The new WHTI intiative that requires all US citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean via air to have a valid passport, has created havoc in US passport offices throughout the country. Those traveling by sea or land will be required to have a passport beginning in January of 2008.

Summer Processing Delays

Between October of 2006 and April of 2007, the State Department reported a record 8.6 million passport applications, a 33 percent increase over the same period the previous year. Although the government recommended that travelers apply for passports at least 10 weeks in advance of their travel date, few passports were being returned within that time frame. So unpredictable was the turn-around time, that the government suspended the requirement until September 30, 2007, asking only that travelers to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean have applied for a passport and be able to show proof of citizenship. However, that exemption will soon expire.

Get your Passport Now for Winter Travel

Anyone planning to travel for the holiday season and early winter is well-advised to apply for a passport now. Anyone applying for a passport for the first time (or who hasn’t had a passport in 15 years) must apply in person at one of the over 7000 passport agencies around the country. Most of these are post offices, but also include some libraries, courts, and regional passport offices. For a location near you, see the State Department Web site.

What you Need to Apply for a Passport

When you go to get a new US Passport, make sure that you bring the necessary documentation. This includes a completed passport form (this may be found online or at a any passport office), two passport size photos of yourself, proof of US citizenship (an original or certified copy of your birth certificate or your naturalization papers), a photo ID (such as a driver’s license), and payment (currently $97).

The passport agent will ask you a couple of questions, ask you to verify that you are who you say you are, seal all of your documentation in an envelope, and have you sign across the seal to avoid the information being tampered with. Allow at least ten weeks for processing, more if possible. Your new passport as well as your application documentation will be returned to you via US mail. Passports are valid for ten years.

For more information on getting a US passport, consult the US State Department Web site.

(photo credit: istockphoto)