U.S. Passport Primer: A Guide to the New Passport Regulations
Thanks to new federal passport proposals, the cost of a
Caribbean cruise, a Cancun honeymoon, or a Vancouver theater
weekend could be going up. The security-related changes,
scheduled to take effect over the next 2 1/2 years, will affect
Americans who travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Panama and
Caribbean. Previously, American travelers simply flashed a
driver's license or birth certificate when returning from those
destinations.
Beginning December 31, 2005, re-entry to the U.S. from the
Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America will require a
passport--$97 for adults, $82 for children under 16. On December
31, 2006 passport requirements will go into effect for all air
and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada. And on December 31,
2007, passports will be required for ALL air, sea, and land
border crossings to or from the United States.
A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that
verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. A valid
U.S. passport is required to enter and leave most foreign
countries. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority
to grant, issue or verify United States passports, and the
process can be arduous and time consuming.
Frequently asked questions about passports such as: "When should
I apply?", "Do I have to apply in person?", "What should I do if
my passport is lost or stolen?", "Does my baby need a passport?"
Answers to these questions and hundreds of others can be found
by searching the Internet. Interesting tip--even your pet will
need a passport to enter the European Union.
To obtain a U.S. passport for the first time, you need to go in
person to one of the 6,0000 designated passport application
acceptance facilities nationwide, including many post offices,
Federal and state courts, clerks of court, and a growing number
of public libraries and public colleges and universities. For a
list of the offices closest to you, search by ZIP code on the
State Department website at http://www.iafdb.travel.
state.gov.
You need to bring two identical 2-by-2 inch, full-face,
front-view photographs, and a completed DS-11 application form
(available from one of the 6,000 facilities or at ht
tp://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html)
In addition, you will need a driver's license or
government-issued ID card and proof of citizenship, which in
most cases, is an original or certified birth certificate.
All children under age 14 must also apply for a passport in
person, and both parents or legal guardians must appear together
and sign the child's form (if the second parent submits a
notarized letter of intent, one parent signature is adequate).
Minors age 14 to 17 must also appear in person and for security
reasons, parental consent may be required. And, unlike adults,
children under 14 must apply for renewals in person.
For Americans 16 and older, a first passport costs $97 and is
good for 10 years. Children under the age of 16 require their
own passport which cost $82 and are valid for five years.
Renewals, which can be done by mail, are $67 for both adults and
children.
One of the most often asked questions, "When should I apply for
a passport?" has a simple answer--several months before your
planned trip. If you will need visas from foreign embassies to
enter those countries, allow even more time. Don't wait to get a
passport! Get it now, so you will be ready in case you may need
or want to travel on short notice. The average time from
application to passport arrival is six to eight weeks, and
passport demand goes up during the summer months, so plan
accordingly.
When you receive your passport, remember to sign it in ink and
print your name and address so it may be returned to you if it
is ever lost.