Passport information

[Criscomia]

Just saw this on AOL NEWS today:

 

New Passport Rules

 

Maria Colenso

If I were a betting gal, I'd say chances are in my favor that, even if you are a traveler, you don't have a passport. Only about 27 percent of Americans have one. But, because of new passport rules taking effect in January 2007, all of that is about to change.

 

Below is the information you'll need to know about the new rules and how to apply for your first passport. And once you have that new passport, why not tell everyone where you got your first passport stamp on our travel message boards?

 

WHAT IS CHANGING

Right now, if you like to cruise around the Caribbean or Mexico, you're probably used to packing your driver's license and birth certificate. There are big changes ahead for you.

 

Under the government's new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, everyone (including kids) will be required to show their passport when traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

 

The only exception will be if you travel to a U.S. territory, such as Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. There, your driver's license and birth certificate will still be all you need.

 

WHEN WILL THE CHANGES TAKE EFFECT

The deadline for when these new passport rules kick is keeps changing, so beware of outdated information. The current timeline is:

 

If you're traveling by air, you will need your passport beginning on January 23, 2007.

 

If you are traveling by land or sea, new passport rules will go into effect as early as January 2008.

 

APPLYING FOR YOUR FIRST PASSPORT

To get your first passport, you need to go (yes, I mean in person) to a passport agency. Bring with you :

* Two photographs of yourself;

* Proof of U.S. citizenship (ex: your birth certificate);

* A valid form of photo identification such as a driver's license;

* A passport application form.

 

Passport agencies are usually a post office, government office or public library. You may not apply for your first passport online. To find an agency near you, visit: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/.

 

Your first passport will get you through the next 10 years and will cost $97 if you're age 16 or older. Child passports last for five years and cost $82.

 

PASSPORT RENEWALS

Good news -- you may renew your passport online or by mail.

[AngelSugar]

Howdy!

We were just having this discussion yesterday about the new passport rules for travel on cruise ships in the Caribbean.

 

Seems that you don't need a passport for this type of travel until Jan 2008. However, think about this....if you cannot finish your cruise and need to FLY from the Caribbean back home, you do need a passport as of Jan 2007. We applied for ours this week!!