http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/renew/renew_833.html

RECENT NEW INFORMATION FOR PASSPORT
If you're accustomed to driving across the border to shop, ski or sightsee in Canada, you need to know about new border-crossing requirements.

Starting Jan. 31, citizens of the US and Canada ages 19 or older will have to present a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license) along with proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate) in order to enter or depart the US by land or sea.

Children ages 18 and younger need proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

The requirements also apply to Americans driving or sailing to and from Mexico, and to those traveling by sea to and from Bermuda and the Caribbean.

According to the US Department of Homeland Security, the new rules end the practice of "accepting oral declarations of citizenship alone." Details at www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/.
The Cruise Lines International Association says most cruise companies already require proof of citizenship and government ID for boarding. "These requirements have been industry standards, but will now be required by law and enforced as of Jan. 31," CLIA said in a statement.

A separate proposal to require passports for land and sea travel from the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico has been postponed. The DHS originally proposed that requirement to take effect this coming summer. A bill signed by President Bush in December included a provision delaying the passport requirement until the summer of 2009.
But you do need a passport if you're flying into the US from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean under rules that went into effect in 2007. Those regulations resulted in a deluge of passport applications, with the State Department issuing a record 18.4 million passports in fiscal year 2007, compared to 12.1 million in 2006. Thirty percent of Americans now hold passports, up from 27 percent. Last summer, the time it took to get a passport doubled, but processing times are now back to normal (four to six weeks); details at www.travel.state.gov/passport.

If you don't have a passport and you're craving a Caribbean getaway this winter, remember that US citizens may still travel to and from Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, which are US territories, without a passport. But bear in mind that US Customs and Border Protection officers may ask your citizenship when departing on these flights, so having your birth certificate available is helpful.



 

How to Apply for a Passport Renewal
 Should You Apply for a Passport Renewal by Mail?
 

YES, If You…
  1. Already have a passport that is not damaged; and
  2. Received it within the past 15 years; and
  3. Were at least age 16 when it was issued; and
  4. Still have the same name as in passport (or you can legally document your name change).

NOTES:

  • U.S. citizens residing abroad (except those living in Canada) should renew their passports at the nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate.
  • U.S. citizens residing in Canada may mail DS-82, Application for Passport by Mail, renewal applications to the address indicated on the form.  Payment must be in US$.
  • Passports renewed by mail in the U.S. may only be mailed  to U.S. and Canadian addresses.
  • If you mutilate or alter your U.S. passport, you may invalidate it and risk possible prosecution under the law (Section 1543 of Title 22 of the U.S. Code).
  • If your passport has been mutilated, altered or damaged , you cannot apply by mail. You must apply in person. ( See How to Apply in Person .)
  • Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip and/or have two to four blank visa/stamp pages.  Some airlines will not allow you to board if these requirements are not  met.
  • If you can, then How Do You Renew Your Passport By Mail?
  • 1. Complete Application For Passport By Mail , form DS-82
    • Click here to download the DS-82 Application form .
    • Be sure to sign and date your application.
    • Attach to it:

    • NOTE: Your previous passport will be returned to you with your new passport.
      NOTE:       If you travel extensively, you may request a larger, 48-page passport at no additional cost. To do so, please attach a signed request for a 48-page passport to your application.

       If your name has changed since your passport was issued:

    • Enclose a certified copy of the legal document specifying your name change (e.g. marriage certificate, divorce decree, adoption decree, or court order).
    • No photocopies accepted.

    NOTE: If your name has changed by other means, you must apply in person. (See How to Apply in Person .)

    Mail in a padded envelope to:
    National Passport Processing
    P.O. Box 13349
    Philadelphia, PA 19101-3349

WHTI Land and Sea Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Published

Release Date: June 20, 2007

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

Fact Sheet: Strengthening Border Security and Facilitating Entry into the United States
USCBP-2007-0061: Land and Sea NPRM

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced today the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), a core 9/11 Commission recommendation. Proposed rules require a passport or other secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the United States.

