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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, January 28, 2007

Know changes to passport rules

Advertiser Staff and Wire Services

If travel abroad is even a vague possibility, you should have a passport.

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OBTAINING A PASSPORT:

To apply:

  • Proof of citizenship — birth certificate or expired passport

  • I.D. — valid driver's license or state or government I.D. with photo

  • Social Security number

  • Passport fee — $97 16 and older, $82 children

  • Two passport photos, 2by-2-inches (make sure photo presents full head from top of hair to bottom of chin; height of head should measure 1 inch to 1 3/8 inches)

  • Download completed passport application form No. DS-11, from www.travel.state.gov or from regional passport agencies, post offices, libraries, college student service offices, or private passport service agencies

    To renew:

  • Current passport

  • New passport photos, 2-by-2 inches (make sure photo presents full head from top of hair to bottom of chin)

  • Passport fee — $67

  • Download application form No. DS-82 from www.travel.state.gov or from regional passport agencies, post offices, libraries, college student service offices or private passport service agencies.

  • If renewing by mail, you must have an undamaged passport that is less than 15 years old and was issued when you were at least 16 years of age and in the same name you now use.

    Learn More: www.travel.state.gov/passport

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    New regulations went into effect last week that require Americans to have a passport to get back into the United States after international travel.

    Exceptions are:

  • Travel to U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

  • When you're driving or traveling by cruise ship across the borders. However, passports will be required for driving and cruising starting next year.

  • Children under 16 years, but this will change in 18 months. Homeland Security is developing policies to address the special needs of young people, according to the Student and Youth Travel Association, which lobbied for the reprieve for younger travelers, who often lack the required documentation.

    The bottom line, say travel experts: Everyone for whom international travel is even a vague possibility should get a passport now and keep it up to date. Processing a passport takes an average six weeks unless you pay a premium for expedited service. Passport offices are expected to be swamped as travelers awake to the new regulations. The U.S. State Department estimates that fewer than one-third of Americans have valid passports.

    Cruise companies are urging all travelers to get valid passports even if their itinerary does not include international travel because there's always the chance that some emergency might require a passenger to disembark early and fly home from a foreign port, or an entire ship might have to dock at a foreign port because of mechanical problems. Islanders should be aware that the longer around-the-Islands itineraries of the NCL America cruise ships here include a visit to Fanning Island, which requires a passport.

    Yahoo! Travel, the online travel agency, suggests you download passport forms before you visit the passport office; you can fill them out while you wait (and you will have to wait).

    All passport fees are nonrefundable and only some of the 9,000 passport facilities in the U.S. will accept exact cash. Be sure to have your checkbook, credit, or debit/check card (no ATM cards accepted) when visiting your local passport office, Yahoo! Travel suggests.

    If you need expedited service, you must call the National Passport Information Center for an appointment (number below), which will allow you to get your passport processed in less than two weeks. Or you can pay one of the private services that push passports through in 24 hours.

    For example, American Express Vacations Plan-Ahead Services offers same-day passport service for last-minute travelers and those who lose their passports, or have them stolen; information at www.americanexpressvacations.com.

    Members of AAA can get expedited passport service plus travel-planning assistance through their AAA service center. A commercial company called Passports andVisas.com offers online help with rapid passport processing at fees that begin at $59 (in addition to the government's fee for passport processing).

    While you can take your own passport picture, there are very specific guidelines for these and it's safer and less hassle to have this done by a photo shop or at the drugstore. If your photo doesn't meet the guidelines, your application will be rejected. For photo guidelines, check the Web site travel.state.gov.

    In Honolulu, the Regional Passport Agency is in the Prince Kuhio Federal Building, 300 Ala Moana, Suite 1-330, and is open 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays.

    The National Passport Information Center number is (877) 487-2778; service agents can answer questions on weekdays, 2 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Hawai'i time).