The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is a U.S. government program that established new travel document requirements for crossing the border to enter or re-enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean by land and sea beginning June 1. The goal of WHTI and the new requirements is to facilitate entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors, while strengthening U.S. border security. All United States, Canadian and Bermudian citizens are subject to the new requirements.
While the Department of Homeland Security has said publicly that it will allow some flexibility with regard to people having proper documentation when entering or re-entering our country, it's critical that all of us do what we can to help communicate the new requirements in order to avoid any travel disruptions.
Elevation, a company hired by the Department of Homeland Security, has created resources through a Web site to help communicate the new WHTI requirements. The Web site, www.GetYouHome.gov, provides free print and video resources, and a host of icons, widgets and other materials that can be used on organization and company Web sites. The Department of Homeland Security is to be commended for its public outreach efforts and using the expertise of the private sector to better spread the word about the new requirements.
Welcoming more international visitors to the country has to be a top priority in this down economy, and we support the WHTI as long as the program balances security with ease of travel across the border. Thanks for doing your part to help make this happen. U.S. Travel will continue to closely monitor WHTI implementation to make certain an appropriate balance is achieved.
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