American citizens won't be required to show a passport for crossing land borders until next summer, delaying the requirement by more than a year. Those traveling across borders by air or sea are already required to show passports, and the land travel requirements were supposed to have gone into effect but have been delayed several times.

The new identification document requirements as required by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State, will go into effect on June 1, 2009. The departments announced the decision to push back the deadline Thursday this week.

When the new requirements go into effect, American travelers will need to show both identification and citizenship to cross back from Mexico and Canada. What this means for most people is that they'll need a passport.

The land travel requirements constitute the final step of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), that changes document rquierments for travelers who were previously exempt - including citizens of the US, Canada, and Bermuda. Travel to US territories does not require a passport.

Citizens now have approximately 14 months to sign up for a passport. Registering now as opposed to closer to the deadline may save you the hassle of longer waits.