization certificate.). The original birth certificate or a copy may be used. See the Department of Homeland Security's Ready, Set.. Go! for more information on the changing travel requirements.

The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory.

U.S.PASSPORT AND WHTI COMPLIANT DOCUMENTS:

* U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air, land or sea.
* The Passport Card: The passport card is only valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda.
* WHTI-Compliant Travel Documents for U.S. citizen travel via land and sea, as of January 31, 2008:

o Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)
o State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (when available)
o Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)
o U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
o U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business
o Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
o Form I-872 American Indian Card

What is sad is that this (requiring a passport) will do absolutely nothing to stop illegal immigration, drugs, criminals, or terrorists.

All it does is inconvenience people who are legitimately going to/from the BVI to/from the USVI.

you have a point.

but honestly, u.s. citizens are going into a foreign country. we tend to forget that because of all the social and familial ties to the bvi that exist here.

It was only a couple of years ago that US citizens ranked highest in the world of those who do not carry passports!

Maybe because before the Bush years almost everyone loved us. We are so darn cute you know.

SapphireBeach08 wrote:
Maybe because before the Bush years almost everyone loved us. We are so darn cute you know.

Actually it was nothing to do with that - simply indicative that in comparison to citizens of other countries, Americans stayed in their own country!

Yes you now need a Passport (as of June 1st 2009)

Pia

STT Resident wrote:
[quote=SapphireBeach08]
Maybe because before the Bush years almost everyone loved us. We are so darn cute you know.

Actually it was nothing to do with that - simply indicative that in comparison to citizens of other countries, Americans stayed in their own country!

I have to politely disagree based upon my opinion... What were the requirements for passports (or similar) for Europeans to cross the European countries? Also, they are close to the Middle East and Africa. I do wonder how many Europeans go/went to Asia, and what the time/money involved is for them to go to those places.

The way I see it was that traveling to Canada and Mexico did not require a passport, so perhaps, because of the time/money involved for Americans to go to those countries, we spent more time traveling to these places.

I dunno, like I said, this is just my opinion. I would actually like to see some sort of study as to why Americans did not have passports as much as people in other countries in the world.

Just a side note; I have a passport now. I find that my average middle-American WASP guy looks, along with a passport, and being as polite as possible, has made passing through customs in both the VI and Europe and passing the TSA very easy . Yes, I do carry my passport whenever traveling by plane, even just inside the USofA.

EDIT: I would like to add this, about how authorities treat people differently by the way they look:

Nine months ago I was with a close black friend of mine, whom I have known for 25 years, and shared an apartment with for quite a while, driving my nearly mint condition 2000 convertible Trans Am. He asked me to drive it. I asked him if he had a licence. He said, "No" - so I told him I cannot let him drive my car. He asked me, "Why?" I said, your black and with this car, the police will look for an excuse to pull you over. He called me racist. I told him, "You know damn well I am not a racist. You also know damn well the police are racist. Get a licence and I'll be happy to let you drive my car."

He laughed and dropped the subject.

I guess the point is, even now that we have a historic figure, Obama, as the first black president, racism is still strong in America. I don't like it, but it is reality...

no0ne wrote:
What were the requirements for passports (or similar) for Europeans to cross the European countries? Also, they are close to the Middle East and Africa. I do wonder how many Europeans go/went to Asia, and what the time/money involved is for them to go to those places.

EDIT: I would like to add this, about how authorities treat people differently by the way they look:

Nine months ago I was with a close black friend of mine, whom I have known for 25 years, and shared an apartment with for quite a while, driving my nearly mint condition 2000 convertible Trans Am. He asked me to drive it. I asked him if he had a licence. He said, "No" - so I told him I cannot let him drive my car. He asked me, "Why?" I said, your black and with this car, the police will look for an excuse to pull you over. He called me racist. I told him, "You know damn well I am not a racist. You also know damn well the police are racist. Get a licence and I'll be happy to let you drive my car."

He laughed and dropped the subject.

I guess the point is, even now that we have a historic figure, Obama, as the first black president, racism is still strong in America. I don't like it, but it is reality...

-To answer the original question, yes you need a passport to travel from the US or USVI to the BVI and return.

-To answer the question posed by noOne regarding previous requirements of european countries. Passports were required for many European countries, even neighboring countries, prior to the establishment of the EU. Perhaps you might refer to a map or globe to get a realistic view of the distance from Europe to Asia.

-To address noOne's view of police. I am sorry you view all police as racists. Perhaps you should meet and or speak with one or more to either affirm or diminish your view of police and I am still trying to figure out how your view of police as racists pertains to whether a passport is required to travel to and from the BVI.

toes in the sand:

I have been harrased and arrested many times. The police have gone from being servants and friendly beat-walkers from the 50's to now knowning that everyone is thier enemy.

If you do not know that, then you do not have much interaction with police.

no0ne wrote:
toes in the sand:

I have been harrased and arrested many times. The police have gone from being servants and friendly beat-walkers from the 50's to now knowning that everyone is thier enemy.

If you do not know that, then you do not have much interaction with police.

In the 25 years I've lived here I've had much interaction with the VIPD and have come across some really bad police officers and some really good ones. Taking everything into consideration, I wouldn't make such a sweeping generalization such as yours. If you have been "harassed and arrested many times" one can only conclude that something about you or your actions or your attitude has in some way been sufficiently provocative to warrant it. But, toesinthesand is right - this has nothing to do with the subject of this thread.