| If you need to make frequent land crossings | | | | amount of time to hire and train additional |
| between the U.S. and Canada or Mexico, the | | | | staff to shorten the wait time from an |
| U.S. Passport Card could work for you. It | | | | unacceptable 4-6 months. |
| really is a great idea. And as is typical | | | | |
| with so many things proposed by the U.S. | | | | The next phase, which would apply these |
| Federal government, it is being implemented | | | | documentation rules to all air and sea travel |
| late. | | | | to or from Mexico and Canada, began a year |
| | | | later. And the last phase, which affects |
| Efforts have increased since 911 to make U.S. | | | | the most people, took effect on Dec. 31, |
| borders more secure. These very same | | | | 2007, applying the requirement to all air, |
| efforts have made it difficult for Mexicans | | | | sea and land border crossings with Mexico and |
| and Canadians, who often have legitimate | | | | Canada. |
| requirements for frequent visits to the U.S., | | | | |
| to make quick and smooth transitions through | | | | Many border communities requested an |
| border control. | | | | alternative to a traditional passport. In |
| | | | response, the Department of State announced a |
| Because of how easy it is to obtain | | | | proposal for developing a card-format |
| fraudulent drivers' licenses, a new policy | | | | passport for travel between the United |
| was developed out of a desire to reduce | | | | States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and |
| reliance on the licenses for entry into this. | | | | Bermuda. It would be a limited use |
| The first phase of the new rule went into | | | | wallet-sized card that would cost |
| effect Dec 31, 2005, which required all U.S. | | | | significantly less than a traditional |
| citizens, traveling by air or sea, to or from | | | | passport. The media note for this card was |
| the Caribbean, as well as Central and South | | | | released October 17, 2006. |
| America, to have passports. | | | | |
| | | | Now, fast forward (if such a term is at all |
| The result of this ruling caused, literally, | | | | possible when referring to the United States |
| a months' long backlog to obtain a U.S. | | | | government) and applications are finally, |
| passport. The Department of State was | | | | now, being taken for this card. Production |
| totally unprepared for the volume of | | | | is projected to start next month. That is |
| applications. Even when it became apparent | | | | June 2008 for a policy that was implemented |
| that the State Department was woefully | | | | LAST December. If a passport card will |
| understaffed, it still took an inordinate | | | | work for you, better get in line fast. |