Survey: Confusion still looms over passport rules
Michael Milligan, Travel Weekly, 5/6/2007
It's been months since the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative became law Jan. 23, and according to a new survey, most travelers are confused about the new passport rules.
The Dept. of Homeland Security's WHTI law now requires all airline passengers entering the U.S. from such places as Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean to possess a valid passport.
But a survey released by Travel Industry Association and Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell shows word of the rule has not fully reached the traveling public.
A total of 1,980 adults were interviewed for the surveyed. Most (56%) were unable to correctly identify the countries from which a passport is now required for all U.S. citizens returning by air under the WHTI, while 22% weren't sure about the requirements. Importantly, 7% stated no passport was required for any returning resident regardless of the country visited.
In fact, with the new law in place, regardless of where U.S. citizens have visited, a passport is now required upon returning to the U.S.
It is likely that travelers may become more confused when the passport requirement is extended to land borders and seaports as early as next year.
However, the Dept. of Homeland Security is considering permitting U.S. and Canadian children 15 years and younger, with parental consent, to enter the U.S. with only a certified copy of their birth certificate instead of passports.
"While the U.S. travel industry supports the changes under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, this research only reconfirms our fear that travelers are not very well informed about the WHTI requirement overall," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association.
"The results of this survey underscore the need for substantially more outreach to the traveling public on the WHTI and the necessity of not beginning land and cruise enforcement until U.S. and international travelers better understand these new requirements."
Meanwhile, the rush of travelers applying for passports has resulted in longer processing and wait times for the documents. The State Dept. said it expects to issue as many as 17 million passports by the end of this year, a whopping 40% increase over 2006.
Consequently, the State Dept. said travelers applying for U.S. passports should expect to wait as long as 10 weeks for routine processing. Travelers paying for expedited processing should expect a four-week wait.
Normally, it generally takes about four to six weeks for travelers to receive a passport or two weeks if expedited.
TIA is advising all Americans to obtain a passport as soon as possible to avoid confusion when traveling to other countries.
Passport rules and regulations
According to the TIA, here's what travelers need to know:
• General rules: Information for Americans obtaining a passport can be found at www.travel.state.gov/passport/get/get_840.html . The new passport rules apply to all travelers, regardless of age. Adult passports last for 10 years and are priced at $97; child passports last for five years and are priced at $82. The State Dept. indicates that passports are usually obtained within six to eight weeks. However, because of rising demand, the department recommends applying as early as possible. In addition, if you have an imminent trip, passports can be expedited for an additional fee.
• Air Travel: All Americans flying within the Western Hemisphere, including to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean, will need a passport in order to re-enter the U.S. The same rule applies to all international travelers flying into the U.S. from those same countries.
• Cruise Travel: The new deadline requiring American and international travelers to carry a passport or other secure travel document while cruising in the Western Hemisphere will go into effect no later than June 1, 2009. Consensus is that this rule will probably be enforced sometime in 2008, identical to the land border travel date for implementation.
• Land-Border Travel: Like the sea deadline, the new land border travel deadline for Americans re-entering and international travelers entering the U.S. in motor vehicles will be enforced at some point prior to June 1, 2009, but no exact date is set. The DHS is contemplating permitting U.S. and Canadian children 15 years and younger, with parental consent, to enter the U.S. with only a certified copy of their birth certificate instead of passports.
• Passport Alternative: Cruise and land travelers will also have the option of utilizing a type of PASS (People Access Security Service) card, currently under development by the U.S. State Dept. This is a less expensive passport alternative, with a proposed price of $20 for adults, $10 for children. The process for obtaining a PASS card will be the same as for a passport.