More Changes to US Passport Requirements

The following information comes from the US State Department. The US Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 mandated that by 2008 travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico and Central and South America have a passport in order to enter the United States. The requirement applies to all travelers including US citizens. This requirement is to be implemented in stages with the first stage beginning December 31, 2005, however this stage has been pushed back and the first stage will begin on December 31, 2006.

Beginning on December 31, 2006 passengers traveling to the US, or from the US by plane or by sea to the following countries will be required to have a valid passport: Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. On December 31, 2007 the requirement will also include all land border crossings as well.

US Passports are obtained through the US State Department, for applications and more information visit travel.state.gov

In other passport news, the New Orleans Passport Agency is closed until further notice due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina. If your passport application was affected by the closure
of the New Orleans office, you should have received a letter providing you with further instructions.

If you applied for a passport before August 25 at a Passport Acceptance Facility in the New Orleans, New York or Los Angeles and have not either received your passport or a letter with further instructions, contact the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778 to receive information about your application.