Okay, so you have an opportunity to take a vacation to Europe, Cancun, or any non-U.S. vacation spot, but you can't because you don't have a passport...
Yes, you need a passport.
And if you already have one, check to make sure it hasn't expired or that it won't expire soon. Every country has different rules - some require the passport to be valid for at least 6 months from the date you return to the U.S.
This site has all the information regarding passports
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
Some countries require visas to visit. Check here to see if you need one http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html
To get a passport in a hurry you can use this site http://www.passportexpress.com/?affid=52442375"+target="_blank"
You will need your birth certificate to obtain a passport. But beware - there are some cities such as Jersey City, NJ, where the birth certificate from the city is not enough. You need to obtain your birth certificate directly from the State of NJ at the offices in Trenton. Take the time to check before you go.
If you do not have a passport and are returning to the U.S. by air after 1/23/07, you will be out of luck. Even if you are taking a cruise and don't need a passport for the cruise (make sure you check which foreign ports of call require a passport), it is still advisable to have a passport. Should you need to return home by air due to an emergency, you will not be able to re-enter the U.S. without a passport.
So please do yourself a favor and apply for your passport now. You never know when a great opportunity will come up for a vacation and you won't be able to go because you didn't think you would need one!
Here are the new requirements under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)
The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:
Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Some countries require visas to visit. Check here to see if you need one http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html
To get a passport in a hurry you can use this site http://www.passportexpress.com/?affid=52442375"+target="_blank"
You will need your birth certificate to obtain a passport. But beware - there are some cities such as Jersey City, NJ, where the birth certificate from the city is not enough. You need to obtain your birth certificate directly from the State of NJ at the offices in Trenton. Take the time to check before you go.
If you do not have a passport and are returning to the U.S. by air after 1/23/07, you will be out of luck. Even if you are taking a cruise and don't need a passport for the cruise (make sure you check which foreign ports of call require a passport), it is still advisable to have a passport. Should you need to return home by air due to an emergency, you will not be able to re-enter the U.S. without a passport.
So please do yourself a favor and apply for your passport now. You never know when a great opportunity will come up for a vacation and you won't be able to go because you didn't think you would need one!
Here are the new requirements under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)
The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:
Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
