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

US legislators yesterday approved a report pushing back the deadline by which travelers must have a passport to enter the US by land to June 1, 2009. The new rule will apply to land travel between Canada, Mexico and the US; travelers, including US citizens, must still have a passport by January 8 (edited 11/06: deadline moved to January 23), 2007, for all other international travel.

Currently, no passport is required for travel between the US and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda and Panama; a government issued photo id and a birth certificate suffice. Read the background on the new passport legislation or continue reading this article...

Passport Rules May Change Again

A Congressional conference report and debate on the House floor yesterday (September 29) show that some Republicans want to make it clear that the passport deadline extension may still be shortened, or even kept to the last deadline of January, 2008, should the US government be able to sooner provide a PASS card or similar inexpensive ID card to be used at border crossings instead of passports. (Passport fees currently total $97 [$82 for those under 16] and a border id like a PASS card card will probably be about $50. )

Democratic Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy had labeled a passport requirement schedule calling for implementation by the beginning of 2007 and 2008 a "train wreck" and was among those calling for the delay in requiring passports or an ID like the PASS card at US borders. Regardless of party, legislators seem to be urging the Department of Homeland Security to work hard and quickly, which may mean sooner than June, 2009, in making a logical and workable transition to new identification requirements at US borders, including the correct technology to read PASS cards or similar.

What's It Mean?

Part of the passport requirement point is fighting terrorism by increasing border security, according to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. Student travel advocates have argued that the new passport rules will harm the travel industry immensely with a passport requirement being a potential deterrent to cross-border travel.

Regardless of new rules, you should get a passport as soon as possible. The long debate and politicking over often-changing passport rules means that many people, including members of the media, do not know what the ultimate deadlines really are for needing a passport for cross-border travel. Theoretically, you may run into uninformed folks at border crossings who won't let you pass without a passport long ere the new deadline. Rock a passport now and save the hassle if you really can't wait for the new PASS card. If you're a student traveler with limited funds and need to postpone passport purchase as long as possible, be prepared with the right documentation when crossing US borders, and know your rights.

• Passport Rules Background
• 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?
• September is National Passport Month

Related: Congressional Report | May 2006: "Mexico, Canada Passport, Travel Rule Deadline To Be Extended?" | September 2006: "Passport Deadline Extended Again" | September 2006: "Vote May Move Passport Rule Deadline to 2009" | Passport Rule Change Archives

^{Photo © Kathleen Crislip 2006}