| If you are planning travel between US, Canada | | | | have the opportunity or need to travel, and |
| or Mexico by air or sea, be prepared to | | | | may not have more than two months to wait for |
| present your passport. The same rules apply | | | | a Passport. Acceptance facilities include |
| for the Caribbean and Bermuda. If you are | | | | many Federal, state and probate courts, post |
| planning business travel, a ski trip, Spring | | | | offices, some public libraries and a number |
| Break, family vacation or warm weather | | | | of county and municipal offices. There are |
| excursion, be prepared to carry a federally | | | | also 13 regional passport agencies, and 1 |
| recognized identification to enter the US, | | | | Gateway City Agency, which serve customers |
| even if you are a US citizen. The same rules | | | | who are traveling within 2 weeks (14 days), |
| will apply to roads and land border crossings | | | | or who need foreign visas for travel. |
| in 2008. | | | | Appointments are required to request |
| | | | expedited processing. |
| Beginning January 8, 2007 anyone traveling by | | | | |
| air or sea to or from the United States and | | | | Passports can also be used as identification |
| Canada or Mexico must carry a passport or | | | | for domestic travel within the US. Tired of |
| other federally recognized identification to | | | | pulling out your wallet and Drivers License |
| return to the United States. | | | | every time that you approach a ticket |
| | | | counter, security or gate check? You can keep |
| These new rules also apply to U.S. citizens | | | | your wallet, credit cards and cash in your |
| entering from Central and South America, the | | | | pocket or purse and present your Passport |
| Caribbean and Bermuda. | | | | instead. Many business travelers have learned |
| | | | the convenience of keeping their Passport in |
| On January 1, 2008 the rules will be extended | | | | a convenient pouch with carry-on luggage to |
| to all border crossings, including those on | | | | expedite the security identification |
| land. This new requirement will also affect | | | | verification process. |
| certain foreign nationals who currently are | | | | |
| not required to present a passport to travel | | | | For a convenient list of Carry-On |
| to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, | | | | Restrictions, go to: |
| citizens of British Overseas Territory of | | | | |
| Bermuda and Mexican citizens will be affected | | | | For more information on obtaining a US |
| by the implementation of this requirement. | | | | Passport, go to: |
| | | | |
| Check your passport and make sure that it is | | | | ____________________________________________ |
| current, or get one if you do not have it | | | | _________ |
| already. Getting a passport takes time. The | | | | |
| Passport Services Office provides information | | | | Words of Wisdom |
| and services to American citizens about how | | | | |
| to obtain, replace or change a passport. A | | | | "I wanna hang a map of the world in my house. |
| passport is an internationally recognized | | | | Then I'm gonna put pins into all the |
| travel document that verifies the identity | | | | locations that I've traveled to. But first, |
| and nationality of the bearer. Only the U.S. | | | | I'm gonna have to travel to the top two |
| Department of State has the authority to | | | | corners of the map so it won't fall down." |
| grant, issue or verify United States | | | | |
| passports. | | | | - Mitch Hedberg |
| | | | |
| To obtain a passport for the first time, you | | | | "When you travel, remember that a foreign |
| need to go in person to one of 9,000 | | | | country is not designed to make you |
| passport acceptance facilities located | | | | comfortable. It is designed to make its own |
| throughout the United States with two | | | | people comfortable." |
| photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. | | | | |
| citizenship, and a valid form of photo | | | | - Clifton Fadiman |
| identification such as a driver's license. | | | | |
| This also applies if your passport has | | | | "A man travels the world over in search of |
| expired and is not in your possession, if it | | | | what he needs and returns home to find it." |
| was issued more than 15 years ago, if it was | | | | |
| issued when you were under 16 years of age, | | | | - George Moore |
| or if your passport is being replaced because | | | | |
| it was lost or stolen. | | | | "When a gentleman leaves home, he uses a lint |
| | | | brush to preserve his professional image. |
| Plan ahead and allow at least eight to ten | | | | When a gentleman returns home from Las Vegas, |
| weeks to process your request for a new | | | | he uses a glitter brush to preserve his |
| Passport. All the more reason to make sure | | | | professional image. |
| that you have a current Passport now. You may | | | | |