Passports Required to Enter the United States

Did you know that by 2007, all traveling Americans returning to the United States will be required to have a valid U.S. Passport? It's true. And the new rules will be phased-in as early as January 2007.

Going forward, a Passport will be required for U.S. Citizens who travel by air and sea to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America, Canada and Mexico . Subsequently, Passports or other accepted travel documents will also be required for U.S. land border crossings to and from Canada or Mexico . Without a Passport, you will not be able to travel outside of the U.S. - including cruise travel. In addition, after the implementation date, cruise vacationers who arrive at the Port to embark on a cruise without a valid Passport, will not be permitted to board the ship.

Important reasons to get your Passport now:

Avoid the rush and the possibility of not being able to travel where and when you wish without a passport.
Future travel to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America , Canada and
Mexico will require a passport to re-enter the U.S.
A Passport can open the doors to travel you may not have considered before, such as cruising in Europe,
Australia and Asia . And a Passport will also be required to visit our neighbor countries of
Canada and Mexico .
Considering that a Passport is valid for ten years, the cost is minimal ($97 for a new Passport and $67 for a renewal). If you take two vacations per year, the initial cost of your passport per vacation is less than a frozen drink with an umbrella at the pool.
Even with a confirmed booking for travel abroad, you will be denied boarding if you do not possess a valid Passport.
And finally, a U.S. Passport is easy to obtain by visiting one of the 6,000 Passport acceptance facilities across the U.S.

For more information about applying for a Passport, U.S. Citizens may visit http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html or call the National Passport Information Center toll free at 1-877-487-2778 or TDD/TYY: 1-888-874-7793. Foreign Nationals should contact their respective governments to obtain details regarding current Passports requirements and application procedures.

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Passport Information

New Requirements for Travelers Between the United States and the Western Hemisphere

Travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada will be required to have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement.

What is the new travel document requirement?

All travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Canada or Mexico will be required to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer's identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior travel requirements. The goal is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors. This new requirement will be known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Who does this requirement affect?

All United States citizens traveling within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports will be affected.
Certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States, namely most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and Mexican citizens will also be affected.

When will the new travel initiative requirement be implemented?

The travel initiative requirements will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline is as follows:

December 31, 2006 – Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
December 31, 2007 – Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

How Do I get a passport?

To obtain a passport for the first time, you need to go in person to one of 6,000 passport acceptance facilities located throughout the United States with the following:

A properly completed, but unsigned, passport application (DSP-11). Do not sign it!
Proof of U.S. citizenship:
- Use your previously issued passport or one in which you were included. If you are applying for your first passport or cannot submit a previous passport, you must submit other evidence of citizenship.
- If you were born in the United States, you should produce a certified copy of your birth certificate. This must show that the birth record was filed shortly after birth and must be certified with the registrar's signature and raised, impressed, embossed, or multicolored seal. Certified copies of birth records can be obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in the city, state, county, or territory where you were born. (Notifications of Birth Registration or Birth Announcements are not normally accepted for passport purposes.) A delayed birth certificate (one filed more than one year after the date of birth) is acceptable, provided it shows a plausible basis for creating this record. If it does not, you will need to submit the best secondary evidence possible.
  
  If you cannot obtain a birth certificate, you may submit a notice from a state registrar stating that no birth record exists, accompanied by the best secondary evidence possible. This may include a baptismal certificate, a hospital birth record, notarized affidavits of persons having personal knowledge of the facts of your birth, or other documentary evidence such as an early census, school records, family Bible records, and newspaper files. A personal knowledge affidavit should be supported by at least one public record reflecting birth in the United States.
- If you were born abroad, you can use:
  - A Certificate of Naturalization
  - A Certificate of Citizenship
  - A Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (Form FS-240)
  - A Certification of Birth (Form FS-545 or DS-1350)
  - If you do not have any of these documents and are a U.S. citizen, you should call the National Passport Information Center at 1-900-225-5674 for assistance.
Proof of identity.
You must also establish your identity to the satisfaction of the person accepting your application. The following items are generally acceptable documents of identity, if they contain your signature and if they readily identify you by physical description or photograph:
- A previous U.S. passport
- A Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
- A valid driver's license
- A government issued (Federal, state, municipal) identification card

The following are not acceptable:

A Social Security card

A learner's or temporary driver's license

A credit card of any type

Any temporary or expired identity card or document

Any document that has been altered or changed

If you are unable to present one of the first four documents to establish your identity, you must be accompanied by a person who has known you for at least 2 years and who is a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident alien of the United States. That person must sign an affidavit in the presence of the same person who executes the passport application. The witness will be required to establish his or her own identity. You must also submit some identification of your own.

