Until now, U.S. citizens wishing to travel to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean could do so without a passport. All that was required was a birth certificate and some form of positive identification. But starting June 2, 2009, everyone wishing to travel outside the U.S. will need a valid passport to do so.
About three years ago as a response to 911, the U.S. Department of State initiated a program known as the North American Initiative. The North American Initiative requires anyone traveling anywhere outside the U.S. to have a valid passport. However, the State Department was not prepared for the backlash from people wanting to travel and so they have not yet fully implemented the program. That will all change on June 2, 2009 and a passport will be required.
It currently takes about 4-6 weeks to process the application for a new (first time) passport. Renewals take a bit longer, perhaps a week. It seems odd that renewals would take longer but that’s the way it is (due to the processing mechanism). Renewing one’s passport early is important because many countries now require that a visiting traveler’s passport be valid for a length of time beyond the anticipated departure from the country. So let’s say you plan to arrive in Canada on June 1, 2009 and plan to depart back to the U.S. on June 15, 2009 but your passport expires July 1, 2009. In this case you would not be good to go because Canada requires that a passport be valid for 6 months after the planned date of departure. So it is very important to pay attention to the expiration date of your passport.
To get a passport in the first place, two things are required. One is to prove that you are a U.S. citizen and the second is to prove who you are, i.e. your identity. Proving that you are a U.S. citizen requires a certified copy of your birth certificate issued by the state, county or city of birth. Proving that you are who you say you are requires a positive form of identification such as a driver’s license.
Another issue to know about is visas. Here, we are not talking about your credit card but a requirement of some countries such as China which require advanced permission to enter the country. A visa is a stamp which goes in a page on your passport when you enter the country you are visiting.
There are many other nuances of the passport process for travelers to be aware of. For example, did you know that it is possible to add pages to a passport if you are a frequent traveler? The U.S. State Department will do this for free. Also, it is possible to expedite the passport issuance process for a fee. International Passport Visas, Inc. (www.passportvisa.net) can assist you with the expediting process.
A great resource for everything passports and visas is www.travel.state.gov.
Happy traveling!
Greg Duggan, Travel Consultant
Daydream Travel
We Make Dreams Come True
208-390-2661