| Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
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| | January 2007, traveling to Mexico,
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| (WHTI) puts a damper on many travel
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| | Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean is now
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| plans.
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| | considered "traveling abroad," where once
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| As many of you may know by now,
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| | we could travel to the above countries
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| especially if you have upcoming plans to
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| | with limited or no documentation needed
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| travel to one of our neighboring
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| | at all.
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| countries like Canada or Mexico, your
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| | So how does this affect travel to Canada?
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| travel plans just might be at risk. "The
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| | Or Mexico? Or Bermuda? Or the Caribbean?
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| Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
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| | Well the short answer for you is not
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| Prevention Act or 2004 requires the
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| | much. But if you're like me, and take
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| Department of Homeland Security and
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| | family vacations annually to Mexico, it
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| Department of State to develop and
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| | might cost a bit more this year. Take for
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| implement a plan to require all
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| | example a family of 4 (2 adults and 2
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| travelers, U.S. citizens and foreign
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| | children under 16 years). The cost of our
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| nationals alike, to present a passport or
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| | trip just exploded because by law, I am
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| other document, or a combination of
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| | now required to obtain a passport for
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| documents, that denote identity and
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| | each individual crossing in and out of
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| citizenship when entering the United
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| | the United States. So, lets see, not only
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| States. Congress amended portions of the
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| | do I have to pay for the monetary cost
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| Act in 2006. The Western Hemisphere
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| | associated with obtaining a passport, 4
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| Travel Initiative is the Administration's
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| | passports in this example, but I now have
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| proposed plan to implement this mandate."
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| | to take the time out of my day to find
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| So what does this mean? Well, for
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| | out where I can pick up 4 passport
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| starters, if you're traveling to Mexico,
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| | applications; then fill them out, and
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| Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean, you are
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| | then find a place that will take my
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| now required to obtain a passport for
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| | passport photo to be attached with the
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| your travels outside the United States.
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| | passport application. I'm not done...I
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| You could, not to long ago, travel to
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| | have to round up my entire family to go
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| Canada or Mexico as easily as traveling
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| | on this passport excursion. Do I pull my
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| to visit your parents 5 states away. Not
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| | kids out of school for this? Do they miss
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| anymore. The Federal government's goal to
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| | band or sports practice after school? Do
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| "strengthen border security and
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| | I waste an hour and fight traffic with my
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| facilitate entry into the United States
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| | family just to find our passport
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| for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign
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| | applications and a place that will take
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| visitors" now requires all travelers to
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| | our passport photo? Unfortunately, this
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| basically "check-in" by obtaining a
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| | scenario will look all too common in 2007
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| passport for identification and proof of
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| | and beyond as the Federal government
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| citizenship. This is an absolute
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| | continues to increase security for our
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| necessity to secure our borders against
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| | Country. My advice is to get your
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| un-authorized access with the foremost
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| | passport early and beat the rush. And if
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| hopes of preventing terrorist acts by
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| | you're lucky, find someone who will come
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| individuals abroad. Unfortunately, the
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| | out to your work place or home and
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| policy and enforcement on border security
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| | furnish all your passport needs, from
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| will affect both incoming travelers and
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| | forms to photos like Moble Passport
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| domestic travelers going abroad. As of
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| | Photos.
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