Photographs.
You must present two identical photographs of yourself that are sufficiently recent (normally taken within the past 6 months) to be a good likeness. Passport Services encourages photographs where the applicant is relaxed and smiling. The photographs must not exceed 2x2 inches in size. The image size measured from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head (including hair) must be not less than 1 inch nor more than 1-3/8 inches with your head taking up most of the photograph. Passport photographs may be either black and white or color. Photographs must be clear, front view, full-face, and printed on thin, white paper with a plain, white or off-white background. Photographs should be portrait-type prints taken in normal street attire without a hat and must include no more than the head and shoulders or upper torso. Dark glasses are not acceptable except when worn for medical reasons. Head coverings are only acceptable, if they are worn for religious reasons. Applicants may use photographs in military uniform only if they are on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and are proceeding abroad in the discharge of their duties. Newspaper, magazine and most vending machine prints are not acceptable for use in passports.
The correct fee for applying for a passport in person.
Applicants age 16 and over, who are required to appear in person, the passport fee is $55. The security surcharge is $12. The execution fee is $30. The total is $97
Applicants age 15 and under, the passport fee is $40. The security surcharge is $12. The execution fee is $30. The total is $82 . The passport is valid for 5 years.
You may pay by check, bank draft, or money order, payable to Passport Services. You may also pay in cash (exact change only) at a passport agency and at some, but not all, post offices and clerks of court.

Acceptance facilities include many Federal, state and probate courts, post offices, some public libraries and a number of county and municipal offices. There are also 13 regional passport agencies, which serve customers who are traveling within 2 weeks (14 days), or who need foreign visas for travel. Appointments are required in such cases.

You'll need to apply in person if you are applying for a U.S. passport for the first time; if your expired U.S. passport is not in your possession; if your previous U.S. passport has expired and was issued more than 15 years ago; or if your previous U.S. passport was issued when you are under 16 your currently valid U.S. passport has been lost of stolen.

For more information on getting a new passport, please visit the U.S. Department of State's Passport Information Center

You should allow yourself a sufficient amount of time to apply and receive your passport in advance of travel. Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing of U.S. passport applications.

Foreign nationals should contact their respective governments to obtain passports.

When to Apply
Every year, demand for passports becomes heavy in January and declines in August. You can help reduce U.S. Government expense and avoid delays by applying between September and December. However, even during those months, periods of high demand for passports can occur. Apply several months in advance of your planned departure, whenever possible. If you need visas, allow additional time - approximately two weeks per visa.

Where to Apply for Your Passport in Person
For your first passport, you must appear in person with a completed Form DSP-11, Passport Application, at one of the 13 U.S. passport agencies or at many Federal and state courts, probate courts, at some county/municipal offices, or at U.S. post offices authorized to accept passport applications. The addresses of passport acceptance facilities in your area are available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov or by calling 1-900-225-5674 (or 1-888-362-8668 with a credit card.)

Applicants who are age 16 and older must appear in person when applying for a passport, if they are applying for the first time. Minors who are ages 13, 14, and 15 years must also appear in person, and be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Applicants ages 16 and 17 years may apply on their own IF they have acceptable identification. The parent or legal guardian may be contacted by the Passport Agency to ensure that they are giving permission for issuance of the passport. If the applicant does not have identification, then the parent or legal guardian must accompany the applicant. For children under age 13, a parent or legal guardian may appear on their behalf. The children do not have to appear in person.

If you have had a previous passport and wish to obtain a new one, you may be eligible to apply by mail.

Where do I get a passport application?

You may download forms from this web site.
Forms are also available at public offices like Post Offices, courthouses or municipal offices where passport applications are accepted. Click here for a a searchable list of convenient locations where you can apply for a passport.

How to Apply for a Passport by Mail
You may apply by mail if you meet the following requirements:

You can submit your most recent passport.
Your previous passport was issued on or after your 16th birthday and was issued within the past 12 years.
You use the same name as that on your most recent passport or you have had your name changed by marriage or court order, and can submit proof of the change in name

How to Proceed
Obtain Form DSP-82, Application for Passport by Mail, from one of the U.S. passport agencies, from a Federal or state court, from a U.S. post office that is authorized to accept passport applications, from your travel agent, or from the Internet at http://travel.state.gov Complete the information requested on the reverse side of the form.

