Going to Mexico? New Border Crossing Rules Jan 31, 2008

by Jay Thompson on January 28, 2008

Lots of folks in Arizona travel to Mexico. Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco) is within easy driving distance from Phoenix and Tucson and an absolutely lovely vacation destination. (Our last trip to Rocky Point.)

And as we’ve seen recently, lots of folks from Canada travel to Phoenix!

To get into Mexico, all you need is any official US ID. Passports are not required. (Source: Mexican Foreign Ministry)

But it is really kind of important to make sure that once you get into Mexico, you can get back into the United States!

The rules for entry into the US change this Thursday, Jan 31 2008. Note: this includes driving into/out of Mexico, not just plane flights!

In the past, an ID and oral declaration of US citizenship was all that was required.

Effective Jan 31, 2008 you have to provide proof of identity and proof of US citizenship to enter the US.

From the U.S. Customs and Border Protection web site:

Effective January 31, 2008, U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older should no longer expect that they will be able to prove identity and citizenship by relying on an oral declaration alone.

These regulations apply to both US and Canadian citizens for entry into the United States.

There are two options for documentation:

Single Document Option – one of the following meets the requirements to prove both identity and citizenship:

U.S. or Canadian Passport
U.S. Passport Card (Available spring 2008)
Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)
State or Provincial Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (when available – this secure driver’s license will denote identity and citizenship.)
Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)
U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
U.S. Merchant Mariner Document
Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
Form I-872 American Indian Card
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Card

Two Document Option – If you don’t have one of the above documents, you must present BOTH an identification and citizenship document:

Identification Documents (must have a photo, name and date of birth)

Driver’s license or identification card issued by a federal, state, provincial, county, territory, or municipal authority
U.S. or Canadian military identification card

Citizenship Documents

U.S. or Canadian birth certificate issued by a federal, state, provincial, county, territory or municipal authority
U.S. Consular report of birth abroad
U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
U.S. Certificate of Citizenship
U.S. Citizen Identification Card
Canadian Citizenship Card
Canadian certificate of citizenship without photo

Procedures for Children – U.S. and Canadian citizen children ages 18 and under will be expected to present a birth certificate issued by a federal, state, provincial, county or municipal authority.

Experts are saying these requirements will likely increase border crossing wait times (and trust me, they are already lengthy) — at least until people get used to the new requirements.

For a printable version of these requirements (and additional info if you are a citizen of a country other than the United States or Canada) please click here.

[tags]Mexico, Puerto Penasco, Rocky Point, border crossing requirements[/tags]

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Rebecca

Use your comon sence!! If you're going further than a border town ie: Juarez, Nogales, like that, then yes, like any foreign country you'll need US/Canadian/your own countries PASSPORT to both enter and return!! That's that about that!!! You're traveling to a foreign country; Mexico is just slightly different. The rule of thumb is; if you go 30 miles beyond the border with USA A PASSPORT IS REQUIRED!!! I hope that's clear enough for you???? Another CAVEAT: If you plan to go out on ships/boat on oceon waters, LOAD UP ON DRAMAMINE, IF YOU HOPE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME!!! If you think you no need it, then expect to be GREEN, YELLOW AND SICKER TO TUMMY THAN EVER BEFORE!!! I SAY, BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY!!! I'VE BEEN THERE, FOLKS, JUST TRUST ME, POR FAVOR (ie: Please in Spanish) Good Luck and Happy Landings, Rebecca in Tucson, AZ

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Joel@ Lake Chapala V

As you mention, "it is really kind of important to make sure that once you get into Mexico, you can get back into the United States!"

Truer words were never spoken.

It is more of a hassle now to travel back and forth to Mexico.

Next time you're traveling to Mexico, check out Lake Chapala, near Guadalajara.

I retired early to Mexico and checked out of the rat race forever.

Now I live in the world’s best weather (according to National Geographic) on Lake Chapala, Mexico.

I also own a Vacation Rental Home in Ajijic, Casa Preciosa.

Joel

roxanna l. kemppaine

My husband, my 5 month old, my 11 yr old daughter, and myself have plans to go to Mexico (we are from Michigan) in June 08. We all have passports since we live directly across from Canada and visit there often, among other places. My ex, my daughters father, signed for her passport because she could not get one without both biological parents signatures, knowing we travel a lot, especially to Mexico. I go by my new married name, different from my daughters. We share joint custody, week on week off, but now he is saying he won't allow her to go to Mexico with us, saying it is not safe. What can we do??