"Secure documents are a national imperative that will prevent dangerous people from entering our country using fraudulent identification," said DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff. "This initiative fixes a vulnerability first identified by the 9/11 Commission and later addressed by Congress. It will enhance our ability to assess threats and confirm identity at ports of entry, while continuing to facilitate lawful travel and commerce."

As the first rational step as we move towards full WHTI implementation, DHS intends to end the routine practice of accepting oral declarations alone at land and sea ports of entry. On Jan. 31, 2008, U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a WHTI-compliant document or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. DHS also proposes to begin alternative procedures for U.S. and Canadian children at that time.

At a later date to be determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security in consultation with the Secretary of State, the departments will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The implementation date will be determined based on a number of factors, including the progress of actions undertaken by the Department of Homeland Security to implement the WHTI requirements and the availability of WHTI compliant documents on both sides of the border. DHS and DOS expect the date of full WHTI implementation to be in the summer of 2008. The precise implementation date will be formally announced with at least 60 days notice.

The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have either a U.S. passport; a U.S. passport card; a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, FAST, or SENTRI; a valid Merchant Mariner Document (MMD) when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business; or a valid U.S. Military identification card when traveling on official orders*. The NPRM also outlines ongoing efforts to provide other alternative documents.

For citizens of Canada, Bermuda and Mexico, the following documents are accepted forms of identification:

  • Canadian citizens: May present a valid passport issued by the Government of Canada, or a valid trusted traveler program card such as NEXUS or FAST
  • Bermudan citizens: May present a passport issued by the Government of Bermuda or the United Kingdom.
  • Mexican citizens: As under current entry requirements, Mexican nationals, regardless of age, must present a passport issued by the Government of Mexico and a visa, or a valid Form DSP-150, B-1/B-2 laser visa (Border Crossing Card)**.

The departments have also identified unique circumstances for specific groups of travelers that warrant permitting the use of alternative documents.

  • U.S. citizens on round trip cruise ship voyages that originate and end in the United States may present a government-issued photo ID and birth certificates, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad or Certificates of Naturalization.
  • U.S. and Canadian citizen children under 16 as well as children ages 18 and under traveling in designated groups may present certified copies of their birth certificates. U.S. children may also present Consular Reports of Birth Abroad or Certificates of Naturalization.
  • Alien Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Members of NATO-Member Armed Forces may present military identification and official orders.
  • Members of the Kickapoo Band of Texas and Tribe of Oklahoma may present the Form I-872 American Indian Card.

The NPRM follows an Advance Notice of Public Rulemaking (ANPRM) for land and sea published in the Federal Register on Sept. 1, 2005, and a final rule for the Air Phase of WHTI that was published in the Federal Register on Nov. 24, 2006. WHTI requirements were implemented for all air travel on Jan. 23, 2007, and have shown compliance rates in excess of 99 percent since implementation.

DHS and DOS recently announced that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received passports can nevertheless temporarily enter and depart from the United States by air with a government issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through Sept. 30, 2007. The federal government is making this accommodation for air travel due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand.

WHTI requirements are the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.

Standardized, secure and reliable documentation will enable the Department of Homeland Security to quickly, reliably and accurately identify travelers at air, land and sea ports-of-entry. Investigators have repeatedly stressed the security risk posed to border security by the approximately 8,000 forms of identification currently in use, and the challenge at the borders in assessing individual travelers based on these many documents without significantly slowing the processing time for admission into the United States. Limiting and standardizing the types of documents presented will result in a more secure and efficient border.

The departments of Homeland Security and State are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and mitigating any negative impact on legitimate trade and travel. The departments fully recognize the need for a delicate balance between increased security and minimizing social and commercial impacts on international travelers and U.S. citizens, particularly residents living along the border.

The Land and Sea NPRM is currently available at www.dhs.gov and will soon be published in the Federal Register. Once published, citizens wishing to comment on the proposed rule, including the economic assessment, may access the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for submitting comments. Submissions must include the agency name and docket number "USCBP 2007-0061.***"

Those wishing to comment on the environmental assessment may also access the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for submitting comments. Submissions must include the agency name and docket number "USCBP 2007- 0060.***"

For more information, visit www.dhs.gov or www.travel.state.gov.