| Since the Western Hemisphere Travel | | | | processing. So, as much as I like |
| Initiative (WHTI) passport requirements | | | | blaming the federal government, are they |
| went into effect at the end of January, | | | | really to blame? |
| we have heard numerous horror stories | | | | In hopes to control this problem, the |
| from travelers trying to get passports. | | | | Bush administration decided to do |
| We even heard one from a groom that | | | | something about it. It was recently |
| drove from Wilmington, North Carolina to | | | | announced that the rules for passports |
| Washington, D.C. on the eve of his | | | | will be relaxed for travelers flying to |
| wedding to pick up his passport so that | | | | and from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean |
| he could go on his honeymoon. He had | | | | and Bermuda. This new rule was to be in |
| applied for his passport over four | | | | effect until the end of September 2007. |
| months before. | | | | However, to add even more confusion, it |
| It has become obvious that the State | | | | was recently announced that, thanks to a |
| Department was not prepared for the | | | | vote from Congress, the rule requiring a |
| number of passports that have been | | | | passport to travel by land or sea to |
| pouring in. Is there a problem in | | | | Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and |
| relying on a bureaucratic process to | | | | Bermuda will be delayed until June 1, |
| efficiently process passports? Of course | | | | 2009. However, The Department of |
| they try and get more money out us by | | | | Homeland Security has said they want to |
| charging an extra $60 for a faster | | | | stick to the original deadline. |
| turnaround, but even that is not | | | | So what should a traveler do? What |
| guaranteed. | | | | exactly are the guidelines? Look for |
| Who are we kidding? Did anyone really | | | | more detailed information in the coming |
| have expectations that the federal | | | | weeks and months, but for now if you |
| government could live up to their | | | | need to ask the question "do we need to |
| promise in delivering passports in a | | | | have a passport to travel to this |
| reasonable time? Enough of my rant on | | | | country?" Assume that the answer is yes |
| the federal government, who's really to | | | | and you will always be safe. If you do |
| blame? The traveling public! Not to pat | | | | plan to travel to Canada, Mexico, |
| ourselves on the back but we have been | | | | Bermuda or the Caribbean, be sure to be |
| warning travelers for over a year to get | | | | a valid photo id and your birth |
| their passports and if they had them to | | | | certificate. |
| make sure they were current. In fact, | | | | Please contact Safe Harbors immediately |
| passport processing had a very quick | | | | if you are desperately in need of a |
| turnaround this time last year as | | | | passport as Safe Harbors works with some |
| regular turnaround times were just as | | | | very dependable expediting services. |
| fast if not faster than expedited | | | | |