New Passport law!!!

[kmom235678]

Not sure how to understand this new passport law anyone have a clue on how to read this too many dates to understand it right......Any one that know just how to read this new law I could use the help would hate to go spend 400$ on passport if we don't need to.

 

 

The travel initiative requirements 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 implementation timeline is as follows:

 

December 31, 2005 – Passport or other accepted document required for all travel (air/sea) to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America.

December 31, 2006 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.

December 31, 2007 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air, sea and land border crossings.

 

What is the new travel document requirement?

 

All travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Canada or Mexico will be required to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior travel requirements. The goal is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors. This new requirement will be known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

 

Who does this requirement affect?

 

All United States citizens traveling within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports will be affected.

 

Certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States, namely most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and Mexican citizens will also be affected.

 

When will the new travel initiative requirement be implemented?

 

The travel initiative requirements 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 is as follows:

 

December 31, 2005 – Passport or other accepted document required for all travel (air/sea) to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America.

December 31, 2006 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.

December 31, 2007 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air, sea and land border crossings.

How Do I get a passport?

 

U.S. citizens may visit the Passport section of this website for information on how to apply for a U.S. passport.

 

You should allow yourself a sufficient amount of time to apply and receive your passport in advance of travel. Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing of U.S. passport applications.

 

Peak U.S. passport processing is between January and July. For faster service, we recommend applying between August and December.

 

Foreign nationals should contact their respective governments to obtain passports.

 

Other than a passport, what types of documents will be acceptable under this initiative?

 

The passport is the document of choice because of the incorporated advanced security features. Individuals traveling to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico or Canada are encouraged to obtain a passport.

 

For land border crossings, other documents that we anticipate will be acceptable under this Initiative are SENTRI, NEXUS and FAST program cards. These are current international frequent traveler programs.

 

We anticipate that the Border Crossing Card (BCC – also known as “laser visa”) will also be acceptable as a substitute for a passport and a visa for citizens of Mexico traveling to the United States from contiguous territory.

 

No other document is currently available that will be an acceptable substitute for the passport, or the Border Crossing Card, SENTRI, NEXUS or FAST cards. However, we are using new technologies to create other acceptable travel documents. We will make public additional travel document options as they become available.

 

Why is the U.S. Government going to require a passport or other secure identity document?

 

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) mandated that the U.S. Secretaries of Homeland Security and State develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport or other appropriate secure identity and citizenship documentation when entering the United States.

 

For many years U.S. citizens, and some citizens of other countries in the Western Hemisphere including Canadians, have not been required to present a passport to enter the U.S. Other forms of documents, less secure than the passport, have historically been accepted.

 

In light of the new security efforts, the United States is requiring travelers to have a passport or other accepted document for entry into the United States.

 

Can the general public provide input into the planning and implementation the travel initiative requirements?

 

The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), and State (DOS) are issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) in the Federal Register to provide vital information on the plan to the public and request input and/or comment on the suggested documents and possible alternative documents that can meet the statutory requirements. DHS and DOS expect to issue a more formal rule later this year following review of those comments to implement the first phase of the Initiative. This rule will take into account comments received as well as soliciting further comments on the rulemaking itself.

 

The government expects that acceptable documents must establish the citizenship and identity of the bearer through electronic data verification and will include significant security features. Ultimately, all documents used for travel to the United States are expected to include biometrics that can be used to authenticate the document and verify identity.

 

How will the new travel initiative requirements impact travel at the land borders?

 

The Departments of State and Homeland Security understand that the greatest potential change will occur at the land borders. The new statute specifically mandates that the concerns of border communities be considered. We recognize the implications this might have for industry, business and the general public, as well as our neighboring countries, and they are important partners in this initiative. The advanced notice of proposed rule making will allow these affected publics to voice concern and provide ideas for alternate documents.

[ladycaveat]

If you go to your local Post Office or Court House . . . you can obtain a Passport (with required ID) for $75.00.

[greatam]

You did not say where you are cruising. That would help answer your question.

 

If you are an American citizen, and you cruise after Dec. 31, 2005 to the Caribbean, South and Central America, you are required to have a passport to re-enter the US.

 

Same goes for Mexico and Canada, but the effective date is Dec. 31, 2006.

 

After Dec. 31, 2007, EVERY US citizen who enters the US MUST have a passport. It is my understanding that there are NO exceptions. If you are a US citizen, and you leave the US by any method, you must have a passport to re-enter.

 

Passport fee for first timers is now $97.00. This was taken off the State Department website.

 

Passport Fees

 

March 8, 2005

 

Routine Services (Form DS-11)

Non-Refundable

 

Age 16 and older: The passport fee is $55. The security surcharge is $12. The execution fee is $30. The total is $97.

 

Under Age 16: The passport fee is $40. The security surcharge is $12. The execution fee is $30. The total is $82.

[Happy ks]

It's hard to tell if you're asking a question or answering your own here, your post was a bit confusing. These regulations are not new news, there have been several posts about them now for weeks. But, it is good to bring the subject to the forefront, new CCrs (or people who have not visited for a while) may not have known about the new legislation.

 

First off, the guidelines are quite clear, it may take a couple of reads and be hard to memorize, but the dates are specific.

 

The costs are correct that greatam wrote, ladycaveat, better check your source!

 

If you have a hard time affording passports in one chunk, apply in intervals, one a month or every other month, to spread the cost out a bit.

I would allow the full 6 weeks now for processing, if you know in advance you will need them, don't wait and suffer the extra cost of expediting. Even if you are not planning to cruise within the next year or so, it would be a great idea to take care of it now, there is no way of telling how long the backlog will be closer to the deadline.

[traveller99]

Hi, kmom235678. Two Questions -

#1. Where are you sailing to?

#2. What are you're dates of sailing? - From "X" to "Y"?

 

We'll figure it out from there. Other than that, get passports soon. I understand the rush has already begun.

[debbiebierman]

Sailing to So. Carribbean In Jan 21,2006.

We have a pretty large group going. And this is the first time I have heard about the new passport law.

The paper last week read that it would not start till 2008 so this was a shock when I got the e-mail saying we needed to get passports.

 

We are taking our kids and many other are also this is a big blow out for our kids suites and all!

Are they still issuing travel visa? This would be cheaper for all the kids that are going and not such a big cost for a one time use passport!?

 

Since we cruise every year not a big issue to get for the adults but a big bite for the kids.

[greatam]

Sorry, no travel visas to the Caribbean after Dec. 31. Passports only.

 

I don't understand why the passport would be one time use. They are good for 10 years. Surely most will travel during that period.

 

If you have a large amount of passports to procure, you better get going, not only due to the rush that may occur, but also so you can spread them out as

Happy ks posted. My neighbor applied for hers on March 7 at the local Post Office and she is still waiting.

[Rence]

The law needs to be fully implemented by 2008. The are phasing it in over the next couple of years, rather than all at once in 2008. This is why you may read 2008 in one article, but then see specifics for certain destinations showing an earlier date.