U.S. Valid Passports????? Anyone Else?????

[Pixie Cruiser]

Senate amendment could delay passport plan by 18 months

The Senate May 17 approved an amendment that would delay for 18 more months a plan to require passports or other government-approved documentation for U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico cross-border travel.

The amendment also applies to U.S. travelers re-entering the U.S. from the Caribbean, and for travelers arriving by sea and air from Canada, Bermuda and Mexico. Currently, that requirement is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2007, one year ahead of the land-border passport travel requirement from Canada and Mexico.

The amendment, sponsored by senators Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), would push the deadline to June 1, 2009. As the current requirement now stands, the effective date is Jan. 1, 2008 for U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico cross-border travel.

There are several steps to go before that actually would happen

The Senate must pass the immigration reform bill with the amendment attached, and it must survive a House-Senate conference to resolve differences in their immigration bills. The House and Senate would then have to pass the conference committee bill.

Just the prospect of further delay, however, pleased the travel industry.

“Adoption of the Stevens-Leahy amendment by the Senate is a terrific first step toward extending a deadline that very well may deter travel into the United States and threaten U.S. jobs and economic viability in travel and tourism,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association.

The documentation requirement, the first phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, originally was first scheduled to take effect at the end of 2005. But lobbying by the travel industry convinced the State and Homeland Security departments to push the deadline to Jan. 1, 2008.

Travel and business officials are worried the expense and hassle will deter trade and tourism.

In response, the State and Homeland Security departments in January proposed a less expensive official document called the People Access Security Service, or PASS card. It would be priced at about $60 and is designed for people who regularly cross back and forth to Canada or Mexico via land crossings, but that card is still a work in progress.

Anyone heard anything???? We got ours the first time they brought all this up.........so I do feel safe.......but what about others that are on the fence about it? I guess it is just better to have it then not to at this point, especially if you are traveling in 2007.......

Just curious if anyone else heard anything...

Thanks
PC

 

[RCBA]

I just applied for my passport a few days ago and they didn't say anything. We still have 2 more to get for DH and DS. I'd like to wait as long as possible to get one for DS since his is only valid for 5 yrs.

 

[mom2my3kids]

how much are passports? I have never left the country so I have never had to have one..

 

[allears]

All this back and forth is why we're finally taking the plunge and have socked away enough money to get passports for all five of us. We're cruising in September, so it's not required, but once we have them that's done. We figured better now while we have a few extra bucks, then next time when we might not.

And for ladies in NJ, I was recently told by a customer of mine that a passport can make renewing your license a lot easier, it might eliminate your need for a marriage certificate(s). Possible bonus benefit.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

how much are passports? I have never left the country so I have never had to have one..

I think they're $67 plus the service charge by the place you get them (post office, etc) so it runs about $100.

 

[eeyoregon]

I have a question. When booking a Disney Cruise they tell you that if you are sailing after December 28, 2006 you must provide passports for all passengers within a certain amount of time or the reservation is void. What I am wondering is I see tons of folks on these boards that already have their 2007 cruises booked, so have they all gotten passports already? Or is Disney allowing time? Isn't it 6 months prior to your sailing that you have to submit them to Disney?

Dear Disney: You did free dining in the parks, how about free passports for your cruises??

 

[allears]

I have a question. When booking a Disney Cruise they tell you that if you are sailing after December 28, 2006 you must provide passports for all passengers within a certain amount of time or the reservation is void. What I am wondering is I see tons of folks on these boards that already have their 2007 cruises booked, so have they all gotten passports already? Or is Disney allowing time? Isn't it 6 months prior to your sailing that you have to submit them to Disney?

Dear Disney: You did free dining in the parks, how about free passports for your cruises??

Here's what the Cruise Line site says about supplying passport numbers:

Guests booked on cruises that sail on or after December 28, 2006 must carry valid passports for each member of their travel party when entering or returning to the United States from the Caribbean (including The Bahamas) and Mexico, and must provide Disney Cruise Line® with passport numbers 75 days before their vacation starts.


So you can have a cruise booked in 2007, you just have to get the number to them within that time frame.

 

[lbgraves]

This would be fine by me. We aren't going to apply for our passports until 6 months before a cruise where we will need one. This would simply push it past our last booked cruise 12/1/07.

 

[Mmketeer]

I know I would be happy! I am putting off getting them as long as I can...that's $100 a person that I could be putting towards my next deposit for a cruise instead!

