Passports: The Clock's Ticking
I'm nervous. I recently sent my battered, much-loved passport in to be renewed, and now I'm worried that the current upsurge in applications will cause my renewal to be delayed. It's a bad feeling, being without a passport.... I mean, what if I have to skip town in a hurry?
Why the upsurge? We've harped on this subject repeatedly in the print edition and in our chat, but we'd be remiss if we didn't nag you about it here, too: If you don't have a passport, get one. NOW.
Got yours? (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)
First of all, everyone should have one on principle. But also, and more pressingly, as of next Tuesday (Jan. 23) the rules change, and travelers will need passports for trips they haven't been needed for before: namely, those flying to and from the Caribbean*, Bermuda and the Bahamas; South and Central America; Canada; and Mexico. So far you can still travel to those places by land and sea without that little blue document, but that, too, will change (in 2008).
So, even though I'm further hurting my chances of not getting my passport back soon, you really should drop everything and head for your nearest "passport facility" (usually a post office). First-timers will need to apply in person; if you're just renewing, you can download the form online, stop in at a CVS or camera shop to get your picture taken, and mail it all in with a check. Find details and downloadable forms here. It'll be the best $97 you ever spent. Also, don't forget that many Caribbean islands and hoteliers will pay for your passport if you visit during a certain time, as in this offer from the Bahamas.
* Not including U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and the three U.S. Virgin Islands.
By K.C. Summers |
January 19, 2007; 10:00 AM ET
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K.C. Summers
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Posted by: Anonymous | January 19, 2007 11:22 AM
Are the new passports going to have the RFID chip in it that is a security nightmare because it will identify you as an American while you are carrying the passport?
Posted by: Tomcat | January 19, 2007 11:36 AM
"Question: is the new requirement a security thing, or is it one of those weird attempts by the gov't to get more $$ out of its citizens?"
Yes. :)
New security requirement, I believe.
Posted by: Joe | January 19, 2007 11:55 AM
Re: Tomcat
" Are the new passports going to have the RFID chip in it that is a security nightmare because it will identify you as an American while you are carrying the passport?"
Yes...the newer passports are embedded with the RFID chip!!! As a graduate student who just finished his thesis on RFID and privacy issues, I can tell you that the RFID embedded passports or "E-Passport" (if you prefer the proper terminology) have already been issued by the State Department starting last year. In order to allay privacy concerns that are inherent in this application of the technology, the State department has agreed to limit the broadcast range of the chips and claims that the data on the passport can only be read when the chip-reader is within just a few inches of the passport.
Posted by: RFID wary | January 19, 2007 12:27 PM
"* Not including U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and the three U.S. Virgin Islands."
A couple of other things to be aware of: If your flight back from Puerto Rico or the USVI is rerouted, and you have to refuel/change planes/etc on another Caribbean island, you'll have difficulty getting back into the US.
Same thing for cruises: Until 2008 you can cruise without a passport, but god forbid you get sick and have to be flown home from, say, St. Martin, you might not be able to get home if you don't have a passport.
Posted by: liz | January 19, 2007 2:49 PM
The Travel Crew and US policy consistently state that US passports are not needed between US mainland and US Virgin Islands. However, various times over the last 3 years returning from St. John we have been asked for passports at airport customs in St. Thomas and/or San Juan or at the ferry dock before boarding in St. John. Usually, if we ask, the passport checker gives a terse "standard practice," but locals tell us they may be doing drug runner checks. Don't know what would happen if you didn't have your passport with you; we always take ours to the USVIs. Plus, the British VIs are so invitingly close for a spontaneous day trip, it's handy to have the passport on you.
Posted by: st. john | January 19, 2007 3:18 PM
I've had the same experience of being asked for my passport while traveling within the USVI, but since I've always had it I don't know how officials there react when you don't have one. If anyone has traveled inter-island there without a passport and experienced any hassle, email us at travel@washpost.com and we'll look into it for a CoGo item.
Posted by: KC Summers | January 19, 2007 4:02 PM
I chose the post haste option, paying an extra $60 or so to get my passport in one week. Follow instructions carefully.
Posted by: mcleangirl | January 23, 2007 1:32 PM
I wish I had done that in the first place. But nooo, I believed them when they said they were still processing renewals in four to six weeks. When I checked yesterday -- you can do that online -- they've now changed their estimate to six to EIGHT weeks. That's not in time for my next trip, but luckily you can expedite in mid-stream, so I'm going to have to fork over another $60.
Posted by: KC Summers | January 23, 2007 1:40 PM
I've *heard* that if you go to the post office located in the underground tunnel between the cannon and rayburn house buildings, that you can get your passport in about a week because they are hand carried to the passport office regularly. Don't know how true this is though, as I already had a passport when my coworker mentioned this to me.
Posted by: julie | January 24, 2007 8:00 AM
I am prone to gaining and losing significant amounts of weight. I am about to apply for a passport, my passport photos now show me quite heavy, if I lose wieght, it will change my appearance. Will this cause any problems during the ten years my new passport is good for?
Posted by: James Martin | January 24, 2007 12:18 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Question: is the new requirement a security thing, or is it one of those weird attempts by the gov't to get more $$ out of its citizens?
Is there any other country you can travel without a passport anymore? (Wow, must suck to live in a city that's half in one country and half in another like Niagara Falls, NY or isn't there on or more in TX, too?)