Passport Clarification Needed..

[cherylandtk]

The minimum leadtime is that '60 day notice' they quote; in reality, it is more often 6-12 months. When they first instituted the WHTI there was all that discussion about whether to include land and sea crossings in the first 2007passport requirement. I think the shortest time frame came down to about three months(?) or so on that one.

 

The expectation (not a promise) at this time is that they will institute the second half land and sea crossing in the middle of 2008. The main holdup at this point is implementing the passcard system, and they want to make this all occur at one time. Passport or passcard for land/sea, permanent exclusion of specific WH cruises, one date for implementation. They also realize they need to give cruiselines several months to update rules.

[Earthworm Jim]

Maybe, maybe not. There is a permanent EXCEPTION to needing passports, still assuming the proposed rule is adopted, for RT cruises out of US to Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Bahamas, for US citizens. (Its on page 36 of 114, section V of the NPRM, second blue link on that DHS press release link you gave above.)

 

Thanks for the correction. Though I'll have to take your word for it. I tried to look it up but was overwhelmed by that document.

[CalCruzer]

I am really concerned. I thought I would be smart and renew my passport early even though it doesn't expire until 4/2008. I mailed my renewal in on June 6th and it was received on June 8th. I checked their website and it has been posted an 'being processed' since mid June. I understand that the exception rule expires in September, is that correct? Our cruise leaves in November. We travel from the States to San Juan and return out of Acapulco, MX. My problem...my birth certificate has my birth name and I have been married 3 times. Does that mean I will need a copy of my birth certificate, 3 marriage licenses and 2 sets of divorce papers to prove who I am? I am freaking out!!! I have no idea where those papers are now. Can someone give me some advice?

[cherylandtk]

Calcruzer, I assume you will be flying back to the US from Acapulco, is that right? If so, then yes, you need a passport.

 

Its still too early to do much more than wait, but if you don't have your passport by exactly 14 days prior to your cruise departure, then call them to expedite it at the numbers listed on the website. You cannot get them to take this action until that 14 day window. But I think you will have it long before then. Try and relax....if possible.

[CalCruzer]

Thanks for the support. It's just all the negative feedback I've been reading. I can't even get excited about our cruise because all I can think about is not getting my renewed passport back and having to cancel our cruise. I will take your advise and try to relax. Hate dealing with any government agency.

[jkloni]

Thanks for the correction. Though I'll have to take your word for it. I tried to look it up but was overwhelmed by that document.

 

Here's the info about the PROPOSED permanent exception for cruiseship passengers from the link Cherlandtk was referring to....

It's from http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1182350422171.shtm, then click on USCBP-2007-0061: Land and Sea NPRM. I just did a CTRL F in this document and looked for Special Rules for Specific groups.

 

 

 

V. Special Rules for Specific Groups of Travelers Permitted To Use

Other Alternative Documents

 

Even though DHS and DOS have presented generally applicable

document requirements above, in reviewing the security and travel

considerations for the sea and land environments, the Departments

believe there are certain special circumstances for specific groups of

travelers that warrant permitting use of other documents. For these

specific groups of travelers, within these limited circumstances, the

Secretary of Homeland Security proposes that the delineated documents

be accepted for travel as discussed.

There are other groups of travelers that fall outside the scope of

section 7209 and are therefore not subject to these requirements. The

documents permitted for these populations under the foregoing special

circumstances are also explained below.

 

A. U.S. Citizen Cruise Ship Passengers

 

Because of the nature of round trip cruise ship travel, DHS has

determined that when U.S. citizens depart from and reenter the United

States on board the same cruise ship, they pose a low security risk in

contrast to cruise ship passengers who embark in foreign ports.

