The State Department has recently announced new regulations that change the types of identification required for international travel. Many of the locations that previously were accessible using simply birth certificates and/or photo IDs will require passports in the future.  In fact, by the end of December, 2007 a Government issued Passport will be required for all boarder crossings into and out of the US.  

The new passport requirements will be strictly enforced and are scheduled to take effect as follows:

• As of Dec. 31, 2006, Passports will now be required for all air and sea travel to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central America, South America, Mexico and Canada.
• As of Dec. 31, 2007, the requirements become much simpler: all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel across boarders will require passports..

For detailed infomration on international travel requirements as well as  information on how to obtain a passport, we suggest that you visit the department of state travel website at:  http://www.travel.state.gov/