General Information

Attention: Victoria Travel Customers

Passport Requirements, WHTI UPDATE On September 29, Congress passed language to extend the deadline for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). Here’s what the extension means for passport requirements for U.S. citizens: WHAT'S THE SAME: Air Travel Passport Deadline: Jan. 8, 2007 U.S. citizens will be required to have a valid passport for exiting and reentering the United States starting Jan. 8, 2007 for all air travel. WHAT'S CHANGED: Sea and Land Border Entry Ports Passport/PASS Card Deadline: June 1, 2009 U.S. citizens traveling by sea and land within the Western Hemisphere ‘ Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada and Mexico ‘ will be required to have a valid U.S. passport or a yet-to-be-determined, new economical travel document known as a Passport Card on or before June 1, 2009. IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Congress stipulated that the Departments of State and Homeland Security must meet seven criteria in developing and implementing the PASS card for sea and land ports of entry. If the seven criteria are met within the 17 month extension period, the implementation of WHTI becomes effective three months after the criteria is approved, or by June 1, 2009; whichever is earlier. In other words, the June 1, 2009 implementation date for WHTI may be moved back if the agencies can comply with the seven specifications set out by the Congress in the extension legislation. The U.S. Department of State’s Office of Passport Services reports that 70 million U.S. citizens now have passports. U.S. Passport Services is receiving 225,000-250,000 passport applications a week, which is up 60 percent from two years ago. The current turn around period for obtaining a U.S. passport remains at four to six weeks. ASTA continues to urge all U.S. citizens to apply for a U.S. passport, which will ease travelers confusion on what document is required and when.

Present Requirements as follows:

You must have your name, first and last, exactly as it appears on your proof of citizenship on all travel documents. You can no longer use nicknames or part of a name. You could be denied boarding an aircraft or cruise ship, or denied entry into a foreign country.

Mexico Travel

Documentation

Passenger must present a valid Passport for all air travel in and out of Mexico.

There are special requirements for children traveling to Mexico. Minors under 18 years of age must travel with the consent of both parents. If a minor is traveling with only one parent, that parent must hold a notarized letter of consent from the absent parent or a copy of the legal document giving that parent sole custody. If one parent is deceased, a copy of the death certificate is required. If a minor is traveling without legal parents, a notarized letter of consent must be submitted and signed by the legal parents. Children do not need a photo ID with their birth certificate if they are under 18 years of age and traveling with their legal guardian. All children, including infants require a birth certificate. There are special requirements for children traveling without at least one parent to the Dominican Republic. Please check with your travel agent if there are questions about citizenship requirements. FAILURE TO POSSESS REQUIRED DOCUMENTS MAY RESULT IN DENIED BOARDING. IN MOST CASES THERE IS NO REFUND MADE FOR YOUR TRIP.

Cruising

Documentation

Passenger must present drivers license and certified birth certificate or valid Passport.

Name on wife's drivers license must have MAIDEN middle name or she must carry her marriage certificate.

Victoria Travel recommends that all travelers procure a passport as soon as possible. Passports will become the only acceptable form of identification when traveling abroad very soon. Not only will you need a passport to enter most foreign countries but you will certainly need one to re-enter the United States. Passport Applications can be found on the Passport Application link found on this website.

ARE YOU CRIMINALLY INADMISSIBLE TO CANADA?

If you have been charged or convicted of any crime, including driving while impaired, you may be prohibited from entering Canada to visit, work, study or immigrate.

In general, people are considered to be inadmissible to Canada due to past criminal activity if they were convicted of an offence in Canada or were convicted of an offence outside of Canada that is considered a crime in Canada. In order to enter Canada in the future, these people need to obtain a Temporary Resident Permit or Approval of Rehabilitation at a Canadian Consulate or Embassy. You will find an application form and further information about the application process below.

Please read the information below carefully before submitting an application form for Rehabilitation or Temporary Resident Permit.

