Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
April 19, 2007 issue
What New Border Security Rules Mean For International Travelers
In past years, air travelers to North American countries did not need to show a passport when flying across the border. But under new rules recommended by the 9/11 Commission and passed into law by Congress in 2004, Americans traveling to any country by air must now show a U.S. passport before boarding a flight. Many people with travel plans to Canada, the Caribbean or Mexico will need to obtain a passport. The new rules implemented by the U.S. State Department on January 23, 2007 apply to citizens of any age traveling by air.
These new measures are placing a strain on the State Department’s passport-processing capabilities. In fact, the State Department has seen a 44 percent increase in applications since this time last year. The State Department expects to issue 4 million more passports this year than in 2006.
North Carolinians without a passport who are planning a trip abroad this summer should start the application process as soon as possible. If you need a new passport, either because your current passport has expired or you need a first-time passport, you should expect the application process to take 10 to 12 weeks.
In emergency situations, you can pay an additional $60 fee on top of the normal processing fee to expedite your passport. However, even expedited passports take 3 to 4 weeks to process, and it is strongly recommended that you include overnight shipping with your application.
If you are a first-time passport applicant, you must appear in person at a passport acceptance facility. Most local post offices are certified acceptance facilities, but you can search for the facility closest to you at iafdb.travel.state.gov.
Once you have submitted your application, you can check its progress online at travel.state.gov. Because of the huge volume of passports currently in the system, it takes up to a week for expedited applications and about three weeks for routine applications to get into the online tracking system.
If at any point in the application process, you run into a problem you cannot solve, contact my district office at 1-866-677-8968. My experienced staff has dealt with many passport issues and will help you navigate the system.
The bottom line for international travelers who need a new passport is to apply as early as possible. Make sure you start the application process at least three months before you plan a trip. If you have a trip in less than three months, you should seriously consider having your application expedited.