Citizenship: Oral Declarations Will No Longer Be Sufficient at U.S. Border
As most know, United States citizens as well as Canadian and Bermudian citizens who are entering the United States by land or sea ports-of-entry are required to establish their identity and citizenship to the satisfaction of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer. Most do so by providing some documentary such as a passport or a birth certificate. However, it has also been possible for some to be admitted into the U.S. simply by orally declaring their citizenship.
No more. On December 21, 2007, the CBP amended its field guidance procedures to instruct its officers that citizenship may no longer ordinarily be established based on someone’s say so.
According to the Notice which is effective January 31, 2008, all travelers will be expected to present documents proving citizenship, such as a birth certificate, and government-issued
documents proving identity, such as a driver's license, when entering the United States through land and sea ports of entry.
