REMINDER FOR EVERYONE who still does not have a PASSPORT!!!

Even though the laws have (currently) become more lenient for children, get those passports anyway. Having a passport makes it much easier and faster going through customs, especially getting BACK into the US. Actors having their passports also make filling out paperwork for acting jobs easier. (no need for birth certificate)

It's now taking longer just to get them thanks to all those who waited until the last minute. The passport offices are backlogged and even trying to get one expedited within 24 hours is a challenge, let alone being more costly, so do it now and save yourself the stress and hassle and possibly the loss of a job.

And for goodness sake, if you do have a passport, CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE!
Anyone here listen to KLOS on the radio and Mark and Brian Show in the morning? Mark's experience this past week is a perfect example of why you need to keep your passports up to date. His being expired kept him from going to Jamaica for his own radio show when he discovered he misread his passport expiration date. It was discovered on a Friday and he had to wait until Monday to apply and could not leave until Tuesday. To an actor, that could have cost them a job.

SO GET THOSE PASSPORTS, PEOPLE!!!

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!

Yes! Mine is in transit at the moment being renewed. It expires on April 24, 2007. I sent it in on February 5th. The check has cleared so hopefully I'll get it any day now.

I also recommend scanning color copies of your DL and Passport to have just in case. Can't hurt.

There was an article in the paper recently and they noted that with the amount of people applying there is about a 10 week turn around time. So people should plan accordingly. (Sounds like you'll be fine)

Take note: There are new rules regarding children an passports, but when it comes to a possible job for a child actor that requires crossing our borders, it is usually always done by air. It is still important for child actors to be prepared with a passport.
-------------------------------------------

U.S. to Exempt Kids From Passport Rules:
The U.S. proposes exempting children from passport laws when they travel between the U.S. and Canada by land and sea. The proposed change could take place as early as January 2008.
By Ron Vample, AP

Related Articles
New Passport Rules: A Driver's License Won't Do
Your Passport: Don’t Leave Home Without It
Forum: Sound Off About New Passport Laws

Related Destinations
Canada, Detroit, Ontario, Mexico, Bermuda, Caribbean, Vermont, Alaska, Ottawa, Washington, D.C. Buffalo, and New York State.

U.S. and Canadian children will be exempt from new rules that will require travelers to show passports when entering the U.S. at land or sea borders, a move the Bush administration said Thursday is aimed at helping families and school groups.

The new passport requirements will take effect as soon as January 2008. In a change from earlier plans, U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 15 or younger with parental consent will be allowed to cross the borders at land and sea entry points with certified copies of their birth certificates rather than passports.

U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 16 through 18 traveling with school, religious, cultural or athletic groups and under adult supervision will also be allowed to travel with only their birth certificates.

The rule is designed, for example, to allow hockey teams and other groups to go back and forth without disrupting their schedule, provided they are chaperoned, Chertoff said.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, a longtime critic of the overall passport requirements because of the potential impact on the economy of border states, said he was pleased by the exemption for those under age 15.

"That's a great first step and now we're going to have to make sure they do it for everyone over 15 as well," Schumer said.

Schumer said he would introduce legislation that would delay implementation of the passport requirement until at least June 2009. The bill also would require studies on the economic impact of the initiative on each border state, and to test an enhanced driver's license program as an alternative to passports in at least one location.

Any alternative to passports would have to cost adults no more than $20 and be free for children, under the bill.

Beginning last Jan. 23, nearly all air travelers entering the U.S. who are citizens of Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean—as well as returning American citizens—have been required to display passports. Children entering the United States by air will still be required to show passports.

When the new requirements for travelers crossing land and sea borders take effect, it will bring residents of Western Hemisphere nations under the same rules as travelers from the rest of the world.

One of those conditions was to develop an alternative procedure for groups of children traveling across the border under adult supervision and with parental consent.

Associated Press Writers Beverley Lumpkin in Washington, D.C., and Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo, N.Y., contributed to this report.

There goes some of our vacation money!

Here's the latest! http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/may/85433.htm

My husband kids and i applied for passports on April 14th, and have still not received them. We are scheduled to go to Italy the end of July, and thought we had plenty of time. A dental patient of mine who works in government law(upon telling her about our delayed passports) recommended I contact our state senator's office and ask to speak to someone in "constituent services" to notify them of our delay. She said the passports will then be flagged and brought to the top of the list.
Hope this helps--I'm gonna give it a shot!

Yes, because of the new Canada passport requirement the passport offices are swamped! Whenever you have a problem with anything Federal you should contact your Congressperson or Senator. They have staff that deals with only this kind of thing.

Good luck!

we have never yet applied for passports - how long do they last before expiring?
thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by bAREFOOTgIRL:
we have never yet applied for passports - how long do they last before expiring?
thanks!

Age 16 or older expires in 10 years.

Age 15 or younger expires in 5 years.

thanks!

what new Canada passport requirement? It's the US government that is requiring passports to come into/back into the US from Canada and Mexico and the Caribbean I believe...last time I checked. Right now, it's required if you fly. You can still use a drivers license if you cross by land.

We renewed 2 of my kids' passports last week and were told it will take possibly til October for them to be processed!!! Just a reminder for anyone whose passport is ready to expire...

edited for spelling.

*Bump*

Just an update, I ordered my families passports the first week in April and we still dont have it. My son was leaving for Canada in July and I had to get the help of our local Congressman to make a special call to get him his since he already had a flight booked for Canada, as a favor he got me mine as well, but we are still waiting for my daughters and husband.