New Passport Rules Effective 1/9/2007, Apply To All Children As Well

[Host Walt]

Here's a link to a lengthy article in article in Tuesday's Wall St. Journal that discusses the new rules.

I am posting these extracts for those who don't subscribe to the WSJ on line:

 

...By Jan. 8, passports will be required for most everyone entering the U.S. from the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico through airports and seaports, instead of just a birth certificate and driver's license. Land borders will adopt the same requirement Jan. 1, 2008...

...The travel industry and several border-state governors and senators have been pushing for a delay in the new rules, fearing confusion and long delays for travelers that could hurt the cruise industry in particular. Only 25% of Americans have passports, and many could be left high and dry if they don't get one before they head off to an island cruise...

..."We're very concerned about the impact on the cruise industry…” [said] TIA's vice president of government affairs...

...The government says it is going ahead with the change starting Jan. 8. The deadline was pushed back a week from the first day of the year so it wouldn't kick in during holiday travels. That has been the only delay granted so far. "If you're going to the Caribbean next February or March, you'd better start worrying about a passport this fall," says Frank Moss, the State Department's head passport official....

 

In other words, if you plan to cruise anywhere in 2007 or later years and do not yet have your Passport, today would be a great time to get down to your Post Office and get going.

By the way, kids are not exempt. BOTH PARENTS (whether or not they are married, separated or divorced) must be present when applying for a Passport for a youngster 14 years of age or younger.