Summer is a time for travel for many of us. Many families have spent months or even years planning their dream vacation. This summer, new regulations and problems with the issuance of U.S. passports have cramped travel plans or, at the very least, created some very close calls. Things have settled down for the most part, but delays still exist. If you are planning to travel abroad, or to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean in the near future, please be aware of the new requirements and procedures in place.
In an effort to crack down on document fraud and better track those entering the U.S., Congress mandated the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. This initiative created a new requirement that a U.S. passport be used for travel from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Due to an unexpected backlog created by Americans trying to comply with the new requirement, the Departments of State and Homeland Security announced on June 8, 2007 that travel to those countries and countries within the Caribbean region will be allowed with a government-issued ID and a Department of State official proof of application for a passport through September 30, 2007. To apply for a passport, and to receive the official proof of application, you can visit the State Department website. Please remember that this accommodation does not affect entry requirements for countries outside Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean region. Americans traveling to a country that requires passports must still present those documents.
The best advice for anyone even contemplating travel abroad and in need of a passport is – APPLY EARLY! Or even, APPLY NOW. Routine passport service is now taking 12-13 weeks, and expedited service is taking approximately 10 weeks. Expediting your passport service does require an extra fee. If you encounter any problems with securing your passport or have not received your passport by two weeks ahead of your planned departure date, please call my office at 909-575-2662. We want to do whatever we can to help.
The terror plot recently foiled in Great Britain serves as a reminder that terrorism remains a threat, and we must be vigilant in our efforts to prevent attacks. So please plan ahead, please be aware, and as always, please call my offices if we can be of any assistance. Safe travels to everyone.
Sincerely,
David Dreier
Member of Congress