New Passport Laws Don’t Impede Border Crossing - Expedited Passports

In 2009, new passport laws went into effect that changed the documents required for travel between the US, Mexico and Canada. Called the Western Travel Initiative (WHTI), the regulations required most US citizens to have either a passport or a passport card for land and sea travel to either country, with a passport book being required for air travel.

Local businesses on both sides of the border have been ruing that day ever since, blaming the requirements for slowing down the number of consumers able to casually hop from country to country.

Now, a new report suggests that at least on the US/Canadian border, the problem may be an issue of perception rather than an actual increase in wait times.  According to the Spectator, an in-depth study commissioned by the Binational Economic and Tourism Alliance found that 90 percent of the time, cars and trucks had to wait just 5-10 minutes to get across the border.

Executive director Arlene White told the Spectator that the study was prompted by continued angst from businesses over the new passport requirements:

“We just kept hearing that it’s tough to cross and it’s a hassle. We wanted to know the realities of how much had changed and the economic impacts of the changes since 9/11 … We said let’s gather the facts instead of the myths.”

Slightly less encouraging was the study’s finding that only 53 percent of residents living near border areas had a document that would enable them to cross if they wanted to.  The most flexible travel document is a US passport book, which allows for travel by land, air and sea. If the cost of a new passport is prohibitive and you don’t plan on flying, a passport card will allow you to cross over by land or by sea for only $55 per person. Another alternative is a NEXUS card, though the application process is a little more involved and requires a personal interview and a retinal scan.

If you need a new passport, it’s important that you don’t wait until the last minute. Passport applications take about six weeks to process. For a $60 expedite fee, the Department of State’s expedited service will save you some time, but you still must allow three weeks. For faster processing, you must either drive to the nearest Regional Passport Agency office or use a private expediting company like RushMyPassport. By hand-delivering your paperwork to the Department of State, we can cut processing time down to as little as 24 hours with no need to wait in line or make an appointment.

Let us help you get your new passport quickly and easily- get started today!

One question we get with some frequency here at RushMyPassport is this: “Do I need a passport to go to Hawaii?”

It’s easy to understand why there might be some confusion about this issue. After all, depending on where in the mainland you’re starting from, Hawaii is anywhere from 5 to 12 hours away by plane. It’s also an exotic place, with its own tropical culture and its own language (though just about everyone speaks English).

Via Wikipedia, here are some additional fun facts about what makes Hawaii unique:

• It is the only state that not geographically located in North America.
• It is the only state that is completely surrounded by water.
• It’s the only state where coffee is grown (and if you visit, send me back a bag of Kona, would you?)
• It is the only state that has royal palaces.
• Finally, it is the only state without a single straight line in its boundary.

However, no matter how far away it is or how different it is, Hawaii is part of the United States. It became a state in 1959. The 50th star on the flag? That’s for Hawaii. Read the rest of this entry »

After losing everything in a natural disaster, it’s a tremendous burden to have to put your life back together again. Important documents are lost, your life is in complete and utter turmoil, and insurance doesn’t cover everything even if you’re lucky enough to have it.

Under those circumstances, having to pay $135 to apply for passport replacement is like adding insult to injury.  To help, US Representative Bill Owens of New York just introduced a bill allowing the Secretary of State to waive passport replacement fees for people who live in a county that has been declared a federal distaster area and who have lost their passports in the disaster. Some parts of New York recently experienced terrible flooding, and a waiver of passport fees was requested by many of Owens’ constituents and county clerks alike, according to the Adirondack Daily Dispatch. Essex County Clerk Joe Provoncha told the paper of his own experiences trying to help the people he served after the disaster:

“[The Department of State] said, ‘They’re going to have to pay the full amount for replacement, and I was infuriated…This wasn’t a situation where someone went swimming and left their passport in their pocket. If they had completed the appropriate forms, they should be able to come into our office and get the replacement passport free of charge.”

In a statement, Rep. Owens noted that New Yorkers often travel across the northern border, which now required a passport due to stricter border controls put into place in the decade after 9/11.

“As New York begins to rebuild … it is critical that we provide all the support available to New Yorkers to get their lives back in order. Many New Yorkers in our district frequently travel to Canada for business or pleasure, and they don’t need to be hit with a $110 passport replacement fee during financially trying times.”

There’s no telling whether or not this bill will pass, of course, but it would be a nice thing for people afflicted by natural disasters if they didn’t have to pay a hefty passport application fee on top of everything else.