Sign and date the application.
Include your date of departure. If no date is included, passport agents will assume that your travel plans are not immediate, and you will receive your passport within 25 working days from receipt of the application at the passport agency.
Enclose your previous passport. (Your previous passport and other documents that you may have submitted will be returned to you with your new passport.)
Enclose two identical 2x2 photographs.
Enclose the $40 passport fee. (The $15 execution fee is not required for applicants eligible to apply by mail.)
If your name has changed, submit the original or certified copy of the court order or marriage certificate that shows the change of name.
The person that you list to be notified in case of an emergency should be someone who could act on your behalf. The person should be someone to whom you have given or could give a power of attorney.
For processing, mail the completed application and attachments to the National Passport Center, listed on the application form. An incomplete or improperly prepared application will delay issuance of your passport.
If requesting Expedited Service, include the $35.00 expedite fee.

Beware of a Passport That Is About to Expire!
Certain countries will not permit you to enter and will not place a visa in your passport, if the remaining validity is less than 6 months.

All U.S. Citizens Must Have Their Own Passport.
Since January 1981, family members are not permitted to be included in each other's passports. Even newborn babies need their own passports to travel.

Other than a passport, what types of documents will be acceptable under this initiative?
The passport is the document of choice because of the incorporated advanced security features. Individuals traveling to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico or Canada are encouraged to obtain a passport.

For land border crossings, other documents that we anticipate will be acceptable under this Initiative are SENTRI, NEXUS and FAST program cards. These are current international frequent traveler programs.

We anticipate that the Border Crossing Card (BCC – also known as “laser visa”) will also be acceptable as a substitute for a passport and a visa for citizens of Mexico traveling to the United States from contiguous territory.

No other document is currently available that will be an acceptable substitute for the passport, or the Border Crossing Card, SENTRI , NEXUS or FAST cards. However, we are using new technologies to create other acceptable travel documents. We will make public additional travel document options as they become available.

Why is the U.S. Government going to require a passport or other secure identity document?
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) mandated that the U.S. Secretaries of Homeland Security and State develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport or other appropriate secure identity and citizenship documentation when entering the United States.

For many years U.S. citizens, and some citizens of other countries in the Western Hemisphere including Canadians, have not been required to present a passport to enter the U.S. Other forms of documents, less secure than the passport, have historically been accepted.

In light of the new security efforts, the United States is requiring travelers to have a passport or other accepted document for entry into the United States.

Can the general public provide input into the planning and implementation the travel initiative requirements?
The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), and State (DOS) are issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) in the Federal Register to provide vital information on the plan to the public and request input and/or comment on the suggested documents and possible alternative documents that can meet the statutory requirements. DHS and DOS expect to issue a more formal rule later this year following review of those comments to implement the first phase of the Initiative. This rule will take into account comments received as well as soliciting further comments on the rulemaking itself.

The government expects that acceptable documents must establish the citizenship and identity of the bearer through electronic data verification and will include significant security features. Ultimately, all documents used for travel to the United States are expected to include biometrics that can be used to authenticate the document and verify identity.

How will the new travel initiative requirements impact travel at the land borders?
The Departments of State and Homeland Security understand that the greatest potential change will occur at the land borders. The new statute specifically mandates that the concerns of border communities be considered. We recognize the implications this might have for industry, business and the general public, as well as our neighboring countries, and they are important partners in this initiative. The advanced notice of proposed rule making will allow these affected publics to voice concern and provide ideas for alternate documents.

When You Receive Your Passport
Sign it right away! Fill in page 5, the personal notification data page. (For the emergency contact, do not include the name of your traveling companion; instead, write in pencil the name, address, and telephone number of someone who is not traveling with you.) Your previous passport and other documents that you may have submitted will be returned to you with your new passport.

Other Passport Information

Expedited Service
It normally takes 25 business days from receipt of the complete application by a passport agency to return your passport. If you wish or need to receive your passport sooner, you may request expedited service for processing of the passport within 3 business days from receipt of the application by a passport agency. The fee for expedited service is $60.00 per application, which is in addition to the regular passport fee.

If you request expedited service, your departure date should be clearly shown on the application. Anyone who pays the $60.00 expedite fee and submits a complete application will be given expedited service.

If you plan to travel in more than two weeks, but need a passport urgently, it is strongly recommended that you arrange for two-way overnight delivery of the passport to prevent delays. If you are leaving within two weeks, it is recommended that you go to the nearest passport agency to apply.

For additional details, you may check with the National Passport Information Center.

