Documents Required to Fly to Mexico and Canada

getawaytips.azcentral.com

by Rita Kennedy, Demand Media 

(Photo: Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images )

Canada and Mexico are the United States’ nearest neighbors and many Americans will cross the northern and southern borders at some point. Although both Canada and Mexico are part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, regulations for air travel are tougher than those for crossing land and sea borders. Ensure you have the correct documentation before you travel to avoid problems or delays during your trip.

Passport Book

A passport book is the one identification document you can use at all international borders, including when traveling by air. This is true for all travelers, including children under the age of 16. If you are a citizen of a country other than the United States, your national passport is an acceptable form of identification for travel between the United States and both Canada and Mexico.

Passport Card

Although the State Department advises that passport cards are not an appropriate form of identification to fly to Canada or Mexico, Mexican immigration regulations do allow you to use a passport card to enter the country by air. However, although your passport card is valid for returning to the United States by land or sea, you won’t be able to use it to return by air, making a passport book a more practical option. You cannot use a passport card to fly to Canada, although it is valid for land and sea border crossings.

NEXUS Card

NEXUS is a joint U.S.-Canadian project that aims to streamline the border-crossing process. The NEXUS membership card includes a radio-frequency identification unique to you, and if you consent to undergoing an iris-capture procedure, you can use it to enter Canada by air. You’ll have to undergo law enforcement and criminal history checks in both countries as part of your NEXUS application, but your card will expedite your entry into Canada.

Traveling With Children

If you’re traveling with a child that’s not yours or are alone with your own child, U.S. Customs and Border Protection strongly recommends carrying a parental note. If the child’s parents are not present, both should sign it, while for a child traveling with one parent, the absent parent should sign. The note should read, “I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter/group. He/She/They has/have my permission to do so.” Although carrying this document is not a legal requirement, if you can’t show it, Customs and Border Protection staff could detain you until they can verify that the child has permission to leave the United States

What Documents are Needed on a Cruise to Mexico?

getawaytips.azcentral.com

by Leah Waldron, Demand Media 

(Photo: Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images )

The cruise line has you covered when it comes to extra sunscreen, bathing suits and cameras, but if you forget the correct travel documentation, you might be left at port. If you're cruising to Mexico from a U.S. port, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Department requires government-issued documentation for adults, children and infant travelers.

One-Way Cruises

As of 2009, U.S. cruise travelers must carry a U.S. passport if they take a non-closed loop cruise with at least one foreign destination. A non-closed loop cruise is a fancy way of saying a one-way cruise. Rarely, a cruise will depart from one port and drop you off in another location. This is usually the case for longer cruises with multiple port stops. If this is the case, all travelers, including infants and children, must show a U.S. passport in order to board the cruise. For information on obtaining or renewing a U.S. passport, visit the U.S. Department of State website.

Round-Trip Cruises

If your Mexican cruise departs from and returns to one port, such as Miami, you are on a closed-loop, or round-trip, cruise. The required documentation for closed-loop Mexico cruises varies by age. Adults (16 years of age and older) must present a government-issued photo I.D., such as a driver's license. A child traveler (under the age of 16) must show a state-issued original birth certificate or copy. If this is not available, you can also provide a certificate of naturalization or a consular report of birth abroad. If an infant's birth certificate is not yet available, cruise lines will accept a hospital-issued birth certificate.

Non-U.S. Travelers

Non-U.S. citizens must show a passport from their country of origin before traveling on any cruise to Mexico. Cruise travelers who are currently in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) might not be eligible for cruise travel to Mexico. For more information on VWP travel requirements, visit the U.S. Department of State website.

Tips

Mexican cruises often have port stops in the Caribbean. If this is the case, you might need additional documentation. Some Caribbean islands require U.S. passports for port visits. If you are obtaining a U.S. passport for the first time, allow for lengthy processing time, or be prepared to pay a premium for expedited service.

Mexico Travel Documents

WHTI-Compliant Documents for Travel to Mexico

By Suzanne Barbezat

gomexico.about.com

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative has made passports mandatory for air travel between the United States and Mexico, but for travel by land and sea there are a few different travel documents which are acceptable. Find out what identification and travel documents are valid for travel to Mexico for U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, Canadians, and citizens of other countries.