For more about what you need to get your passport replaced, see  “Passport Replacement Services.”

Also, keep in mind that getting a replacement passport can take at least 6 weeks if you apply for regular service, and at least 3 weeks if you pay the additional $60 for expedited service from the Department of State. If you need your passport more quickly, you can either make an appointment at a regional passport agency office, or avoid the lines, hassle and potential need to travel by choosing a private expediter like RushMyPassport.

We personally deliver your passport application to the Department of State, for processing in as little as 24 hours.

Contact us today for fast, professional passport replacement help!

The grand old Internet tradition of “Cyber Monday” turns six years old tomorrow, as online retailers try to get their piece of the holiday shopping pie. At this point, I’m not sure why you would want to camp out in the cold and risk life and limb to shop Black Friday at a bricks-and-mortar store when you can get great deals online for all sorts of products, including travel.

This Cyber Monday, some travel companies are bending over backwards to entice you to get a passport and hit the road. Here are some of the best international travel deals:

Abercrombie and Kent: Want to explore ancient Incan sites in Peru, take a walk on the wild side in Kenya, or tour temples in Thailand? Of course you do…and if you book your trip during Abercrombie and Kent’s “Six Days of Holiday Savings” sale, you could save thousands of dollars! The sale includes 1o different itineraries and ends December 3rd. (Via Gadling.)

St. Kitts Marriott Resort: Need a beach break after the stress of the holidays? I don’t blame you one bit…so go ahead and book 4 nights at the St. Kitts Marriott resort and get 3 nights free! You have to book tomorrow to get the deal, and use the secret code ZJL to book. (Via Fox.)

Viceroy Hotels: Book a stay at select Viceroy hotels around the world during their Cyber Monday promotion tomorrow, and you’ll be able to score rooms at up to 50% off. (via Gadling.)

Yuupon: This oddly-named travel flash sale site has some of the deepest discounts we’ve seen. For example, a four-night stay for two adults at an all-inclusive resort in Costa Rica could be yours for just $399.00! (via CNN)

Orbitz.com: Orbitz’ holiday specials all end on Cyber Monday, and include discounts of up to 50-60% off on trips all around the world. (Via CNN.)

If you decide to cash in on any of these offers, don’t forget to get a passport if you don’t already have one! Keep in mind that even at the best of times, it can take up to six weeks for your passport to arrive if you choose regular service. If you pay the additional $60 fee for the Department of State’s expedited service, you should allow at least 3 weeks for your documents to arrive.

To get a passport at the last minute, you can either make an appointment at one of the 24 regional Passport Agency offices located throughout the country, or you can use a private company like RushMyPassport.com. We personally deliver your application directly to the Department of State, for processing in as little as 24 hours.

Last-minute travel plans? Let us help you get a passport quickly!

For many Americans, the ability to apply for a new passport completely online ranks high on their travel wish list. Unfortunately, as of right now, you can only start the process online by filling out and printing the relevant application forms. If you’ve never had a passport before (or you are otherwise ineligible to renew your passport by mail), you still have to go down to the nearest passport acceptance facility (most likely a post office) to turn in the paperwork.

Will you ever be able to apply for a new passport without having to leave your desk? Probably not for the foreseeable future. A US passport is more than just a travel document- it’s also proof that you are a US citizen and entitled to all the rights and benefits that US citizens receive. By making you apply in person, the government helps ensure that only people who have the necessary documentation get a passport.

However, current US passport holders may soon be able to apply for a new passport card online, according to InformationWeek.com:

The State Department aims to simplify another bureaucratic process for Americans as part of its customer service plan—applying for a passport card, which will be valid for travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

The department is developing a pilot so people who already have a valid U.S. passport book can apply for a passport card online by uploading a digital photo and making an online payment. The pilot is experimenting with electronic signatures to see if they are viable for this type of passport processing, which the department does more than a million times a year.

That’s great news, but travelers do need to be aware that the US passport card has both advantages and disadvantages when compared to a regular, full-sized passport. For example, the main disadvantage of a passport card is that it cannot be used for air travel.

At RushMyPassport, we enable people who need passports in a hurry to complete as much of the process online as possible. Find out what documents you need, fill out paperwork and print it. If you’re applying for a new passport, you still do have to make a trip to the post office to get your application package “sealed,” but we walk you through the process to ensure it goes smoothly and with minimal hassles. Finally, we personally take your paperwork to the Department of State, for processing in as little as 24 hours.

