Despite predictions of delays and traffic jams, it was business as usual at dozens of border crossings and airports around the country in the days after new passport rules went into effect.
At entry points from Buffalo to Detroit to San Diego to Hidalgo, Texas, long lines failed to materialize and more than 95 percent of travelers came through prepared and armed with the correct documents, according to border officials.
June 1 was the deadline for compliance with the final phase of the Department of Homeland Security’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which requires U.S. citizens re-entering the United States from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean to have official proof of identity when crossing the border.
Travelers entering by land or sea from these regions must have a new passport “card,” an EDL (enhanced driver’s license), a Trusted Traveler card, or a full passport. Those who are flying can only use a full passport to re-enter the U.S.
Before the new rules went into effect, land and sea-based travelers were only required to show a birth certificate plus a form of government-issued photo I.D such as a driver’s license.
Immigration officers say the newer documents actually help speed travelers across the border (by a factor of eight to 12 seconds per vehicle), because their embedded microchips make them quicker and easier to scan.
Of the small percentage of travelers who were unprepared, most didn’t have time to apply before they left for vacations across the border, or had to leave the country unexpectedly for family emergencies, for example.
In the run-up to the deadline, passport offices and agencies were mobbed with applicants and processing times soared from four weeks to six or more weeks. The backlog is mostly gone now, according to the State Department officials, though they advise applicants to use the expedited service if they need new documents in a hurry.
Despite the new rules, border officials say they do not intend to turn people away at the border any time soon. They will observe a grace period during the summer to allow people to get accustomed to the new rules, during which time travelers will be allowed to return to the U.S. with minimal hassle.
This was evident over the last few days, when travelers lacking the new forms of ID were merely subjected to a few minutes of extra screening and questioning by border guards to verify their citizenship.
After the grace period, it is possible that someone could be turned away and refused entry. At that point they would most likely have to head to the nearest US embassy or consulate to apply for the correct documents.
There is one ironic discrepancy with passport rules that can be confusing for some people: Americans don’t need a passport or enhanced ID to get into Canada or Mexico, but they do need one to get back to the U.S.
By Karen Elowitt for Peter Greenberg.com
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