Although round trip cruises may stop in foreign ports (e.g., some

east coast cruises stop in the Caribbean and some cruises in the

Pacific Northwest may include land excursions in Canada), there are

reasons why U.S. citizens aboard these cruises pose a low security

risk. First, on round trip cruises, passengers who depart from the

United States would have their documents checked both when they depart

from the United States and when they return to the United States. Under

current Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) requirements,\51\

the cruise lines are required to check the accuracy of the travel

documents for all departing passengers. The passenger information is

transmitted to CBP well before the return of the cruise ship.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

\51\ See 19 CFR 4.7b (vessel arrivals) and 19 CFR 4.64 (vessel

departures).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

While on the voyage, the cruise lines also check the identity of

passengers as they return to the ship at various ports of call along

the voyage. CBP has worked with the cruise lines to establish proper

security protocols for these voyages and will continue to work with the

cruise lines on security protocols in the future.

When the cruise ships return to the United States, CBP officers

examine the documents of the incoming passengers as they would for

other cruise passengers. Because of the advanced passenger information

supplied to CBP upon departure and because of CBP's ability to check

this passenger data against the information supplied by passengers upon

return to the United States, the security risks associated with

allowing U.S. citizens to use the documents described below are low.

Accordingly, and in response to public comments, DHS and DOS

propose the following alternative document requirement for U.S. cruise

ship passengers. For purposes of the proposed rule, a cruise ship is

defined as a passenger vessel over 100 gross tons, carrying more than

12 passengers for hire, making a voyage lasting more than 24 hours any

part of which is on the high seas, and for which passengers

 

[[Page 35097]]

 

are embarked or disembarked in the United States or its

territories.\52\

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

\52\ For this proposed rule, DHS proposes to adopt the

definition of a cruise ship used by the U.S. Coast Guard. See 33 CFR

101.105.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

U.S. cruise ship passengers traveling within the Western Hemisphere

would be permitted to present a government issued photo identification

document in combination with either (1) An original or a certified copy

of a birth certificate, (2) a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by

DOS, or (3) a Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship

and Immigration Services (USCIS), when returning to the United States,

under certain conditions:

The passengers must board the cruise ship at a port or

place within the United States; and

The passengers must return on the same ship to the same

U.S. port or place from where they originally departed.

All passengers arriving on a cruise ship that originated at a

foreign port or place would have to present travel documents that

comply with applicable document requirements otherwise specified in

this NPRM when arriving in the United States. For voyages where the

cruise ship originated in the United States, if any new passengers

board the ship at a foreign port or place, the new passengers would

have to present travel documents that comply with applicable document

requirements otherwise specified in this NPRM when arriving in the

United States. U.S. citizen cruise ship passengers that would fall

under this alternative document requirement are reminded to carry

appropriate travel documentation to enter any foreign countries or

stops on the cruise.

[henepup]

Any idea when this might go into effect? Great info!!!

[bUU]

Final comments are due Monday. Then they have to decide if it will go into effect or not, based on the comments and other considerations.

[jkloni]

Final comments are due Monday. Then they have to decide if it will go into effect or not, based on the comments and other considerations.

Thanks for the timeline.

[henepup]

Thanks for the info!!!

[Don Pedro]

It seems that this proposed exception fails to address the need for a passport if a cruise passenger had to fly home prematurely from a cruise.

[lucy9465]

My mom and I went and expedited our applications for first time passports on the 13th of August and we still have not gotten them. I hope that we get them intime for our cruise in November.

[jkloni]

My mom and I went and expedited our applications for first time passports on the 13th of August and we still have not gotten them. I hope that we get them intime for our cruise in November.

 

So much for their press release that they are finally caught up and expedited passports are returned 3 weeks :rolleyes:. ...which for you would have been Sept 3. Unless it has gotten lost, you should have them well before November. Good luck.

[cherylandtk]

My mom and I went and expedited our applications for first time passports on the 13th of August and we still have not gotten them. I hope that we get them intime for our cruise in November.

What does your online status show? Given that the passport agency is caught up from the overload, you should call them up and ask where yours are. And ask to get your expedited fee refunded.;)

[lucy9465]

Got our passports today we expedited them on Aug. 13 and it still took 4weeks or 30 days exactly just glad that we have them

[bassman19]

We applied on 9/11...just received in mail today 9/22...didn't even have to pay for expedition.....that has to be a record. The date effected was 9/17, just 1 week after application:D.