Let us help you get your new passport quickly and easily!

University of Rhode Island students had chance to get some help with their passport applications last week, thanks to a unique event held by the University’s International Office.

During the event, the International Office gave away 50 free passports, covering the application fees for those students lucky enough to be able to snag one. In addition, the office helped 30 more students with the passport application paperwork.

In the university’s student newspaper, University of Rhode Island Student Abroad and National Student Exchange Advisor Kendrick Delaney explained that the event had two main goals: helping students get a passport who might not otherwise be able to afford it, and increasing awareness of the passport office among the student body. Mr. Delaney, who has lived in the Caribbean, said,

“I’m living in a foreign country, and I want to help students get that experience. We believe that every student deserves to have a passport. Giving students passports is really giving them a key to open their world. Hopefully we can get more funding to continue this program…We want people to know what we do, find where we are, and who we serve. We do incoming, international and national student exchange. We inform students about our programs and scholarships.”

It’s amazing how getting a passport opens your eyes to the possibility of travel, even if you haven’t decided on a destination yet. Student Sara Klempe, lured in by the offer of a free passport, told the newspaper:

“I don’t really know where I’d want to go yet. But, I figured that not a lot of people had heard about it and if it’s free I thought, ‘why not?’”

Why not, indeed? Submitting a passport application is not cheap- it costs $135 to apply for a new one, a fee those 50 lucky students didn’t have to worry about. However, despite the initial upfront investment, a passport gives good long-term value as it’s valid for 10 years. $1.35 per year isn’t that bad for a document that makes the entire world your oyster, is it?

If you need a passport, be sure to apply well in advance of your expected travel dates, as regular processing can take six weeks or more. Expedited processing is available from the State Department for an additional $60 fee, but still takes about three weeks.

For faster service, you must either make an appointment at a regional passport agency office or use a private expediting company like RushMyPassport. Of the two options, an expediting company is definitely more convenient, as there’s no need to make an appointment or travel any further than your local post office.

Let us help you expedite your passport application today!

Fall is harvest season, so it’s traditionally a time of gluttony. If you can’t wait for the requisite Thanksgiving feast at the end of the month, why not renew your passport and fly in to the Cornucopia Festival in Whistler, Canada?  As the name implies, Cornucopia is a celebration of gourmet food and wine. It runs from November 10th to November 13th, and if you like food, wine and fun, it’s definitely working checking out. (Via Gadling).

If you like to eat but don’t consider yourself a foodie, don’t worry about being out of your depth here. Per the Cornucopia website, “The annual event features a sumptuous variety of hands-on seminars, fascinating winemaker dinners, gala tasting events and sizzling after-parties. Cornucopia offers something for both the experience (sic)  gourmet and those seeking to better appreciate the epicurean delights of wine and food.”

With plenty of food events and wine tastings, you won’t go hungry or thirsty. However, the wine tastings don’t include food, so as you plan your time at Cornucopia, you should make sure to get something on your stomach beforehand. You’ll have to buy tickets individually for each event you want to go to, though you can combine tickets to the CRUSH Gala, the big Kahuna of wine tastings, with your hotel room to save a little bit of money.

Oh, did I mention that the after parties feature music live and burlesque dancers? Well, they do.

You’ll also probably need to renew your passport if it’s expired.  Passports are required for all flights into Canada. If you’re driving, you can bring either a passport or an alternative document like a passport card, a NEXUS card or an enhanced driver’s license (assuming you live in a state that offers them.) Read the rest of this entry »

Waiting in line to go through a border checkpoint can really try your patience. However, when it’s your turn to hand over your passport, don’t let your impatience make you less vigilant. While it’s rare, there have been a couple of cases recently where customs officials have handed people back the wrong passports.

First, there was the case of Joe Valdez in Texas.  Poor Mr. Valdez lost his passport when a border patrol official handed his passport to a stranger who was also crossing from the US into Mexico. The passport was never recovered, though Mr. Valdez was able to get the cost of a replacement refunded after a local news station gave the situation some publicity.

More recently, two couples crossing from Canada into the US were also given the wrong passports.  Huguette and Gilles Remillard were crossing into the US en route to Mesa, Arizona, when they handed their passports over to US Customs official. As Huguette explained to CBC news, when officer handed the passports back, she told the officer “Those are not mine. And he said, ‘Uh oh.’”

