Tips

EFFECTIVE JAN. 31, 2008, ORAL DECLARATIONS of Citizanship WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED.

CURRENTLY A VALID PHOTO ISSUED GOVERNEMENT ID CARD AND A COPY OF A CERTIFIED BIRTH CERTIFICATED IS REQUIRED TO ENTER OR EXIT THE UNITED STATES.  ALL TRAVELERS PLANNING TO CRUISE OR TRAVEL FOR SUMMER AND FALL ARE ADVISED TO APPLY FOR A UNITED STATE PASSPORT IMMEDIATELY.  

Timing for the full implementation of the passport regulations remains unclear as of this writing - Full implementation was slated to go into effect sometime around June 2008 for all land and sea entry to the United States. It already went into effect for all international air travel earlier this year.

I will keep you posted as to the updates as they come in on this site.   BEST ADVISE IS TO SECURE YOUR PASSPORT EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT TRAVELING NOW - IT IS VALID FOR 10 YEARS AND WILL BE THERE WHEN YOU ARE READY TO DEPART.

January 28, 2008

The US Passport Agency has announced new Rules for the issuance of Passport Cards and for Children under 16 applying for passports.  

The application form for a new passport has been amended so that applicants can check whether they are applying for a passport book (the traditional passport) or a passport card or both.  The new application for passport form is DS11,is the same number as it has been previously, but must be used for all persons applying after February 1, 2008. 

The passport card is not valid for travel by air.  It is valid only for land and sea crossings between the US and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean region.  The passport card has the same validity as the passport book: 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors under 16.

Also, effective February 1, 2008, there are new forms that must be used for passport renewals, adding pages to an existing passport book, name changes and parental consent for a minor under 16 to apply for a passport.

Change in the age for parental consent and issuance of passports to minor children--

Effective February 1, 2008, both parents must appear or sign consent forms for a child under 16 to apply for a passport. ( Formerly, the requirement for both parents to consent was for children under 14.)

Effective February 1, 2008, a parent may request that their minor children's (under 18) name be entered in the US Passport name check system.  Once entered into the system, the program (known as the Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program) will notify the parent if a passport application is submitted on behalf of his/her minor child.  It will also deny the issuance of a passport if there is an appropriate court order on file with the CPIAP.

New fees for passport cards and passport books

Fee Type                             New Passport Fee         New Postoffice Fee       New Total

Passport Book (16+)         $75.00                               $25.00                             $100.00

Passport Book(15-)           $60.00                               $25.00                              $85.00

Passport Book(Renew)    $75.00                                  N/A                                 $75.00

Passport Card (16+)          $20.00                               $25.00                            $45.00

Passport Card(15-)           $10.00                                $25.00                          $35. 00    

Expedit Fee                         $60.00                                  N/A                              $60.00               

Words to the Wise!

Never give your passport to a hotel clerk.  Some countries have laws that require that hotels hold the passports of their guests (such as italy, where handing over your passport overnight is usually perfectly safe.)  If you feel uncomfortable about parting with your documents, you can often get a certified copy of your passport information that you can substitute.  You might also make a good quality photocopy of the main passport page and demand the hotel hold that instead.