US Passport Requirements

Did you know...that after June 1, 2009, all US citizens may be required to have a passport or other accepted document if they want to take a road trip into Mexico? (Well actually, you don't have to own a passport to travel INTO Mexico, but they won't let you back in the US without one!)

This is all part of a new set of rules laid out by the US Departments of State and Homeland Security that will affect every US citizen entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere (e.g. the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central & South America, Mexico and Canada).

Why are there so many new rules? The old system seemed fine to me!

These new rules are supposed to prevent potential terrorists from entering the United States through other North American countries.

Back in 2004, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) made it mandatory that the US Departments of State and Homeland Security figure out some kind of a plan requiring US citizens and foreign nationals to show a passport or some kind of "appropriate security document" when entering the US. The two departments got together and created the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

What exactly IS the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative?

In a nutshell, US citizens may have to show a passport, passport card or other accepted document for ALL air, sea and land border crossings. This has already been implemented for air and sea travel. The current time frame for implementation at land border crossing is June 1, 2009.

Won't my driver's license work?

Nope. You've probably heard that they're thinking of making a national identity card which would act as a driver's license for residents of all US states... but even if that happens, your driver's license will no longer be enough proof of identity to get you back into the US.

Will ANYTHING beside a US passport get me back inside the country?

Yes, actually - but don't count your chickens yet. The US government hasn't made any final decisions yet about accepting other "appropriate" documents. However, here is what they're currently considering:

1. The new Passport Card - not yet available
2. The SENTRI program card
3. The FAST program card
   Or, if you are a Mexican citizen traveling into the US from a contiguous country, you will probably be able to use
4. The Border Crossing Card (BCC, also called the "laser visa")

I've never heard of any of these programs. How do they work?

The SENTRI (Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection) program was launched a few years ago by US Customs and Border Protection. Applicants and vehicles that have been prescreened are allowed to cross the border heading north into the US more quickly and efficiently, thanks to commuter lanes reserved just for them. The enrollees go through rigorous background checks and have been determined to pose a low risk to the security of the US border. (Click here for more information about applying for a SENTRI program pass)

The FAST (Free And Secure Trade) Commerical Driver Program developed out of the US/Mexico Border Partnership Action Plan. It's run by US Customs and Border Protection with the assistance of the Government of Mexico.

Using a FAST card makes it possible for drivers, fleets, importers and border manufacturers to get a quicker, "low-risk" US/Mexico border clearance (even during times of heightened security alerts). This program was designed for truckers who make frequent border crossings.

Some of the current benefits of this program are that truckers may use designated FAST lanes in the United States (where they are available), cross the border northbound into the United States with faster customs and immigration processing, and transport goods for FAST approved shippers, carriers and importers.

If the FAST card is given final approval by the US government as an "appropriate security document" that can be used instead of a passport for border crossing, it will soon be mandatory for the return trip of any cross-border haul. (CCJ Magazine)

In order to obtain a FAST card, truckers have to submit an application, including a security profile complete with background checks, documentation requirements and biometric requirements. To be approved, the trucker must be acceptable to both countries where the border will be crossed. The FAST card is good for five years before it must be renewed. For more information about the FAST Commercial Driver Program, please click here.

Biometric Border Crossing Cards...

Most Mexican visitors to the United States, whether traveling into a border region or beyond, obtain a biometric Border Crossing Card (BCC). This is a laminated, machine-readable credit card-type of document with many security features and a 10 year validity. This card, often called the "laser visa," works as both a BCC and a B1/B2 visitor's visa.

Applicants must meet the same eligibility standards as those for the B1/B2 visa. In order to apply, they need to present a valid Mexican passport as their primary document of citizenship and identity. They also have to prove that they have strong ties to Mexico which would compel them to return after a temporary stay in the United States. US consular officers screen carefully for evidence that the applicant has strong family, business or social ties to Mexico.

