Does my family need passports to travel from the US to the Virgin Islands, etc. or can we use birth cert.?

Answer 1

it would be a good idea to get one with the requirements to neighboring islands tightening up:

New Requirements for Travelers


The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 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 order to facilitate the implementation of this requirement, the Administration is proposing to complete it in phases following a proposed timeline, which will be published in the Federal Register in the near future.

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.
This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement.

if you have further questions, this is how you contact the passport center:

National Passport Information Center


This is the only official U.S. Government website for passport information. If you have a travel emergency, please call the National Passport Information Center to speak to a Customer Service Representative. Website for Passport Information.
Telephone Number: 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778)
TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793. Telephone number for customers with telecommunication devices for the hearing impaired.
Customer Service Representatives and Operators for TDD/TTY are available Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to midnight, Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Automated Information available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have a travel emergency, please call the Center to speak with a customer service representative. Do not e-mail.

Answer 2

Are you a US Citizen? Which Virgin Islands? If it's the US Virgin Islands, then you simply need a US Government issued form of ID (Passport, Driver's License, Military ID, etc.). If it's the British Virgin Islands, they will require passports after 12/31/07 anf it's still recommended that you travel with one anyway - if nothing else, to speed up customs and to make you less suspect.

Answer 3

Depends on when you travel. I live in the virgin islands now and I hear that passports will be mandatory as of 12/31/06 for you to clear customs when you leave the usvi. Until then you can use a birth certificate/ government ID combo.

Answer 4

If you all are US citizens all you will need is a drivers license for identification if not of driving age then a birth certificate is fine. Passports will be required but not mandatory yet. I am a Virgin Islander living in Florida.

Answer 5

lower than the Western Hemisphere commute Initiative (WHTI) The proposed implementation timeline has 2 degrees: starting up January 23, 2007, ALL persons, which includes U.S. voters, vacationing by ability of air between america and Canada, Mexico, critical and South united statesa., the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present day a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast seem after service service Mariner rfile, or an Alien Registration Card, type I-551, if acceptable. As early as January a million, 2008, ALL persons, which includes U.S. voters, vacationing between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, critical and South united statesa., the Caribbean, and Bermuda by ability of land or sea (which includes ferries), will be required to present day a valid passport or different files as determined by ability of the dept of position of starting place protection. at the same time as recent legislative ameliorations let a later time decrease, the Departments of State and position of starting place protection are operating to satisfy all criteria once conceivable. adequate boost observe will be provided to enable the regularly occurring public to receive passports or passport playing cards for land/sea entries. The passport requirement does no longer prepare to U.S. voters vacationing to or returning instantly from a U.S. territory. U.S. voters returning instantly from a U.S. territory are not any more seen to have left america and do not desire to present day a passport. U.S. territories contain right here: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Answer 6

Yes, that is fine. Everyone, including the children will need proper photo I.D. and a raised seal birth certificate.

However, I believe starting in December, about mid-month, passports will be required.

You can also contact your travel agent for this information.

Answer 7

Yes you can use birth certificates but you also need a photo identification for every person that doesn't have a passport. If you have a passport it is only a few seconds quicker.

Answer 8

All that we needed was a copy of our birth cert. and a drivers lic. That is to the US Virgin Islands

Answer 9

I'm from the V.I you can use a picture I.d, Passport or birth certificate Hope you enjoy yourself there.