November 2, 06

NEWS / Travelers should prepare for passport requirement change

HIBBING ??” If area residents are planning to say bon voyage by land, air or sea this winter, they should know the U.S. Department of the State has implemented new passport requirements.

Mary Almly, deputy county auditor, said individuals will need a passport for travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda and Panama, where in the past a certified copy of their birth certificate and driver??™s license would suffice.

Passports will be required for air travel to those destinations on Jan. 8, 2007, and for travel by land and sea in June 1, 2009.

With plenty of people from the north county looking at a possible Caribbean cruise this winter or a warm vacation in Mexico, St. Louis County Auditor Donald Dicklich encouraged them to apply for passports early to prepare for the possible six week delivery period and to avoid the rush at the beginning of the winter travel season.

He said the Auditor??™s License Center has been preparing for a rush by sending out press releases and placing advertisements around the community hoping to get ready for the change and travel season.

Almly said for those that wait until the last minute, the passport process can be expedited to receive one in two weeks for an extra $60.

According to the U.S. Department of State, the price of a passport ranges from $82 to $97 dependent on age. The price includes the application fee and execution fee.

For those that will make trips by land or sea, they will have more time to prepare. However, this regulation may be more of an impact come fishing and hunting seasons when travelers are accustomed to crossing the Canadian border without a passport.

The new requirement is a phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). According to the U.S. Department of the State Website, the initiative ???serves to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized, secure and reliable documentation.???

Also, a portion of the plan currently under developments is a limited-use passport card, similar to the size of a credit card, which will be available for travel by land or sea between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

The Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security anticipate that the following documents will remain valid for travel use under WHTI: SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, and members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty will remain exempt from passport requirements.

Main spots in Hibbing for obtaining passports are the Hibbing post office located at 1902 Third Avenue East, and the St. Louis County Court Administrator??™s office, 1810 12th Avenue East. Neither facility offers photographs, but services can be found nearby.

Other area offices to purchase passports and applications can be found at travel.state.gov. For more information on passports visit http://www.state.gov
Kjerstin Lang
The Daily Tribune

Tags: document, birth certificat, birth certificate,