 

[MickeyAnne]

Ohhhh....I would so love this - the mere thought of getting a passport stresses me to no end for some reason!

 

[Tim_from_PGH]

Getting a passport is really not that big of a deal. Mine is well worn from work and we have been getting one for each kid as they come along. I like to have them for all travel if you need them or not, it is an undisputable form of identification for the kids. Who wants to carry an original birth certificate anyway?

 

[ScouterJT]

getting a passport is not that much of a hassle -- fill out a form (children under 16 may need to have a form signed by BOTH parents), get some pictures taken (our local AAA does it for free for members), take your birth certificate (and marriage certificate to show name change) to a designated post office, sign everything, pay some money (not much in the grand scheme of things), and wait 4-6 weeks.

The passport is good for 10 years (5 years if you are under 16, I think). Renewal is super easy -- simple form, updated pictures -- mail in with your old passport, and wait 4-6 weeks.

(many major cities also have emergency rapid processing -- for a fee, of course).

you can check out the State Department's website (www.state.gov) for the official guidance

 

[lbgraves]

Just a note...you cannot renew a child's passport. You have to go thru the entire process every 5 years until they turn 16.

 

[ScouterJT]

thanks LB -- did not know that --

 

[lbgraves]

Yeah, I read that somewhere buried on the government site when this first started last year.

 

[Tigger&Bubba]

Eventually everyone is going to have to have a passport. I have had one for the last 15 or so years and the prices have gone up. If you can afford to purchase yours now, do it. If you wait until we all have to have one, can you imagine the backlog it may create. (We're talking about the government here).

I had to have a background check and fingerprinting for school a couple of years ago and it took twice as long to come back as I was told it would. I could not start my clinical rotations until it came back. The reason I was given for the delay was the increase in the number of background checks since 9/11 and the rise in checks of all daycare workers and persons that work with children.

I have been told that passports sometimes come back very quickly(2 weeks). Other times alot longer. My girlfriend got married and had her name changed on her existing passport and it took eight weeks.

It is not a difficult process if you have your documents. You can pick up the forms ahead of time for your appointment at the Post Office. Not all Post Offices are passport centers.

I know it is an added expense and can be alot for a family. I just wouldn't want you stressing over "where are those darn passports".

Besides when you win the Florida lottery you wouldn't want a little thing like not having a passport keep you from flying off to Paris, or Hong kong Disney right away!

 

[3DAN]

When my family of four applied for a passport, it only took two weeks. It was great. I just applied for a renewal of my grandmother in law, who is 100. We did it express because her birth certificate doesn't have her first name on it, but it is validly stamped and legal. We got it back in five days,,,WOW.. I think the total cost was around $160, but that includes express mail in two directions. YES,,, she is going on a Disney cruise with us June 10 eastern for seven days on the Magic. It is her 100th birthday present and she has never been on a cruise ship.
Bill

 

[Deb T.]

We just went through all this for DH last week. We downloaded all the forms and directions online at the State Department's website (www.state.gov). All of our local drugstores (CVS, Eckerd, Walgreens) that have a photo processing center do passport pictures. We had DH's done at Eckerd because it was convenient, but we should have asked how much first because those two tiny photos came to $8.00, plus tax. When I had mine done two years ago at CVS, I got a whole sheet of passport pictures for under $6.00.

Then, DH took his forms, birth certificate, and photos to the Post Office for processing, along with a check I'd written out in advance for $97.00. However, evidently the money goes to two different places, so he ended up having to get a money order at the post office for $67.00 plus a $0.95 processing fee, and then paid the other $30.00 with a credit card.

So, in hindsight, we should have gone to AAA for the free photos, and then written two separate checks. Also, we did know in advance that our local post office doesn't accept passport applications after 3:00 p.m., so DH went early. Overall though, the whole process was painless.

Hope our experience helps someone else!

 

[triptaker]

The passport is good for 10 years (5 years if you are under 16, I think).

As of last Saturday the 13th of May, all passports will only be issued for 5 years - adults and minors both. If you applied (and the passport office recieved you application) prior to May 13th, yours will be good for 10 years, if they recieved it on the 13th of May or later, it will only be good for 5 years.
This is for new passports AND renewals.

triptaker

 

[lbgraves]

Please post where this information can be found on the Dept of State website. There are no press releases regarding this posted on their website & no updated information anywhere that I can find.