Michigan has decided to offer an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL), which its citizens can use instead of a passport for quick trips into Canada. Like the newer passports, the enhanced driver’s license has a radio frequency identification chip to provide stronger identification, so it is WHTI-compliant for land and sea trips to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean. The final phase of the WHTI goes into effect June 1, 2009. After that date, you will need a passport or an enhanced driver’s license to cross the border. Currently, Michigan is one out of only four states to offer the EDL.<\/p>\n
However, it’s important to remember that, like the new passport card, the EDL won’t work for air travel.\u00a0 That’s why it’s best to only use it in place of a passport for quick jaunts across the border by car.\u00a0 For extended stays, a passport is still best, even if you’re driving.\u00a0 After all, if something were to come up and you needed to fly home quickly, you would want to have a passport, wouldn’t you?<\/p>\n
Remember, the new rules for border crossing go into effect on June 1, so if you’re a frequent international traveler, you’d better apply for passport, quick!<\/p>\n
If you apply for a passport with regular processing,\u00a0 you should allow 2 to 3 months for it to arrive, just to be on the safe side. If you order through the government with expedited processing, expect to wait at least 3 weeks. However, faster passport processing service is available through private passport expediting companies.\u00a0 These companies hand-deliver your passport to the US Passport Agency for processing-it’s basically the equivalent of being whisked to the front of the line, so you can get your passport processed in as little as 24 hours.<\/p>\n