Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Passport requirements change for travel in North, South America
By Lizeth Cazares
The California Aggie (UC-Davis)
01/29/2007

(U-WIRE) DAVIS, Calif. — Students traveling outside of the United States to destinations in North or South America for upcoming holidays or school vacations might have a problem returning home without proper documentation. Because of increased security measures, Americans are now required to have passports in order to reenter the United States.

Steve Royster, spokesperson for the Consular Affaires, said citizens flying to countries in the Western Hemisphere, such as Canada, Mexico and Bermuda, can no longer use documents such as driver licenses to return home. As of Jan. 23, travelers can only use passports.

The new regulation is a result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission after seeing that the ability to cross freely using other documents was a security weakness, Royster said. So far, the new requirement has successfully been employed.

"It's been a great success," he said. "Most people knew about the new requirement."

But those planning to drive to neighboring countries don't have to worry just yet, as the new regulation only applies to air travel thus far.

"If you're planning to take a road trip down to Tijuana, you can still do it with an oral declaration, driver license or a copy of your birth certificate," he said.

However, those allowances will also change; as early as January 2008, the U.S. Department of State will require passports for land and sea travel.

Currently, approximately 27 percent of Americans, about 72 million people, have passports. Royster said that in 2006 an estimated 12 million people obtained passports, and experts expect that number to increase to 16 million this year because of the new requirement.

College students looking to travel outside the United States this spring should start the application process as soon as possible, Royster advised.

"Now is the time to apply," he said. "It takes six weeks to get one and if you start this week you can get it by mid-March, which is when most colleges have their spring breaks."

Local travel agencies have tried to prepare their clients for the recent change, said Loren Infeld, travel agent for STA Travel. He added that the agency has been warning students about the new change for over a year.

"A lot of people who've come in already know about it," he said.

For those who don't have a passport yet and are planning a trip soon, Infeld said the agency supplies passport applications and offers to take passport pictures.

He said a regular passport costs approximately $97 and takes six weeks to arrive. But those who've waited until the last minute can get an expedite passport in two weeks for close to $200; same-day printed passports require a trip to San Francisco and cost approximately $300.

While most people found out about the new regulations beforehand, Infeld said there have been instances when students haven't been so lucky.

"We've had to push back their flight to give them time to get an expedited passport," he said. "But other than that, word has gotten out pretty well."

Angela Adams, a senior at the University of California at Davis, said she's planning to go to Chile this spring to visit her boyfriend and wasn't aware of the new regulation. Fortunately, she already has a passport from studying abroad last year. She added that she feels the new regulation might increase safety.

"It's kind of a good idea since it's really easy to fake other documents," she said. "And it's not going to affect me, whether I have to show my license or passport when I come home from Chile."

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