Ok if anyone knows more than I do about this please correct me. I will be traveling to aruba September 30. I have a friend that would like to come but does not have a passport yet. I have read the recent release that the U.S department of travel has released. Here is what is says: (And I will highlight the important areas, so you dont have to read through it all)

The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced Friday, June 8, that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region, who have applied for, but not yet received passports, can re-enter the United States by air. This accommodation will expire at the end of September, and beginning October 1, 2007, all U.S. Citizens traveling outside the United States will be required to present a valid passport to enter and depart from the United States. This accommodation does not mean that Americans are exempt from meeting the entry requirements of Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region, some of which require a passport, certified birth certificate, or other evidence of citizenship for entry.


U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region who have applied for, but not yet received passports, can re-enter the United States by air by presentation of a government issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through September 30, 2007. The federal government is making this accommodation for air travel due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand. U.S. Citizens who departed the U.S. under this travel accommodation prior to October 1, 2007 with Department of State official proof of application and government-issued identification will be readmitted with these same documents if returning to the United States after September 30.



Ok, so basically it says that if you apply for a passport and have a certain document to show that, and you travel on Sept 30 or before, than you don't need a passport to get back into the united states, and you can leave the country. So from what I understand this comes down to the entry requirements for Aruba. So basically does anyone know if previous to all these new passport laws, or basically still you can enter aruba as a us citizen with the proper documents explained above, and a government issued photo ID, and birth certificate?




Correct me if I am wrong anywhere along my thinking, as I am looking for the right outlook on this whole thing. Thanks in advance!

Are you a U.S. Citizen traveling to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region by air who HAS APPLIED for a passport but has not received it yet?

• If so, go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html and follow the instructions to print out your passport status page. Keep this status page with you during your entire trip for both exit from the U.S. and re-entry to the U.S.
• Next, find out what the entry requirements are for the country you are visiting. In some cases, you may need to contact the Embassy of the country you are visiting.
• Be sure to present the documentation required by the country you are visiting along with your printed passport status page to the airline personnel upon departure and re-entry to the U.S.

Are you a U.S. Citizen traveling to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region by air and you have NOT APPLIED for a passport yet, or, you HAVE NOT APPLIED TO RENEW an expired passport yet?

• If so, access the Passport Page to apply for a new passport or to renew an old passport
• Once your application is in process with the U.S. Department of State (which could take up to 7 to 10 days to track online), you should:
• Go to Checking the Status of Your Application and follow the instructions to print out your passport status page. Keep this status page with you during your entire trip for both exit from the U.S. and re-entry to the U.S.
• Next, find out what the entry requirements are for the country you are visiting. In some cases, you may need to contact the Embassy of the country you are visiting.
• Be sure to present the documentation required by the country you are visiting along with your printed passport status page to the airline personnel upon departure and re-entry to the U.S.

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/c...23.html#affect

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If you travel after Sept 30 you will need a passport.
and beginning October 1, 2007, all U.S. Citizens traveling outside the United States will be required to present a valid passport to enter and depart from the United States.

Passport or proof that one was applied for (till 9/30/07) is needed to reenter the United States.