“Uh oh” isn’t exactly what you want to hear from a government official, but Customs was kind enough to let the couple drive through. However, they were naturally worried about their missing passports, and it took a week to find  Dennis Slack and Susan Heywood, the couple who had driven off with them. They never looked at the passports they were given, and were blissfully unaware of the situation until the Remillards were able to contact them through their son.

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending: when the Remillards contacted the other couple, they were able to get their passports back.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman  Chris Mission, “there has always been a policy to verify the identity of a passport holder, but one border officer made a mistake that day.”

9 times out of 10, if not more so, the passport you hand over to border officials is the passport you’ll get back. However, keeping your eyes on your documents (if possible) can help avoid mishaps. Lost passports are costly and time-consuming to replace, so it’s worth making an extra effort to try to prevent incidents like this from occurring.

If you lose your passport and you need it replaced in a hurry, we can help. We personally deliver your application to the Department of State, resulting in processing times as low as 24 hours, with no need to make an appointment or wait in line like you would have to at a passport agency office.

Let us help you get a passport quickly today!

Do you love wine and travel? If so, here’s a travel contest that’s tailor-made for you: The Wines of Chile Experience. (Via Gadling.)

If you win, you’ll get two free flights to Chile (one for you, one for a guest), as well as five nights of accommodations at a boutique hotel or winery, food and drink, activities and transportation within Chile. The total value of the prize package is “not to exceed $15,000,” so there should be enough of a budget for you to really enjoy yourself!

To enter, you’ll need to visit the “Wines of Chile” Facebook page. The page lists 5 themes: For the Love of Chile; Wine and Stars; Horses and Huasos; Harvest Holiday and Urban Wine Retreat. Upload 5 of your own original photographs, one for each theme. The deadline is November 4th, and on November 5th, the company will select 5 finalists. The finalist whose photos get the most votes from other fans, wins.

If you win, you’ll need to be ready to travel between January 1st and April 30th, 2012. One big step will be turning in your passport application. Don’t wait until the last minute to do this; it takes at least six weeks to process a unexpedited application. With the Department of State’s expedited service, you’ll pay an additional $60 fee but your passport application will still take three weeks to process. The Contest Rules note that

“The Winning Participant and his/her travel companion are responsible for obtaining all necessary documentation (including, but not limited to, valid passport, photo ID, visas, etc.) prior to travel.”

So, if you procrastinate, you might miss out on the trip of a lifetime.

If you are about to leave the country and need to have your passport application processed quickly, don’t despair. You can either travel to one of 24 regional passport agency offices, or use a private expediting company like RushMyPassport. We’ll personally bring your application to the Department of State, so it gets processed in as little as 24 hours!

Put your passport application on the top of the stack- Contact us today!

Japan has come to depend on its tourist industry, but after the earthquake/tsunami one-two punch that leveled parts of the coast and damaged the Fukushima nuclear reactor, the number of foreign visitors dropped by 50-60 percent (via NileGuidance). Since then, the Japanese travel industry has come up with several promotions aimed at combating the negative perception of the country that still lingers even today. For example, in July, a group of Japanese resorts held a contest to send one lucky travel blogger on a tour of the country for free.

Now, the Japan Tourism Agency is seriously considering expanding that idea in a big way, by giving 10,000 foreign tourists free flights into Japan. According to the Daily Mail, the initiative still needs to be approved and funded by the Japanese government. However, as long as the approval process goes smoothly, the program should be up and running by next April.

To get one of the free flights, you will need to fill out an application. Since Japan hopes to use this promotion to create positive word-of-mouth, it is likely that they will consider factors like how well you can write, whether or not you already have a blog and the size of your online audience. Winners will still have to pay for their own accommodations, food, and activities, as well as for transportation within Japan.

Agency spokeswoman Kylie Clark explained to the Daily Mail how Japan hopes to use the free flights to reinvigorate its tourist industry:

“When people visit Japan they fall in love with it. So rather than spend millions on a big advertising campaign, we hope to be able to give away free flights so people can go and experience Japan for themselves and then tell their family, friends and colleagues what a fantastic destination it is for a holiday.”

Of course, to visit Japan you will need a US passport. Applying well in advance is essential here, as processing time ranges from three weeks for the Department of State’s expedited processing to six weeks for normal processing. Should you need it more quickly, you can make an appointment at one of the 24 regional passport agency offices sprinkled throughout the US. Or, you can go the easier route and use a private expediting company like RushMyPassport to deliver your US passport application to the Department of State, for processing in as little as 24 hours.

Need a US passport quickly? Apply with us today!