Free travel widget helps plan trips abroad and return to the United States
As you make your vacation plans for the holidays, you may wish to check out a new desktop widget that U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") has recently launched. You can input the destination and the date of your trip and it will then provide you with the weather and a countdown of days until your departure. More importantly, the widget will also remind you of the appropriate immigration documents necessary to obtain before you leave so that you may re-enter the United States.
CBP is trying to do more outreach concerning the "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" known as "WHTI." WHTI requires American and Canadian travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the United States. As Californians, we have been used to going to Mexico and then returning with nothing more than a regular driver's license. This is no longer possible. WHTI is already in effect for travel though all air ports and will be effective June, 1, 2009 for all land and sea ports.
I tested the widget out by entering a date for a trip to Mexico. I wish I was going!
You may download the widget at the CBP's website link for WHTI appropriately entitled "getyouhome."