[prwjr]

A valid Passport is the best form of ID available. In today's world, it has become increasingly more important to have a valid passport in your possession...whether or not you plan to leave your country of origin. I applied at the Post Office on August 11, and received my Passport on September 10, without expedited service. It is the new Electronic Passport with integrated biometric chip.

 

My advice to anyone is to get the Passport NOW...before the cost does go up...it is good for 10 years...worry about the increased cost 10 years from now when you have to renew it!!!

[jkloni]

Here is an update from another thread from 'Ask a Cruise Question' ----

 

Agreed, see below for 'in writing' and latest government issued written status:

#1 State Dept. ISSUES the passport, but its really DHS and the Customs and Border division of DHS that decides--yes, 'in conjunction with the State Dept'--when to IMPLEMENT the requirement. For the lastest status, THAT is who you should check with. Not the cruiseline, and not even State Dept.

 

#2 Here is a link to the latest DHS status page, the relevant statement for cruises is on page 3 at the bottom.

 

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/...hti_ls_faq.pdf

 

 

#3 What that link says is that for round trip cruises from a US port, for a US citizen, there is an exception to the passport requirement. You will still be able to travel with just a DL and BC. Even after the passport/passcard requirement for land crossing goes into effect sometime in mid 2008. What it means is, if you don't currently need a passport for your cruise, then you most likely won't need one even after the WHTI implementation.

 

#4 This change was added in June of 2007 as a result of the massive cruise industry response to the (former) proposal to require passports by 2007 (then changed to 2008 and now dropped). Squeaky wheel...grease..you get the drift. You would think they would be shouting from the rooftops, right? Well, instead they are taking their time about updating the websites until the latest change finally, actually, completely becomes law. After all, they have a more restrictive rule ('gotta have passports') listed on their webpages, so why bother updating it regularly? SIGH.

 

#5 The latest version, with the passport exception, has been published in the Federal Register, has completed its comment period and is pretty much just 'waiting to become law'. This will probably be at the same time as the passcard system goes into place. Best guess, mid-2008. Could be earlier. Could be later. Until then you can cruise on a RT out of the US with just a BC and DL. And after then you can cruise on a RT out of the US with just a BC and DL. :D

 

#6 Last but not least. My personal advice and opinion is to get a passport. Ease of travel, emergencies, missed departures, all of that. But the facts are that one is not needed for most cruises now or in the future. Be sure when reading these boards that you differentiate between the two.;)

[sundress]

Hello all! I've been reading all your posts to see if my question was covered and I don't see it - hope I didn't miss it. If anyone can help me out I sure would appreciate it!

 

I got my passport in 2002 for a honeymoon trip so it was in my maiden name. In 2004 I had my passport amended for my married name for a second trip and have not traveled internationally since. I understand that in 2005 the rules were changed and passports will no longer be amended for name changes - you need to apply for a replacement passport.

 

We just decided last minute to go on a trip thinking our passports were all in order - but now I'm worried. Has anyone traveled on an amended passport since the 2005 rule change?

[cherylandtk]

Sundress, your passport is valid--so don't worry. You might have to point out the back page where the name is amended, but it is a valid passport until 2012.

[sundress]

Thanks, cherylandtk! I suspected that was true but I worry until I see it in print!

[sunnysavannah]

My husbands passport is up for renewal and I was considering a short December cruise. We have his old passport and it's in fine condition. I'm wondering. Is it any cheaper or faster to do the renewal as opposed to just submitting a new application?

[megr1125]

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

 

here is info..i think it is cheaper and faster, but they have cleared up the backlog...and once you have a passport you just renew it...you don't really apply for a new one when it expires.....

[sunnysavannah]

Thanks.

[CC Help Michell]

My husbands passport is up for renewal and I was considering a short December cruise. We have his old passport and it's in fine condition. I'm wondering. Is it any cheaper or faster to do the renewal as opposed to just submitting a new application?

 

We mailed our passports for renewal and they were received at the agency on September 20. The new ones arrived by expedited mail (we didn't pay for that, or expedited service) on October 4 -- two weeks on the nose. The fee was $67 each. Hope that helps you or someone else out there. :)