Are you deemed rehabilitated?

You may be deemed rehabilitated if at least 10 years have passed since the completion of the sentence imposed for your crime, including any probation period. For example if you were convicted of driving under the influence it must be at least 10 years since your full driving privileges were restored and the probation period, if any, has ended.

To be eligible you must usually only have one conviction and the conviction must be of a less serious nature, that in Canada would have been punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of fewer than 10 years.

You may be deemed rehabilitated at a port of entry without submitting an application or paying any fee. However if you are not certain that you are deemed rehabilitated or would prefer to be deemed rehabilitated before your planned trip to Canada, you may apply for rehabilitation at our office and submit a non-refundable processing fee. You must apply well in advance of your trip as routine applications can take six months to process.

If you do meet the requirements for deemed rehabilitation we will send you a letter to that effect. If not, and you are eligible to apply for permanent rehabilitation, we will consider your application for rehabilitation.

Were you convicted as a juvenile?

In Canada, a juvenile offender is someone who is 12 years of age or older but less than 18 years of age. If you were convicted for an act committed when you were under 18 years of age it is possible that you are not criminally inadmissible.

Do you have criminal convictions in Canada?

If you have a criminal conviction in Canada, you must seek a pardon from the National Parole Board of Canada before you will be admissible to Canada. Do not complete the form on this website. You can request a guide on the approval for rehabilitation or any additional information from the following address:

Clemency and Pardons Division, National Parole Board
410 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1A 0R1

Telephone: 1-800-874-2652
(Callers from Canada and the United States only)
Fax: 1-613-941-4981

Web: http://www.npb-cnlc.gc.ca
(The guide, which contains the application form, can be downloaded from this site)

If you are traveling to Canada carry a copy of the pardon with you.

If you have had only two summary convictions in Canada, you may be deemed rehabilitated and no longer inadmissible to Canada if:

• - 5 years have passed since the sentence imposed was served or to be served
• - you have had no subsequent convictions and
• - you have not been refused a pardon.

Is your foreign pardon recognized in Canada?

If you received a pardon or expungement for your conviction in a country other than Canada it is possible that you are no longer inadmissible to Canada. You should carry the pardon or expungement documents with you when you seek entry into Canada as it is your responsibility to demonstrate to the officer at the Port of Entry that all of your convictions have been expunged or pardoned.

Are you eligible to apply for rehabilitation?

You may apply for rehabilitation if at least five years have passed since the completion of the sentence imposed for your crime, including any probation period. For example if you were convicted of driving under the influence it must be at least five years since your full driving privileges were restored and the probation period, if any, has ended.

You may apply for permanent rehabilitation at our office. You must apply well in advance of your planned trip to Canada as routine applications can take six months to process. Non-routine applications can take up to two years to process. If you have genuine, compelling reasons to enter Canada within a shorter time frame, please enclose a letter which explains your reasons in detail and states the date by which you need to enter Canada. In evaluating the application we will look for evidence that you have taken steps to change your behaviour and will no longer pose a potential danger to Canadians.

What is a temporary resident permit?

If you are not deemed rehabilitated or you are not yet eligible for rehabilitation or you are not eligible for a pardon in Canada, you may apply for a temporary resident permit. If justified by compelling circumstances, foreign nationals who are inadmissible to Canada, including people who have a criminal conviction, may be issued a temporary resident permit allowing them to enter or remain in Canada.

You must apply well in advance of your planned trip to Canada as routine applications can take six months to process. If you have genuine, compelling reasons to enter Canada within a shorter time frame, please enclose a letter which explains your reasons in detail and states the date by which you need to enter Canada. In evaluating your application, we will weigh your reasons for seeking entry against the potential risk to Canadians.

If you are not sure of the steps to follow in your specific circumstances, you may send us an enquiry by email, fax or mail and we will advise you further

Call Victoria Travel today at 361-578-9051

or

Call Toll Free at 866-656-9051