Passport Deadline Extended Again

^{Edited 11/23/06: The passport situation has changed again -- read the latest passport news.}

The US Department of State has anounced that the deadline requiring travelers to show a passport when entering the US from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, Panama and Bermuda has been extended yet again. Travelers to and from those countries by air or sea now have until January 8, 2007, to present a passport at US customs; the former deadline had been January 1, 2007 (an original deadline was December 31, 2005). Travelers crossing a land border still have until January 1, 2008, to obtain a passport.

Currently, no passport is needed to return from travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Panama and the Caribbean -- a driver's license and birth certificate embossed by the issuing state suffice.

Even though further extensions of the new passport rules may be likely (the Senate voted on May 16 that the passport deadline be extended to June, 2009), now is the time to get a passport regardless; delay will create fees if you've got to rush the passport application process.

• September is National Passport Month
• How to get your first passport
• How to get a passport in a rush
• How to get a passport without a birth certificate
• What documents will I need for student travel?
• What documents will I need for Mexico travel?

Background: July - "Canada, Mexico Passport Delay?" | June - "Mexico and Canada Passport, Travel Rule Deadline Extended?" | May 2006 article on passports and Canada, Mexico travel | April 2006 article on passports and Canada, Mexico travel | January 2006 article on PASS cards and Canada, Mexico travel | January 2006 article on passports and Canada, Mexico travel | Passport holder review

Photo © Kathleen Crislip