Traveling to Mexico? Be Sure to Understand the New Travel
Requirements
by Jon Wuebben
Published on this site: May 3rd, 2006 - See
more articles from this month
Making plans to travel to Mexico this year? Is a Mexico
family vacation in your future, or are you looking to take
a little time for rest and relaxation on the sandy white beaches
of Cancun or Puerto Vallarta? Well, your timing is right.
It promises to be another fantastic year south of the border
for all of the major Mexico resort hot spots! In fact, 16
million Americans will probably visit Mexico this year.
Be sure you are prepared before you travel, as there have
been some new requirements issued by the U.S. State Department
( http://www.state.gov/
). Although it's a minor change from prior travel requirements,
it affects all U.S. citizens entering the United States from
countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently
possess valid passports. Essentially, all that is required
is a passport, which most frequent travelers have anyway.
The goal? To make it safer for you and to strengthen United
States border security.
Here are some important facts you should know:
- The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act
of 2004 (
http://www.ncix.gov/publications/ law_policy/law/ PL108 _458_ Intel_Reform_and_ Terrorism_Prevention_Act_2004.pdf ) requires
that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean,
Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other
secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United
States.
- In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject
to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will
be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice
as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet
the terms of the new guidelines.
- The proposed timeline will be as follows:
- December 31, 2006 - Requirement applied to all air
and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and
South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
- December 31, 2007 - Requirement extended to all land
border crossings as well as air and sea travel.
The Easy Way to get a Passport
First, when applying for a passport, make sure you allow
enough time! It typically takes 6 weeks to process a passport
application. Where can you apply for a passport? The State
Department provides a handy search tool to help you find
the
Passport Acceptance Facility ( http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/
) nearest you. What's the busiest time for passport processing?
Usually between January and July. Of course, if you have
an
emergency and need to travel to Mexico right away, the State
Dept does offer some options. Go to their website at http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html,
or call the U.S. National Passport Information Center:
1-877-4USA-PPT
Additional Tips for Travel to Mexico
- Be sure to leave your travel itinerary and passport information
with a friend or relative in case the originals are lost.
It can also be helpful to carry a copy of your travel documents with you in a separate location from the
originals.
- Avoid traveling with large amounts of cash. Credit cards
are widely accepted and most areas visited by tourist will
have an ATM machine. These are great options because they
are safe, convenient and you get a favorable exchange rate.
Another option is to use traveler's checks.
- Using a fanny pack or travelers wallet for your cash
and passport is a great idea.
- While they are making great strides in improving the
water quality throughout Mexico, it is advisable to drink
bottled water. In addition, avoid drinking beverages over
ice as the ice may have been made from tap water.
- Wash vegetables and fruits in a purifying solution of
some type.
- Before leaving, check with your health insurance provider
so that you are aware of your coverage.
- If you are planning to drive over the border be sure
to obtain a temporary import permit and all the necessary
insurance.
So now that you've been informed, what are you waiting for?
Mexico is a land of incredible beauty and natural wonder!
Whether you're going to sunny Cancun, festive Acapulco, or
even Puerto Vallarta, your perfect Mexican vacation getaway
is just a flight away!
This article was written by Jon Wuebben, of
Custom Copywriting. Jon writes select pieces about travel
in Mexico
for the
CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort : http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/CUNMX
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