U.S. citizens:

Passport
A passport is hands-down the best form of identification and proof of citizenship. I recommend that you get a passport for travel to Mexico, and if you'll be entering the country by air, it's necessary. If for some reason you are unable or you do not want to get a passport, for travel to Mexico by land or sea the following documents are acceptable travel documents for US citizens:

• Passport card
  Issued by the U.S. Department of State, this passport substitute is credit-card sized and valid for entry into Mexico by land or sea. The passport card is not accepted for air travel. Read more about passport cards, and find out how to apply for one.
• Enhanced Drivers License
  Enhanced Drivers Licenses are proof of citizenship and identity. These special drivers licenses are valid for travel to Mexico by land or sea, but are not valid for air travel. Only available in some states (Michigan, New York, Vermont, and Washington). See individual state licensing departments for more info.
• SENTRI Card
  The SENTRI Card is issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to pre-approved travelers who cross the U.S./Mexico border frequently. It has the added benefit of access to dedicated commuter lanes for crossing the border. The card is valid for 5 years.
• FAST card
  The FAST card provides expedited travel to pre-approved commercial truck drivers between the U.S. and Canada, and U.S. and Mexico borders through dedicated lanes.

U.S. Permanent Residents:
For permanent residents of the United States, the I-551 Permanent Resident card is required for return to the U.S. For entry into Mexico, you will need to present a passport.

Canadian citizens:
As of March 1, 2010, a passport is required for Canadian citizens traveling to Mexico.

Citizens of other countries: 
Passport, and in some cases, a visa as well.

I'm Canadian - do I need a passport to travel to Mexico?

about.com

By Suzanne Barbezat

Question: I'm Canadian - do I need a passport to travel to Mexico?

 

The U.S. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is phasing in passport requirements for travel between the U.S., Canada and Mexico. How does this affect Canadians planning to travel to Mexico?

Answer: 

As of March 1st, 2010, all Canadian citizens need a valid passport to enter Mexico. Canadian citizens without a valid passport will not be allowed entry into Mexico and will be returned to Canada.

Canadian permanent residents need to present a Resident Card, Certificate of Identity, or Refugee Travel Document. Airlines may refuse to allow boarding to travelers who do not carry sufficient identification.
A passport is the best form of international identification and having one can help prevent hassles! Here is the official take on the matter from Passport Canada's Web Site.

Medical Travel Tips For A Successful Experience

Posted by Dr. Santiago Hernandez, October 10, 2013
chapalamed.com
 

 

Medical travel in Mexico is becoming increasingly popular for a number of reasons. The standard of service is as good as or better than your local hospital, yet the cost is far less expensive and you get the opportunity to visit and recuperate in tropical surroundings. However, like any hospital or holiday, medical tourism is not without its mishaps, so to ensure you have a positive experience in Mexico here are some tips you should follow through before booking medical travel.

Research the hospital

Medical travel is a little different to your average holiday and you want to ensure that nothing goes wrong. But it is also quite natural for patients to feel some apprehension therefore by thoroughly researching the medical facility where you will receive your treatment you will avoid the stress and it will give you peace of mind.

Read reviews left by other patients on online travel sites such as TripAdvisor and see what other people are saying about their experience, the professionalism of the hospital staff and the standard of the equipment used in the hospital. To give some measure against the information you find, the majority of medical facilities in Mexico use state of the art equipment, are extremely clean and employ English speaking staff.

Questions to ask before booking medical travel

When enquiring about medical travel you want to make sure that the agency and medical facility you use are going to provide you with everything you require. Some medical procedures can be very stressful so you need to ensure that the travel package caters for your every need so that you have nothing to worry about other than the success of the operation.

You need to know that the procedure you need can be performed, how long it takes, what experience the doctor has and what aftercare you will receive. Bear in mind that aftercare is often essential after a medical procedure and you should expect it to be included in the package.

Accommodation is important on any holiday and you will want to know what facilities there are at the hospital. This may be crucial to your recuperation process depending on the type of surgery you have undertaken. Ideally you want to be accommodated in a quiet, peaceful hotel preferably with a spa.

Keep your doctor in the know

Before you have any surgery it is always best to tell your GP – especially if you are considering medical travel overseas. It is advisable to consult with your local doctor to ask his opinion about medical travel and for him to confirm you are safe to travel. Keeping your doctor up-to-date with your medical history also allows him or her to prepare for any post-treatment care once you return home. You also need to ask your doctor for a copy of your medical records to take with you.

To avoid unnecessary stress it is also a good idea to prepare our documents ahead of your journey. Make sure your passport is still valid and apply for visa. Take photocopies of each and keep them separate. You may also need a valid driving license. Follow this advice and you will enjoy a successful medical travel experience.