New passport rules go into effect for air travelers

[uplander]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/01/23/ne ... index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/01/23/new.passport.rules.ap/index.html)

The main worry in Canada is that will be fewer Americans will be flying north for things like conventions since a relatively low percentage (the numbers vary according to the source) have passports.

I hope you all have your passports (I'm sure you do). :wink:

"The only valid substitutes for a passport will be a NEXUS Air card, used by some American and Canadian frequent fliers; identification as a U.S. Coast Guard merchant mariner; and the green card carried by legal permanent residents. Active members of the U.S. military are exempt."

[SengaB]

I just applied for one 2 weeks ago.

Senga

[Nonstop2AUH]

Uplander- I was at a conference on conferences (PCMA) in Toronto a couple of weeks ago where there was a discussion of the "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" (with Newt Gingrich and Jean Chretien, among others). The impression I get is that most conferences in Canada (or Mexico) that Americans would attend are for professional organizations whose members are very likely to already have a passport. That said, it's not really any more difficult for Americans to apply for a passport than it is to apply for another credit card, which people here do all the time. However, historically, there was for alot of people just no need to have a passport until now. I think, in time, those who want to or need to travel and don't yet have a passport will suck it up, fill out the paperwork and pay the fee. There will be sort of a one-time bump up in the percentage of Americans who have passports, but a fair number will still not apply because they just don't need or want to leave the country. I've had mine since childhood, so I can't see what the big deal is about people having to go get one, but then again New Yorkers are more inclined to travel internationally. In the heartland, there are probably people who equate getting a passport with learning to speak French or voting for Kerry if you see the angle.

[Mateo]

The US will also accept, apparently, a letter of Advance Parole, which is a piece of security paper that has someone's photo digitally printed on it.

The big worry in Canada doesn't revolve around things like conventions (since something like 94-96% of air pax were already using passports), but rather shorter one-day or weekend trips across the border. Lots of people aren't going to tote around a $97 passport just to go to Casinorama in Windsor, the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, or any of the other attractions in close proximity to the border. It's the significant impact to casual travel that's raised concern. The number to worry about isn't that 94-96 one above, but rather the fact that only ~27% of Americans and ~40% of Canadians have valid passports.

Now, the examples above technically don't apply because Canada hasn't changed any regulations. The whole passport thing only applies to re-enter the United States.

[Nonstop2AUH]

The moniker Advance Parole sounds like an unfortunate choice of words, but I agree there should be some sort of "passport lite" for border residents that can only be used for travel to Canada and perhaps Mexico. Mr. Chretien made similar points to Mateo's at the conference I attended. But then again, if someone can't come up with $97 for a real passport they have no business going to Casinorama where they will surely lose more than that and get nothing in return!

[uplander]

Now, the examples above technically don't apply because Canada hasn't changed any regulations. The whole passport thing only applies to re-enter the United States.

Canada hasn't changed any laws, but the new rules not only apply to re-entering the US but entering the US. So Canadians now also need more than a driver's license to fly to Vegas for the weekend (to stick to the gambling theme :-) ).

[Mellyrose]

We got ours around Thanksgiving. Even though I don't know when I'll be traveling outside of the US, it's such a comfort knowing that I have one now!

[Mateo]

Yeah, Advance Parole is a terrible choice of name - it comes from the original Latin meaning of parole, which is word or promise. (The French term for spokesman is 'porte-parole' - door of words :> )

Sorry if I went a little immigration inside baseball; if you apply for permanent residence in the US, and then leave the country without permission, you're deemed to have abandoned the application. The Advance Parole is your 'word' that you will return to the US to resume your application. Parole from jail is your word that, even though you're being let out early, you won't commit any more crimes.

The concept of a US-issued wallet-sized card (to be called a PASS Card) that would serve as proof of citizenship and include all of the relevant data at greatly reduced cost is on the table, but DHS is dragging their heels on issuing it.