The application fee is $100, except for children under age 15, for whom the fee is $13. Applicants under age 15 must have at least one parent who either holds a BCC, or is currently applying for one. All laser visas issued for a reduced fee expire on the child's 15th birthday. If a full $100 fee is paid, the child receives a BCC valid for 10 years from the time it is issued.

The BCC project was created by the US State Department and the US Department of Homeland Security. There are twelve posts in Mexico which process BCCs. For further information about BCCs, please click here.

Will I be affected by the new border crossing rules even if I am not a US citizen?

Foreign citizens who are not currently required to show a passport in order to travel into the United States (e.g. most Canadian citizens), citizens of Bermuda, and Mexican citizens will all be affected by these rules.

When does all of this start?

The current dates given by the US government are:

January 23, 2007: A passport or other accepted document will be required for all air/sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.

June 1, 2009: A passport or other accepted document may be required for all air/sea AND land border crossings.

All right – so how do I apply for a passport?

It depends on whether or not you are applying for the first time. If you are applying for your very first passport, you will have to make an appointment at your nearest passport agency to submit your application in person. If you are just renewing your passport, you may be eligible to renew it through the mail. Learn how to obtain a passport from a U.S. Post Office.

How do I know if I need to apply for my passport in person?

You will need to apply for your passport in person if...

1. This is your first time applying for a passport,
2. Your previous US passport was lost, stolen or damaged,
3. Your previous US passport has expired, and was issued more than 15 years ago,
4. Your previous US passport has expired, and was issued before you turend 16 years old,
5. Your name has changed since your original passport was issued, and you don't have a legal document formally changing your name,
6. You are a minor under the age of 17.

Do I have to make an appointment to get a passport, or can I just drop by my local passport facility after work?

Unfortunately, if you need to apply for your passport in person or if you need your passport processed within two weeks, you DO need to make an appointment. All passport agencies take applications by appointment only, so you should call in advance. Most of the agencies in the US are open between 9am and 4pm, although some offices do close at 3:30pm. The good news is that there is no charge for an appointment at any passport agency. Don't pay anybody (or any business) that tries to charge you for your appointment!

All right, I made my appointment to get a passport. Do I need to bring anything special for my application?

Yes, there are several things that you should bring with you to your appointment.

First of all, you need to download your "Application for Passport" Form DS-11. You can download it here.

Next, you will need to bring present proof of US citizenship. This proof may include a valid birth certificate, an expired passport (as long as it is not mutilated or damaged in any way), a consular report of birth abroad, a naturalization certificate, a certificate of citizenship, etc.

If you don't have either a previous passport or a birth certificate, please click on this link to find out what alternative forms of identification may work to prove US citizenship.

You will also need to bring along proof of your identity. You can prove your identity with a previous US passport, a naturalization certificate, or a current (valid) US driver's license, government ID (city/state/federal) or military ID (military/dependents).

If you do not have any of these things, please click on this link to find out what alternative forms of identification may prove your identity.

You'll need to have two passport photos. They should be 2x2 inches, identical to each other, taken within the last 6 months (showing how you look right now), in color, showing your full face from a front view with a plain white or off-white background, and between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. You should also be wearing normal street clothes (no uniforms, etc.) For further information about acceptable photos, please click on this link.

Finally, you'll have to bring along some money! The current prices for routine passport services are as follows:

Passports for all US citizens aged 16 and over cost $55. The security surcharge is $12. The execution fee is $30. So, your total will be $97.

Passports for all US citizens under the age of 16 is $40. The security surcharge is $12. The execution fee is $30. So, your total will be $82.

Acceptable forms of payment vary from agency to agency. You should call your local agency first, before showing up for your appointment.

According to the US State Department, when you apply at a regional passport agency, all of the fees and surcharges are combined into one payment to the US Department of State. This may be paid by check (personal, certified or travelers') major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover), bank draft or cashier's check, money order (US postal, international, currency exhange). Or, if you are applying abroad, you can pay the foreign currency equivalent or a check drawn on a US bank.

