Passport regulations to change

[The Straight Story]

Passport regulations to change
By Bob Gibbins, Press Staff Writer

If you plan on traveling between now and the end of the year, you may want to know about some changes in passport regulations.

All travelers, including U.S. citizens, to and from the Americas, the Caribbean and Bermuda will soon be required to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the person’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States. Cherokee County Court Clerk Shirley Glory, whose office handles passport applications, said the initiative is being implemented in phases.

She said the requirement will be applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda on Dec. 31, 2006. By the end of 2007, it will be extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

Glory said the cost of a passport is $97 for adults (16 and over) and $82 for children under 16 years. Adult passports are good for 10 years and a child passport is good for five years. Children under 16 have to be accompanied by both parents when applying for passports.


http://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/local/local_story_186105221.html

[napi21]

1. I knew about that change, but not about the radical increase in $$!

When did they increase the cost of a passport? WOW!

[The Straight Story]

2. Helps keep the poor from traveling. I thought our taxes paid for things

like this?

[dsc]

3. They went up some time ago

I know because my passport expired and when I found out how much a new one would cost I decided to wait until I am in need of one.

[napi21]

4. It couldn't have been TOO long ago. My son moved to Sicily

3 1/2 years ago, and we've been talking about visiting. I know I checked on getting our passports, and the cost was much less than half the price now!

I don't recall when I checked last, but it was probably more than two years ago.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

6. That's what I paid 2 summers ago when I got mine.

That's what I get for letting my original one expire. :grr: :dunce:

[mnhtnbb]

5. Don't wait to renew. Always have a passport.

[Sapphocrat]

9. Get it now.

You never know when you'll need it in a hurry. Consider it the cheapest form of insurance you can get for the next ten years -- and it's not going to get any cheaper.

(Plus, last time I checked, expedited processing was another $25.)

[Rainscents]

7. I just got mine renewed... ouch!

[Flying Dream Blues]

8. The best reason to go ahead and get one now

is that they will be adding a chip which will allow them to track your movements abroad. Of course this is for your safety, should you get lost or kidnapped. Actually they were supposed to be implementing this new homeland security measure this year but it was delayed. I guess they were too busy finding Bin Laden or listening to my phone conversations.
:sarcasm:

[Bucky]

10. Both parents? That's dumb. What if the parents are divorced?

My daughter got a passport last year. Her mother lives hundreds of miles away. What a fucked up idea. It would almost be easier to just fake a death certificate.

[dsc]

11. actually divorced parents are almost certainly why that requirement exists

I would imagine it is to prevent one parent from spiriting a child out of the country to avoid visitation or custody orders.

[SmokingJacket]

12. Note they are also adding microchips.

I was thinking about renewing my passport before they do the chips, but maybe I'll just forget about overseas travel and stay home --- where at least only HALF the population hates me... :cry: