New Passport Rules

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The deadline for when these new passport rules kick is keeps changing, so beware of outdated information.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

HOW LONG UNTIL YOUR PASSPORT ARRIVES
It takes six to eight weeks for your passport to arrive.

But what if someone surprises you with a quick getaway and you don't have six or more weeks to wait for your passport? If you are planning to travel within 14 days, look into expedited service. It'll add to your costs but gives you a better chance of having your passport in time.

For an additional $60, you can have your passport in about two weeks. To apply for an expedited passport, you'll need to make an appointment at a regional agency and bring your proof of travel plans with you. Find a passport agency near you.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
If you need to apply for a passport, expect two important things:

* Your trip will cost an additional $97 per adult ($82 per child under 16);

* You need to give yourself extra planning time, two months of extra planning time.

If you'll need a passport for travel in the early part of next year, apply now. Even if you don't have your travel itinerary yet, if you know you will travel next year, do it. Get it out of the way and move on to the fun part of travel, like researching spa packages at Caribbean resorts.

Already, the State Dept. says it has started to see an increase in call volume for appointments at passport agencies. They have added more customer service representatives and expanded customer service hours from 7 AM to 12 AM ET, but heed the warning: passport agencies are busy.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU TRY TO REENTER THE U.S. WITHOUT A PASSPORT
If you're traveling over the holidays this year before the new rules go into effect and won't return to the U.S. until on or after January 23, 2007, you will need to show your passport on your way back to the States.

Air or cruise passengers without passports will have to go through a secondary screening process to verify U.S. citizenship. In this screening, Customs and Border Patrol will look at any evidence of citizenship or identity you may have with you and will verify that information against their databases.

What about emergencies? Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate if you're overseas and find your passport has been lost or stolen. Whether you're overseas or in the U.S. you should report a missing passport immediately protect yourself from identity theft!

MORE INFORMATION
It's always a good idea to get the most recent information before you travel because it can change frequently. For the most recent passport information, visit the State Department's passport Web site at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html. There you'll find application information, the forms you'll need to apply or renew and where to find a passport agency near you.

Or, contact the National Passport Information Center by calling 1-877-487-2778; TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793.

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