What if I just have to renew my passport? Do I still need to go into the office, or can I do it by mail?

You can renew your passport by mail if...

1. You already have a passport that is not damaged AND
2. You received it within the past 15 years AND
3. You were at least 16 years old when it was issued AND
4. You still have the same name that was in your old passport (or you can legally document your name change).

ALL of this must be true, in order for you to renew by mail. There are a couple of exceptions where you will need to go into a passport agency to renew, even if you meet the above conditions.

• if you are a US citizen living abroad, you must renew your passport at the nearest US Embassy or US Consulate.
• passports renewed by mail in the US may only be mailed to US addresses.
• if you mutilate or alter your US passport, you have invalidated it and are risking possible prosecution under the law (Section 1543 of Title 22 of the US Code).
• if your passport has been mutilated, altered or damaged, you cannot apply by mail. You must apply in person.

If I'm eligible to renew my passport by mail, what do I need to do?

First, you should download the DS-82 form from this site.

Next, attach to it your most recent passport, two identical passport photos, and a $67 fee payable to the US Department of State. If your name has changed since you got your last passport, you should also attach a certified copy of the legal document specifying your name change (for example, your marriage certificate, divorce decree, adoption decree or court order). FYI – they won't accept photocopies. It has to be the original!

Mail all of this together in a padded envelope to:

National Passport Center
P.O. Box 371971
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7971

I'm in a huge hurry! What if I pay for overnight delivery? Will that speed up the delivery of my new passport?

First of all, if you decide to use an overnight delivery service that will not deliver to a post office box, make sure to send your package (and a prepaid overnight return envelope) to:

Passport Services - Lockbox
Attn: Passport Services Supervisor 371971
500 Ross Street, Rm 154-0670
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-9971

Most importantly, though - overnight mailing service will NOT speed up your passport processing time, unless you have included a $60 fee for expedited service. For further information about this fee and expedited service, please click here.

If you are in a huge hurry and decide to pay to expedite the process, in some cases it is possible to have your passport application processed and turned around in only one day. Usually, however, the expedited passport will be processed in no more than three work days.

How long is getting my new passport going to take? What is the typical turnaround time?

If you go through the general application process, it takes six to eight weeks for the US Department of State to process your passport.

It is important to remember that when you are traveling outside of the US, you must have a 6 month validity left on your passport. For example, if you plan to drive into mainland Mexico in April, your passport must not expire prior to October of that same year, or it will be considered expired and you will have to renew it before leaving the US.

It sounds like there are going to be a huge number of new passport applications. Is turnaround time going to take a lot longer for passport processing? Should I be applying now for my new passport if I want to take a trip in 2008?

As of right now, approximately 20% of US citizens currently have passports. Obviously, there are going to be a lot more applications to be processed over the next few years.

The US government is expecting this. In 2004, they processed 8.8 million passports in 2004. They are projecting about ten and a half million for this year (2005), and looking toward possibly as many as 12 million in 2006, 14 million in 2007 and 17 million in 2008.

There are currently 16 passport agencies across the country with 1,100 total employees. The US State Department plans to add another 500 employees over the next year, plus open up a new agency within the next several months. According to US Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Maura Harty, US passport agencies plan to hold double shifts at their mega centers, and have stated their commitment to "crank out the passports without sacrificing the quality or the service."

Realistically, however, 80% more applications = a lot more processing time. They say the early bird catches the worm... so if you have the time and opportunity to apply for your passports now, it may be in your best interest to do so.

What about kids? I've got a three year old son who was born in the US. Does he need a passport too?

Yep. All US citizens, including newborn infants, will be required to have passports in their own names. For children under age 14, the consent of both parents/guardians is required for a child to obtain a passport. Also, for children under 14, it is necessary to establish both proof of citizenship AND proof of relationship (to parents/guardians) in order to apply for a passport.

