The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has recently announced new regulations which require cruise lines to provide final passenger manifests 60 minutes prior to departure from U.S. ports. To ensure compliance, passengers are required to provide complete and accurate passenger immigration details in advance of the embarkation date or risk being denied boarding.
Passengers who fail to provide complete and accurate information prior to embarkation must complete check-in at least 90 minutes prior to the ship’s scheduled departure time or they will be denied boarding.

  Passport Regulations 
All persons entering or re-entering the U.S. to show proof of citizenship.

Proof of citizenship can be accomplished by presenting a valid passport, an original or certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate, or an original copy of your certificate of citizenship or naturalization. We recommend a passport because it is the only document that proves both your citizenship and your identity. Passport book may be used for land/sea crossings only, not air.

Second: The Department of State, the agency of the Federal Government that issues passports, issued new rules regarding the new passport card on December 31, 2007. Here is a summary of everything covered in the new regulations. As you will see, there are more rules to be issued in the future telling citizens when and how the State Department will begin issuing passport cards. When and how the State Department will begin issuing the passport cards is not yet known.
The State Department will issue passport cards. The official name of the document will be "passport cards." State will continue to issue "passport books" which up until now we have known as a "passport."

The passport card is valid only for passage through land and sea ports between the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The passport card cannot be used for flights into or out of the U.S.

The passport card will be issued to citizens in all 50 states but it is exclusively for use for land and sea entrance to the U.S. Passport cards cannot be used for international air travel.

Passport cards can be used for identification for domestic flights. Remember: the passport card can be used as government-issued proof of identity and proof of citizenship. So, if you do not have a driver’s license and need identification for passing through security for domestic travel, you can use your passport card for proof of identity instead of presenting your driver’s license.

Passport cards have the same validity as passport books – 10 years for adults 16 and over and 5 years for children under 16.

Citizens will be able to apply for a passport card at any acceptance agent on the same basis as a regular passport.

Passport books must be signed on the signature page by the passport holder to be valid. Passport cards do not have to be signed to be valid.

The passport cards will be able to be scanned at U.S. borders when a person is in the vicinity of an electronic reader that will be operated by U.S. border control officials. The chip in the card contains only one item of information – a unique identifying number that has meaning only inside the secure database of the State Department and Homeland Security Department. There is no personal information such as name, date of birth, social security number, etc. stored electronically on the chip. So, if someone did pick up the signal, they would not be able to use the data to learn anything about the holder.

Persons who have a valid passport book (Remember: a “passport book” means a person who has a “passport”) and who are applying for a passport card (in addition to holding a valid passport) are not required to pay the execution fee. Thus, persons with a valid passport who also want a passport card can apply for $20.

The government may permit alternative documentation for land crossings such as driver’s licenses issued by states that have established methods for determining citizenship acceptable to the Federal government. Several states have already submitted proposals to the Federal government. This matter will be addressed in subsequent regulations issued by the Federal government.

New forms allow applying for a passport book and/or a passport card:   

The application form for applying for a new passport has been amended so that applicants can check whether they are applying for a passport book (the traditional passport), a passport card or both.  The new Application for Passport form DS 11, which is the same number as it has been previously, must be used for all persons applying after February 1, 2008.

The passport card is not valid for travel by air.  It is valid only for land and sea crossings between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean region.  The passport card has the same validity as the passport book: 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors under 16.

Also, effective February 1, 2008, there are new forms that must be used for passport renewals, adding pages to a passport book, name changes and parental consent for a minor under 16 to apply for a passport. 

Change in the age for parental consent and issuance of passports to minor children:   

Effective February 1, 2008, both parents must appear or sign consent forms for a child under 16 to apply for a passport.  Formerly, the requirement for both parents to consent was for children under 14.  It is now required for children under 16.

Effective February 1, 2008, a parent may request that their minor children’s (under 18) names be entered in the U.S. Passport name-check system.  Once entered into the system, the program known as the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) will notify the parent if a passport application is submitted in behalf of his/her minor child(ren), and will deny the issuance of a passport if there is an appropriate court order on file with the CPIAP.

