Expedited Passports

According to statistics from the US State Department published in the Washington Post, as of 2007 only 27% of Americans had a valid passport.  That’s not very many people, but passport applications have increased in recent years as passports become necessary for more and more people. Do you need a US passport?  Here are some reasons why you might:

Travel

If you are traveling outside of the US, you probably need a passport. This is even true if you are traveling to Canada or Mexico,  where passports were not required until recently. For more on travel regulations to our nearest neighbors, see this post on passport requirements in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Also, travel sites across the Internet feature last-minute international travel deals.  If you have the flexibility to leave at the spur of the moment, you can often travel quite cheaply.  Having a US passport on hand gives you that flexibility.

A passport is not required for direct travel to other US states or territories. However, if you are traveling to a US state or territory and your travel itinerary requires you to go through another country to get there, then you may need a passport. For example, if you travel through Canada to get to Alaska, you’ll need to follow the rules for travel to Canada.

Business

In today’s global economy, international business trips have become increasingly common. Although express passports are available for business travelers, having a passport on hand makes traveling overseas for business much easier.

Family

If you or your spouse have family overseas, the US Department of State recommends that you keep your US passport current so that you can fly out to be with them in an emergency.

Generally, you should apply for a US passport at least 2 months in advance to make sure that you have it in time for your trip. However, if you need to travel unexpectedly, RushMyPassport.com offers a convenient expediting option that makes it easy to get a passport in a hurry.

Be prepared: Expedite your US passport today!

UPDATE: New travel regulations for Mexico are in effect. See this article on passport requirements for Mexico for up-to-date information!

Right now,  whether or not you need a passport to go to Mexico  depends on two factors: how you’re getting there and when you’re planning to go. Passports are already required for travel to Mexico if you are traveling by plane.  However, currently land and sea travelers can cross the border with state-issued ID (like a driver’s license) and proof of American citizenship  (like a birth certificate).

On June 1st, the rules will change as the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative becomes effective. After June 1st, everyone will need a passport to go to Mexico, whether you’re flying, sailing or walking across the border. The only groups of people who will still be able to cross the border using birth certificates after this date will be children under 16 traveling with family and children under 18 if they are on an organized trip with a school, church or sport group.

These exceptions only apply for children traveling by land or sea. Everyone flying to or from Mexico will still need a passport, regardless of age. As a safety precaution, it’s best  that all travelers to Mexico have a passport in case they need to fly home unexpectedly.

If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, it’s important to apply for a passport at least 6 weeks and preferably several months in advance.  Since the rules are about to change, the wait time for a US passport may get longer as the deadline approaches.

If you need a passport to Mexico in a hurry, you should consider using a private passport expediting service to submit your passport application. With an expediting company, your application will be processed more quickly, bypassing the normal wait times. With RushMyPassport.com, you can have your passport processed in as little as 24 hours!

Click here to view our passport processing options, and order your passport to Mexico the easy way!