Children who are able to sign their own names may do so. If your child is too small to sign his/her name, a parent may sign instead by writing the child's name on the signature line and signing the parent's name above the child's name.

In addition, ALL new applicants who are minors under age 17 must apply for their passports IN PERSON at one of the 6,000 passport acceptance facilities in the United States.

Do I need to bring anything special if I am applying for a passport for my child?

Yes, actually applying for a child's passport is a fairly involved process. Here are the basic steps:

First off, all minors who are US Citizens must apply for their passports IN PERSON.

In addition, in order to get a passport for a child under the age of 14, both parents or the child's legal guardians must appear and present all of the following:

• Evidence of the child's US citizenship
• Evidence of the child's relationship to parents/guardians AND
• Parental Identification.

If only one parent appears, you must also submit the following:

• A notarized written statement by the second parent, consenting to passport issuance for the child,
• Primary evidence of sole authority to apply, OR
• A notarized written statement (made under penalty of perjury) which explains the second parent's unavailability.

Aren't passports expensive? Sounds like taking my kids camping in Mexico is going to get pricey!

Here are the current rates for routine passport services:

Passports for all US citizens aged 16 and over cost $55. The security surcharge is $12. The execution fee is $30. So, your total will be $97.

Passports for all US citizens under the age of 16 is $40. The security surcharge is $12. The execution fee is $30. So, your total will be $82.

The truth is, those fees will add up for families with young children. The good news is that once you and your family have arrived in Mexico, travel is still very cost-effective. You can see and experience beautiful things for very reasonable prices.

Also, passports issued to citizens aged 16 or over last for ten years! If you think about it, that brings the price of purchasing and using your US passport down to around $10 per year.

Woah! My new passport has gone digital! Does it still work like my old passport?

On August 14, 2006, the US Department of State began issuing a new kind of passport to the public containing an embedded electronic chip, called an "Electronic Passport" or ePassport. This new passport continues to verify the bearer's U.S. citizenship and identity, and it looks and functions just like passports without chips did.

This addition of an electronic chip on the back cover enables the passport to carry a duplicate electronic copy of all information contained on the data page. This new passport will be usable at all ports of entry, even those that do not yet have electronic chip readers. You will know that you have the new electronic passport because the cover of your passport will be printed with a special symbol representing the embedded chip.

You don't have to store or handle your electronic passport differently, but just like with the old version, do not bend it or immerse it in water.

What was wrong with the old kind of passport? Why did they change it?

Nothing! This new electronic passport gives travelers all of the additional security protections that come with chip technology. Even better, when you use the new electronic passport at ports of entry that are equipped to read electronic chips, your new passport will apparently make your clearance into the United States MUCH faster.

Can I refuse to have a chip embedded in my passport? That seems a little too space-age for me!

Sorry... you'll have to get used to it. The State Department estimates that by 2006, ALL US passports will be issued in this new format.

Speaking of new technologies, what exactly are biometrics? I noticed that you've mentioned biometrics several times throughout this blog!

Biometrics are the use of biological traits to identify an individual. For example, police officers often take fingerprints and/or DNA samples of convicted criminals to keep on record.

Some examples of biometrics in addition to fingerprints are face recognition, bodily measurement, laser scans of the retina and iris, and voice recognition systems.

The new electronic passports will contain some form of biometric data, such as a fingerprint. Government agents will be able to quickly scan this data embedded in each electronic passport, comparing it to previous records stored in their database. Their software will be able to identify data match points, which can then be processed (using an algorithm) into a value that can be compared on the spot with the passport holder's biometric data.

This information will help government agents to more closely identify the person bearing a passport, and to know if that person is the one to whom the document was actually issued.

Blog Sources:
US Department of State – www.travel.state.gov
Dept of Homeland Security - http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4434
Commercial Carrier Journal Magazine - http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=46975
Search Security.Com http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid14_gci211666,00.html