 

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New restrictions for carrying loose lithium batteries in checked and carry-on luggage went into effect January 1, 2008. The new rules have been implemented to help reduce the risk of battery fires. Under the new rules:

* Passengers will no longer be able to pack loose lithium batteries in checked luggage
* Passengers can take two loose batteries in carry-on baggage but only if each battery is in a separate resealable plastic bag or in its original packaging
* Common electronics (cameras, cell phones, laptop computers) are still allowed in both carry-on and checked luggage with their lithium batteries inside them.

Complete information can be found on the Transportation Security Administration web site (http://www.tsa.gov/) under "In The News."

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS:

Effective Oct. 1, 2007, U.S. Citizens traveling by air to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda must present a passport or other WHTI-compliant documentation to enter or depart from the United States. It is always strongly recommended that U.S. Citizens verify the specific documentary requirements for their destination country.

Cruise Travel:

As early as January 1, 2008, subject to US Government amendment, passports will be required for cruise travel to/from all international destinations including the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central & South America. Based in personal need or circumstances that may interrupt your cruise experience, we strongly recommend that all be in the possession of a valid passport prior to taking a cruise, especially after Jan. 1, 2007. You will not be allowed to fly back to USA if circumstances warrant it without a passport.

For additional passport information visit the State Department's website or call one of the travel consultants at Oasis Travel.

Liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers and in a one-quart, zip-top bag for carry-on baggage. Larger sizes may be packed in checked baggage. TSA allowed items

With certain exceptions for prescription and over-the-counter medicines, baby formula and breast milk, and other essential liquids, gels, and aerosols, the following rules apply to all liquids, gels, and aerosols you want to carry through a security checkpoint.

1. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be three ounces or smaller.

2. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. (Medicine may be in additional bag, but only 1 bag for cosmetics, etc.)

3. Each traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening. X-raying separately will allow TSA security officers to more easily examine the declared items.

Please keep in mind that these rules were developed after extensive research and understanding of current threats. They are intended to help air travelers bring essential toiletries and other liquids, gels and aerosols for short trips. If you need larger amounts of liquids, gels and aerosols such as toothpaste or shampoo, please place them in your luggage and check them with your airline.
To ensure the health and welfare of certain air travelers there are no limits on the amounts of the following liquids, gels and aerosols you may carry through a security checkpoint:

* Baby formula and breast milk if a baby or small child is traveling;

* All prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including KY jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes;

* Liquids including water, juice, or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or medical condition;

* Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs;

* Items used to augment the body for medical or cosmetic reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and,

* Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medically related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.

You are not limited in the amount or volume of these above items you may bring in your carry-on baggage. However, if these items are in containers larger than three ounces, please perform the following:

1. Separate these items from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size and zip-top bag.

2. Declare you have the items to one of our Security Officers at the security checkpoint.

3. Present these items for additional inspection once reaching the X-ray. These items are subject to additional screening.

Steps have been taken to ensure the security boarding areas after you pass through our security checkpoints. Therefore, any liquid, gel, or aerosol such as coffee or soda purchased in the secure area after you process through a security checkpoint is allowed aboard your plane.

You are permitted to bring solid cosmetics and personal hygiene items as such lipstick, lip balm and similar solids.
Please prepare for the screening pocess before you arrive at the airport. Follow the guidelines above and try not to over-think these guidelines. Please pack liquids, gels, and aerosols in your checked baggage.
In addition to liquids, gels, and aerosols numerous other potentially dangerous items (lighters, etc.) are not permitted in carry-on baggage. We strongly encourage travelers to read more about previously prohibited items to avoid complications during screening.
This security regimen applies to all domestic and international flights departing U.S. airports. Travelers should, however, check with transportation security authorities in their country-of-origin for flights originating at non-U.S. airports.

Japan: Revised immigration law goes into effect!
Authorities in Japan have begun enforcing a new immigration law that requires foreigners older than 16 to be photographed and fingerprinted when they enter the country at airports and seaports. Fingerprints and other biometric data are to be stored and checked against databases of past deportees and suspects wanted by Japanese police or Interpol. Japan is the second country after the U.S. to introduce such a system of collecting biometric information from visitors.