***IMPORTANT UPDATE***
PASSPORT REQUIREMENT FOR AIR TRAVEL TO CANADA, MEXICO, BERMUDA AND THE CARIBBEAN TAKES EFFECT OCTOBER 1st
Temporary Suspension of Requirement Expires September 30th
I want to remind Minnesotans that U.S. citizens will be required to have a passport to travel by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean as of October 1, 2007. Travelers who depart the U.S. prior to that date will still be permitted to return with the passport application receipt; anyone departing by air from the U.S. after that date will be required to carry a valid passport.
I have worked closely with the State Department to address the concerns stemming from an unprecedented backlog in passport applications that overwhelmed processing centers after the air travel phase Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) took effect in January. To date, my constituent service staff has assisted more than 3,000 Minnesotans facing uncertainty, potential loss of money and important family time as a result of delays in their passport applications over recent months. State Department officials have briefed me and other legislators to announce that they now have the capacity to process passports on a more timely basis. You can be assure that I will continue to monitor the situation and I encourage any Minnesotans facing delays to contact my office.
During the crunch in passport applications, I met with the top State Department official in charge of the passport process and pressed for quick action to address the massive backlog. I also held a meeting with the Treasury Department, which is in charge of passport payments, and had been similarly delayed in their processing. In June, the U.S Departments of State and Homeland Security announced a temporary suspension through September 30, 2007 of the passport requirement for U.S. citizens traveling by air to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean with government issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport.
I have also introduced legislation to ensure that this problem does not recur when passports or new passport cards become necessary for travel by land or sea, which could take effect as early as summer 2008. The Western Hemisphere Traveler Improvement Act requires the Secretary of State to certify capacity to process passports within eight weeks before moving ahead with the land phase of WHTI. In June, the departments announced a phased-in approach to the 2008 deadline, to permit a birth certificate for children and a driver’s license and birth certificate for adults beginning in January 2008 until a determination is made to require alternative documentation for land a sea travel only. Children will not be required to obtain passports under the Administration’s proposal. Legislation pending in Congress would not allow this transition to occur until June 2009.
Passport Status
To check the status of your passport application, you should call the National Passport Center (NPC) at 1-877-487-2778 or log on to http://www.travel.state.gov. Anyone who continues to have problems getting in touch with the State Department should feel free to contact my office at 651-645-0323.
Minnesotans making longer term travel plans should allow additional time for passport processing. If you are planning foreign travel in the next six months, my advice is to apply early for a passport.
Applying by Mail:
If you have had a passport within the last 12 years (and you were at least 16 years old at the time), you may be eligible to apply by mail. Obtain a passport application (Form DSP-82) at a courthouse, post office, regional passport agency, or online at http://www.state.gov. Mail the completed form in a padded envelope, along with your old passport, and two new passport-size photographs.
Applying in Person:
If you are applying for a passport for the first time, you do not qualify to apply by mail and must apply in person. Appear at a courthouse, selected post offices, or a passport agency and bring proof of your identity, proof of your citizenship (i.e., a certified copy of your birth certificate or a naturalization certificate), two recent passport photos. If you are applying in person, please follow this link to find the acceptance agency in your area: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/
Renewing Passport:
To renew your passport, you can obtain a passport application (Form DSP-82) at a courthouse, post office, regional passport agency, or online at http://www.state.gov. You may use this form if your previous passport:
• Was issued when you were 16 or older.
• Was issued in the last 15 years.
• Is not damaged.
• Is submitted with your application.
Expedited Service:
For expedited service, the National Passport Center charges an additional $60 per application. You should call the National Passport Center (NPC) at 1-877-487-2778 or log on to http://www.travel.state.gov. In case of an emergency, my office is available to assist you with questions that you might have about the passport process.
Note: All information regarding fees can be found on the US Department of State website at www.travel.state.gov
Emergency Assistance:
Should you need help at any time while you are abroad, call Emergency Consular Services at (202) 647-5225 or (202) 647-0900.
Refunds:
The State Department has indicated they will issue refunds of expedite fees if a person did not receive their passport within the expedite time frame. A customer would also be entitled to a refund if he or she has to reapply while the original application is pending – in this case the State Department generally refunds the fee automatically, with no action needed from the customer. The State Department cannot reimburse for any other travel related costs. Please note that securing a refund will take several weeks, as all available personnel are focusing on passport issuance. If you believe you are entitled to a refund, please contact the State Department at the following address:
Passport Services
1111 19th Street
Washington DC 20036
I plan to travel to a foreign country. What do I need to do?
Confirm that your passport is valid, see http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html. You can also review the US Department of State Consular Information Sheets for the country of travel at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html. If you are traveling to a country with travel warning, you may wish to register at the US Embassy. More information regarding this can be found on the US Department of State website at www.travel.state.gov If you have further questions, contact Senator Coleman’s state office.
|
