New Passport Policy

skydiveblake · Since 28 Jun 2006 63 Posts San Diego

From the US Passport web site: travel.state.gov

New Requirements for Travelers

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. In order to facilitate the implementation of this requirement, the Administration is proposing to complete it in phases following a proposed timeline, which will be published in the Federal Register in the near future.

In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline will be as follows:

January 8, 2007 - Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
January 1, 2008 - Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.
This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement.

Mark · Mon Sep 25, 06 2:51 pm

Interesting side note....
Less than 5% of Americans have a passport!

Ps it takes many weeks to get one. If you are planning to travel in Jan. You should be getting the paperwork going.

Mark

wylieflyote · Mon Sep 25, 06 4:01 pm

Yikes! I thought they rolled back the entire policy until '08. Now I see that we need this by '07 for air travel. My wife still needs one. When I flew to Barra de Navidad, Mx last winter my passport arrived THE EVENING BEFORE MY FLIGHT. The process takes 6 weeks exactly to the day, no more, no less. You can pay extra for an excellerated process that takes I think a week. They will take away your birth cert while the passport is in process, so you can't go anywhere.

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

Anyone know how long it takes to renewe a passport, or the URL to get it going?

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

Jim,

I renewed here earlier this year...

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/renew/renew_833.html

They have a link to the expedited service as well, it costs a bit more than regular but can be worth it in a jam!

wylieflyote · Mon Sep 25, 06 6:22 pm

At the site there's a link showing you where to go to drop the form off to start the process. And a pdf file to get you started filling out the form. Some sites will take your picture for you, other places you need to bring one. Here in Tacoma at the county city building they will take the picture for you which saves some of the hassle. I imagine Portland has the same service available.

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

Kinko's also does it...just bring in the printed PDF, but be sure the camera guy follows the size directions to a T!

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

Thanks for the link Colby.