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Documents for entry into the United States
Chronology
Here is the chronology of events related to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).
June 1, 2009 |
Full implementation of the WHTI requirements for entry into the United States by land and water. Canadian citizens will be required to present a valid passport or other approved secure document when entering the United States by land or water. |
| April 6, 2009 | B.C.'s enhanced driver's licence for U.S. border use goes public |
| March 31, 2009 | The Government of New Brunswick will not be developing an enhanced driver's licence |
| March 23, 2009 | Saskatchewan halts new enhanced driver's licence program |
| March 16, 2009 | Government of Québec facilitates US border crossings |
| March 4, 2009 | Canadians encouraged to prepare for document requirements to enter the United States by land and water. |
| February 26, 2009 | Departments of Homeland Security and State Certify Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Criteria. |
| January 19, 2009 | Manitoba Launches Enhanced Identification Card Program |
| August 28, 2008 | Nova Scotia Pursuing Enhanced Driver's Licence. |
| July 30, 2008 | Saskatchewan announces New alternatives for U.S. land border crossings. |
| June 3, 2008 | Ontario introduces passport alternative |
| May 1, 2008 | Manitoba takes next step toward enhanced driver's licence and identification cards |
| March 27, 2008 | The United States releases the final requirements for travel by land and water. |
January 31, 2008 |
Oral declarations alone are no longer acceptable to prove identity and citizenship when entering the United States. Canadian citizens are required to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's licence, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or citizenship card, to enter the United States by land or water. Canadian citizens can also present a passport, a NEXUS or FAST card or an enhanced driver's licence. For those aged 18 and under, only proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, is required. Valid passports and NEXUS or FAST cards are, as always, acceptable documents. |
January 21, 2008 |
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December 26, 2007 |
President Bush signs the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008. |
| June 20, 2007 | The United States releases the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the land and sea portion of the WHTI. The deadline for comments is August 27, 2007. The final rule will be implemented with a minimum of 60 days advance notice. |
| March 23, 2007 | Minister Day speaks at the signing of an agreement between Washington State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to develop an enhanced driver's licence pilot project. |
| February 23, 2007 | Minister Day meets with Secretary Chertoff in Ottawa to further discuss WHTI implementation for land and sea travel, and announces progress on three WHTI-related initiatives. |
| January 23, 2007 | The WHTI is implemented for air travel. |
| November 24, 2006 | The United States releases the final requirements for air travel. |
| October 4, 2006 | President Bush signs into law the Fiscal Year 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, which includes an amendment to delay implementation of the WHTI to no earlier than June 1, 2009, or three months after the secretaries of State and Homeland Security have jointly certified that specific security measures for travel documents have been established. |
| August 11, 2006 | The United States releases the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Documents Required for Travelers Arriving in the United States at Air and Sea Ports-of-Entry from within the Western Hemisphere. |
| July 18, 2006 | The Minister of Public Safety and the Secretary of Homeland Security meet in Edmonton to discuss progress on the WHTI, including draft standards for documents that could be used as alternatives to passports. |
| July 6, 2006 | Prime Minister Harper meets with President Bush in Washington, D.C. Prime Minister Harper urges greater cooperation on the WHTI. President Bush applauds Canada's security efforts. |
| March 30–31, 2006 | Prime Minister Harper makes the WHTI a priority issue when meeting with President Bush. An agreement between the two leaders is reached to have U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and Canadian Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day begin working on resolving the difficulties related to the WHTI. |
| October 31, 2005 | The Government of Canada submits its official comment on the proposed WHTI to the U.S. government. |
| April 2005 | The U.S. departments of State and Homeland Security announce the WHTI and a related implementation strategy. |
| 2004 | The United States enacts the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 based on the 9/11 Commission Report. |
