Important UPDATE:

Temporary Revision to Passport Policy

The U.S. Department of State has issued a temporary change to passport policy requirements for air travel to and from certain destinations, including Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean, effective immediately. U.S. citizens who have applied for but not yet received passports can temporarily enter and depart from the United States by air through September 30, 2007, with a government-issued photo identification (i.e., driver's license) and Department of State official proof of application for a passport.

This temporary change was made because of the longer-than-expected processing times for passport applications due to record-breaking demand.

VIP Vacations Inc strongly encourages you and your clients to access the Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html and review all of the information related to this temporary change, including the Frequently Asked Questions section, which is very helpful.

New Regulations for US Citizens: 

******UPDATE******MAY 8,2007

The US Passport agency is saying 10-12 weeks to receive a Passport.

Expedited passport applications are no longer taking 1-2 weeks but rather 2-4 weeks, and they are only being “rushed” if people enclose a copy of their itinerary showing the urgency of a passport with their upcoming dates of travel.

Ways to get around the log jam?  We are lucky to be in Philly because there is a passport agency right here, so people can schedule an appointment, but this won’t get you in the door overnight, it takes about a week to 2 weeks to get a confirmed appointment.  Here is the phone number for the Philly passport office:  

Automated Appointment Number: 1-877-487-2778 and you must have an “urgent need” for going around the typical process.  This need could simply be that you are leaving soon for a trip and it has taken longer than the advised 6-8 weeks which were posted on the government sites in March and you have yet to receive your passport. 

IF you are going to apply for a passport and feel you have the 10-12 weeks to wait, make sure you photo copy your birth certificates and have extra’s photo’s because if there are delays in receiving your passport, you can only go to the Philly Passport office if you bring those documents with you.  Many times people find out their passport is being delayed and try to get an appointment but don’t have a copy of their birth certificate because they surrendered it with their application. 

To check the status of your passport if you are eagerly waiting for it go to www.travel.state.gov and click on passport.

In the proposed implementation plan, the initiative will be implemented in two phases. The proposed timeline will be as follows:

• January 23, 2007 – Passports would be required for all air travel from within the Western Hemisphere for citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda. 
• January 1, 2008 – It is anticipated that on January 1, 2008, 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 U.S. passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security.  While recent legislative changes may permit a later deadline, both the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to put all requirements in place by the original deadline.  Advance notice will be provided to enable the public meet the land/sea border requirement.  

  Originally, the proposed date of implementation for the air phase was January 1, 2007then pushed to January 7, 2008.

The Departments of Homeland Security and State proposed a later date in response to comments from the airline industry in order to help facilitate holiday travel.  The requirement will go into effect on January 23, 2007, 60 days after publication of the Final Rule in the Federal Register. 

How to obtain a passport, and costs/time involved:

The cost is $97.00.  It costs $67.00 to renew an expired passport and taxes approximately 4-6 weeks.  If you should want to “expedite” the process it will cost an additional $60.00 yet still take 2 weeks.  Due to the high demand of expedited service, proof of immediate travel helps in obtaining a passport within that 2 week time frame.

The direct link for the application for a passport is:   http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/get_840.html

AMAZING deals and rebates for those purchasing a new passport:

Many hotels/toursim boards throughout the Caribbean/Mexico are offering rebates and discounts for those who have recently paid for a new passport.

www.visitjamaica.com/rewards has a detailed list of hotels that are offering a full rebate for passport fees.

www.aruba.com also has incentives for those who have recently paid for a new passport.

TIP--save your proof of purchase and copy of your application to qualify for your rebates and discounts. 

REMEMBER--when applying for a passport, you must include your original birth certificate and they will send it back to you within the 6-8week application process.  IF you need to get a copy of your original birth certificate, go to www.vitalcheck.com.