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Travel within United States and USVI
Unaffected by Western Hemisphere Initiative
ST THOMAS, USVI: The United States Government’s recently announced Western
Hemisphere Travel Initiative does not impact travel requirements between the US
and its territories, including the United States Virgin Islands.
This is welcome news for the vast number of US travelers currently enjoying
business and leisure visits to the popular US Virgin Islands (St Croix, St John
and St Thomas).
Effective December 31, 2006, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative passed by
the US Congress requires that all travelers -- including U.S. citizens -- who
travel to and from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda must travel with a
passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and
nationality, in order to enter or re-enter the United States.
The goal is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United
States for US citizens and foreign visitors.
“The US Virgin Islands is pleased to maintain its welcoming position as
America’s Caribbean,” stated Commissioner of Tourism, Pamela Richards. “We are
committed to ensuring that visits to the Territory’s islands of St Croix, St
John and St Thomas are as comfortable, pleasant and secure as possible for our
guests.”
When traveling outside the United States or a US territory, a passport or other
proof of citizenship document is required. A person currently may travel to and
from the United States to the US Virgin Islands without a passport or other
document, but under proposed regulations, would be required to have this
documentation in order to re-enter the US Virgin Islands from the British Virgin
Islands or another country.
According to the Initiative, US citizens traveling to the United States Virgin
Islands, as well as to Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and
American Samoa will continue to be able to use established forms of
identification to board flights, and for entry to the region. |
