PASSPORT NEWS

U.S. Electronic Passport: Pending

The proposed U.S. Electronic Passport is the same as a regular passport with the addition of a small contactless integrated circuit (computer chip) embedded in the back cover. The chip will securely store the same data visually displayed on the photo page of the passport, and will additionally include a digital photograph. The inclusion of the digital photograph will enable biometric comparison, through the use of facial recognition technology at international borders. The U.S. “e-passport” will also have a new look, incorporating additional anti-fraud and security features. Passports without chips will still be valid for the full extent of their validity period.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: Beginning 12/31/2006

Beginning December 31, 2006, all travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America will be required to have a passport or other secure accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. The goal of this initiative is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for US citizens and legitimate foreign visitors. This new requirement will be known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

December 31, 2006 – Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

December 31, 2007 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air, sea and land border crossings.

No More Passport Amendments: 09/26/2005

Effective September 26, 2005, as an additional security enhancement, Passport Services will no longer amend valid passports. Instead, customers requesting name changes, extension of validity for limited passports, or correction of a printing error will apply for replacement passports. If the change is within one year after issuance, they will submit a U.S. Passport Re-Application Form (DS 5504), together with the passport that needs the change, the documentation required, and new passport pictures. There will be no charge for routine processing. If the change is more than one year after issuance, customers will need to submit an Application for Passport By Mail (DS-82), together with the passport that needs the change, the documentation required, and new pictures. The cost includes the $55 application fee and $12 security surcharge, for a total of $67 for routine processing. Of course, if the requested data change is due to a printing error by Passport Services, there will be no charge. Those only needing to add visa pages to their passports will submit an Application for Additional Visa Pages (DS-4085). This service is always free of charge when routine.

New Orleans Passport Agency Closed: 09/25/2005

The New Orleans Passport Agency is CLOSED UNTIL FUTHER NOTICE due to the impact of Hurricane Katrina. Customers whose applications were affected by this closing should have received their passport or a letter from a Passport Agency or Center with further instructions. If you applied for a passport before 8/25/2005 at an Acceptance Facility in the New Orleans, New York and Los Angeles Regions (see a description of these Regions below) AND have not received your passport, or a letter from a Passport Agency or Center with further instructions, call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 to receive information regarding your application

National Passport Information Center Announces New Hours: 06/13/2005

The National Passport Information Center today expanded its hours of live customer service assistance by an additional five hours. Live operator assistance is now available from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight, Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. During these hours, customers with questions about U.S. passport applications may speak directly with customer service representative. Live customer service TDD/TDY operators are also available for customers with hearing impairments. The expansion of service hours will enable the Department of State to continue to meet customer service goals by increasing live operator availability from twelve to seventeen hours per day. The demand for live customer service from the National Passport Information Center has risen to unprecedented levels due to the record number of passport applications being received by the Department of State’s Passport Services. Over 8.8 million passport applications were adjudicated in 2004, an increase of 22% over the previous year and applications to date this year are up by another 14%. Passport customers may continue to contact the National Passport Information Center at any time during the day or night for automated information or, if a passport is needed within 14 days, to make an appointment at a Passport Agency. The National Passport Information Center’s toll free number is
1-877-487-2778

New Passport Fees: 03/08/2005:

Effective March 8, 2005, a new passport security surcharge of $12 will be collected from all passport applicants. The security surcharge was authorized by the FY 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Act (Public Law 108-447). The final schedule of fees was published in the Federal Register on February 2, 2005. For first time applicants, this surcharge will be added to the regular passport fees of $55 (age 16 and older) and $40 (under age 16) in addition to the $30 execution fee, making total cost for routine service $97 for a ten-year passport for those age 16 and older and $82 for a 5-year passport for those under age 16. For applicants renewing their passports, the surcharge will be added to the regular passport fee of $55 making total cost for routine service $67 . These fees and the surcharge are non-refundable. If expedited service is requested, there is an additional charge of $60 per application. The security surcharge will fund multiple security enhancements in the U.S. passport and issuance process. Also on March 8, 2005, newly redesigned and updated forms DS-11, Application for Passport, and DS-82, Application for Passport by Mail, will be available online at travel.state.gov. The new forms will reflect the new security surcharge of $12.

Non Present Parental Consent Form (DS-3053) Must Be Notarized: 11/01/2004

Effective November 1, 2004, the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs will begin requiring that all consent statements by a non-applying parent included with U.S. passport applications for minors under age 14 be notarized. The consent statement must include the child's name and date of birth, as well as parent's identification information or a copy of his/her ID. This new requirement is being implemented to enhance the accurate identification of applicants and aid in the prevention of international child abduction and substitution.

All Minors Must Appear In Person:

To enhance the accurate identification of passport applicants and aid in the prevention of international child abduction and trafficking, the Department of State’s Bureauof Consular Affairs now requires the personal appearance of all minors applying for U.S. passports. This applies to all tourist/business, official and diplomatic passports for children under the age of 14, even if the child has previously been issued a passport. Prior to the introduction of this requirement, parents were not routinely required to bring a child under the age of 14 with them when they applied on the child’s behalf. Now, when applying for a passport on behalf of a minor under the age of 14, parents are required to have their child present and submit documentation of parental relationship and consent, as well as comply with all other documentation requirements for the issuance of a passport. The personal appearance requirement for all minors is a further step toward ensuring the integrity of the passport application process.This change will help to verify the identity of minor applicants and aid in the prevention of international child abduction and trafficking.

U.S. Passports No Longer Issued Abroad: 04/08/2002:

All passports, except those required for urgent travel, will be issued in the United States using the new more secure photo-digitized imaging system. American citizens residing or traveling abroad, who require issuance of a U.S. passport, will be issued the latest, state-of-the-art passport. It incorporates a digitized image with other enhanced security features. Because this technology is not available at U.S. embassies and consulates, overseas passport issuance is being transferred to the National Passport Processing Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Travel documents in the post-September 11 world have become even more important. The new passport has many features that make it one of the most secure travel documents produced anywhere in the world. Getting these more secure passports into circulation will help minimize the misuse of American passports by criminals, terrorists, and others. This new procedure will increase processing time at U.S. embassies and consulates, but the Department is committed to ensuring that American citizens receive secure documents in a timely manner. American citizens overseas are encouraged to apply early for renewal of expiring passports. U.S. embassies and consulates will continue to issue passports that are needed for urgent travel. However, such passports will be limited in validity, and cannot be extended. Bearers will be required to exchange, at no additional cost, their limited-validity passports for a full-validity digitized passports upon completion of their urgent travel.