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U.S. Edition – more
So You Need a Passport?
U.S. regulations require a passport for air travel to nearby countries such as Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and nations of the Caribbean. Travelzoo's Newsdesk provides some answers to frequently asked questions about what you need to know. (Update, June 7): U.S. Citizens with Pending Passport Applications Now Allowed Temporary Travel Flexibility Within Western Hemisphere The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security have announced that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received their passports can nevertheless temporarily enter and depart from the United States by air with a government-issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through Sept. 30, 2007. The U.S. government is making this accommodation for air travel due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand. Adults who have applied for but not yet received a passport should show a government-issued photo identification and an official proof of application from the U.S. Department of State. Children under the age of 16 traveling with their parents or legal guardian will be permitted to travel with the child's proof of application. Travelers who have not applied for a passport should not expect to be accommodated. U.S. citizens with pending passport applications can obtain proof of application at: http://travel.state.gov. What's changing? All U.S. citizens traveling between the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda by air now must have a valid U.S. passport. And as before, a valid passport is required for travel to any other destinations outside the U.S. (This has been temporarily suspended, see above) Beginning on Jan. 1, 2008, the rules expand to include arrivals by land or sea from those same destinations. Will children or infants need passports? Yes, there is no age minimum. How long does it take for a passport application to be processed? What if I have urgent travel plans and have no passport? On average, the application process takes about 10-12 weeks, but because of the backlog it can take as long as 3 months. There are ways to expedite this at additional cost. Are there better times to apply to make the process faster? Approximately 70 million U.S. citizens hold passports which means a lot of your neighbors do not. You can beat them to the punch by applying between August and December, traditionally a slower period for new applications. How much do passports cost? Fees are $97 for people over age 16; $82 for those under age 16. For expedited service, it will cost an additional $60 plus express shipping charges. You can pay by credit or debit card as well as personal check. Note: It's a bad idea to bounce a check to the federal government. Can I apply for a passport online? New passport applications must be completed in person at a facility handling passport applications. Many - but not all - Post Offices can process passport applications. Renewals can often be done by mail, see the U.S. Department of State Web site for details. There are third-party passport services online, but here you sign an affidavit allowing them to handle the paperwork for you. You will still have to appear in person at a passport acceptance agency to sign the forms. Fees for these companies can range from $60 to off the charts in addition to the government fees. What kind of photo do I need? Applicants must submit 2 color photos, 2 inches x 2 inches of your head looking directly at the camera with a plain background. In other words, no glamour shots. Many commercial copy centers, such as Kinko's, are set up to take and print passport photos. Which government agency should I turn to for more information? The U.S. Department of State. Visit their passport Web site for more information.

U.S. Edition – more

So You Need a Passport?

U.S. regulations require a passport for air travel to nearby countries such as Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and nations of the Caribbean. Travelzoo's Newsdesk provides some answers to frequently asked questions about what you need to know.

(Update, June 7): U.S. Citizens with Pending Passport Applications Now Allowed Temporary Travel Flexibility Within Western Hemisphere

The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security have announced that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received their passports can nevertheless temporarily enter and depart from the United States by air with a government-issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through Sept. 30, 2007. The U.S. government is making this accommodation for air travel due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand.

Adults who have applied for but not yet received a passport should show a government-issued photo identification and an official proof of application from the U.S. Department of State. Children under the age of 16 traveling with their parents or legal guardian will be permitted to travel with the child's proof of application.

Travelers who have not applied for a passport should not expect to be accommodated. U.S. citizens with pending passport applications can obtain proof of application at: http://travel.state.gov.

What's changing?

All U.S. citizens traveling between the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda by air now must have a valid U.S. passport. And as before, a valid passport is required for travel to any other destinations outside the U.S. (This has been temporarily suspended, see above)

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2008, the rules expand to include arrivals by land or sea from those same destinations.

Will children or infants need passports?

Yes, there is no age minimum.

How long does it take for a passport application to be processed? What if I have urgent travel plans and have no passport?

On average, the application process takes about 10-12 weeks, but because of the backlog it can take as long as 3 months. There are ways to expedite this at additional cost.

Are there better times to apply to make the process faster?

Approximately 70 million U.S. citizens hold passports which means a lot of your neighbors do not. You can beat them to the punch by applying between August and December, traditionally a slower period for new applications.

How much do passports cost?

Fees are $97 for people over age 16; $82 for those under age 16. For expedited service, it will cost an additional $60 plus express shipping charges. You can pay by credit or debit card as well as personal check. Note: It's a bad idea to bounce a check to the federal government.

Can I apply for a passport online?

New passport applications must be completed in person at a facility handling passport applications. Many - but not all - Post Offices can process passport applications. Renewals can often be done by mail, see the U.S. Department of State Web site for details.

There are third-party passport services online, but here you sign an affidavit allowing them to handle the paperwork for you. You will still have to appear in person at a passport acceptance agency to sign the forms. Fees for these companies can range from $60 to off the charts in addition to the government fees.

What kind of photo do I need?

Applicants must submit 2 color photos, 2 inches x 2 inches of your head looking directly at the camera with a plain background. In other words, no glamour shots. Many commercial copy centers, such as Kinko's, are set up to take and print passport photos.

Which government agency should I turn to for more information?

The U.S. Department of State. Visit their passport Web site for more information.