Starting Jan. 31, 2008, new regulations for border crossings will take effect.
Citizens of the United States and Canada ages 19 or older will have to present a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license) along with proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate) in order to enter or depart the U.S. by land or sea. Children ages 18 and
younger need proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
The requirements also apply to Americans driving or sailing to and from Mexico, and to those traveling by sea to and from Bermuda and the Caribbean.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the new rules end the practice of "accepting oral declarations of citizenship alone." Details at http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/.