If you plan to travel abroad frequently or if you stay overseas for long periods of time, your relatives or associates in the United States should have valid passports as well. That way, if you were to become seriously ill or involved in some other emergency, they could travel without delay. Also, you should leave with them your passport number and the date and place of the passport's issuance.
Diplomatic and Official Passports
If you are being assigned abroad on U.S. government business and are eligible to apply by mail for a no-fee passport (no-fee regular passport, official passport, diplomatic passport), you must submit the mail-in application form, your authorization to apply for a no-fee passport, your previous passport, and two photographs to the Special Issuance Agency in Washington, D.C. for processing. The address is 1111 19th Street, N.W., Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20522-1705.
Additional Visa Pages
If your passport pages are full mail completed form DS-19, Passport Amendment/Validation Application , with your passport to the following address:

Charleston Passport Center
Attention: Amendments
1269 Holland Street
Charleston, SC 29405

There is no fee for this service unless you require expedited service.

If you travel extensively and need a new passport 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.
Change of Name
Your name has been legally changed since your passport was issued, send a completed form DS-19, Passport Amendment/Validation Application , a certified copy of your marriage certificate or your name change court decree, and your current valid passport to the following address:

Charleston Passport Center
Attention: Amendments
1269 Holland Street
Charleston, SC 29405

Photocopies and notarized copies are not acceptable for passport purposes. The form can be downloaded here. There is no fee for this service unless you require expedited service.
An Altered or Mutilated Passport
If your U.S. passport is mutilated or altered in any way (other than changing the personal notification data), you may render it invalid, cause yourself much inconvenience, and expose yourself to possible prosecution under the law (Section 1543, Title 22 of the U.S. Code).

Mutilated or altered passports should be turned in to passport agents, authorized postal employees, or U.S. consular officers abroad.
Loss or Theft of a U.S. Passport
Please apply for a new passport immediately. You may report your lost or stolen passport when you apply for the new one. Along with your application, you must submit the Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport , Form DS-64. More information on the DS-64 can be found here. You can print the DS-64 here.

If you decide not to apply for a new passport immediately, you may report your lost or stolen passport by completing Form DS-64 and mailing it to:

US Department of State
Passport Services
Consular Lost/Stolen Passport Section
1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036

Or call us 24 hours/day at: (202) 955-0430
Voice mail - For non-business hours, Eastern Time

Regional Passport Agencies

If you need your passport urgently, generally in less than 2 weeks, you may contact one of our Passport Agencies listed below. All agencies take applications only by appointment. Please call in advance. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT A PASSPORT AGENCY. CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT PAY ANYONE OR ANY BUSINESS MAKING SUCH A CHARGE.

BOSTON Passport Agency
Thomas P. O'Neill Federal Building
10 Causeway Street,
Suite 247
Boston, MA 02222-1094
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: 1-877-487-2778

CHICAGO Passport Agency
Kluczynski Federal Building
230 S. Dearborn Street,
18th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604-1564
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: (312) 341-6020

CONNECTICUT Passport Agency
50 Washington Street
Norwalk, CT 06854
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: 1 (877) 487-2778

HONOLULU Passport Agency
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Suite 1-330
Honolulu, HI 96850
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: 1 (877) 487-2778

HOUSTON Passport Agency
Mickey Leland Federal Building
1919 Smith Street
Suite 1400
Houston, TX 77002-8049
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: (713) 751-0294

LOS ANGELES Passport Agency
Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 1000
Los Angeles, CA 90024-3615
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: (310) 575-5700

MIAMI Passport Agency
Claude Pepper Federal Office Building
51 SW First Avenue
3rd Floor
Miami, FL 33130-1680
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: (305) 539-3600

NEW ORLEANS Passport Agency
One Canal Place (corner of Canal and North Peters Streets)
365 Canal Street, Suite 1300
New Orleans, LA 70130-6508
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: (504) 412-2600

NEW YORK Passport Agency
376 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: 1 (877) 487-2778

PHILADELPHIA Passport Agency
U.S. Custom House
200 Chestnut Street
Room 103
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2970
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: (215) 418-5937

SAN FRANCISCO Passport Agency
95 Hawthorne Street
5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105-3901
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: (415) 538-2700

SEATTLE Passport Agency
Henry Jackson Federal Building
915 Second Avenue
Suite 992
Seattle, WA 98174-1091
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: (206) 808-5700

WASHINGTON Passport Agency
1111 19th Street, N.W.
First Floor, Sidewalk Level
Washington, D.C. 20036
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: 1 (877) 487-2778

SPECIAL ISSUANCE Agency
1111 19th Street, N.W. Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20036
Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
NOTE: Applications for Diplomatic, Official, and No-Fee passports
Do You Have Other Questions About Passports?
Please visit the U.S. Department of State's website http://www.travel.state.gov/

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