Each year hundreds of Oklahoma families and thousands of students take vacations abroad – especially during the summer break from school. These experiences create life-long, unforgettable memories that bind families together and that broaden a student’s perception of the wide world around them.
But as any parent, guardian, or school advisor who has planned an excursion abroad can tell you, planning a vacation outside the U.S. requires much fore-thought and careful preparation. That’s why, as your Representative to the Federal Government, I wanted to note some recent changes made to the identification process when entering and leaving the United States.
In 2004, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) stated that a birth certificate and driver’s license were no longer adequate forms of identification to travel between the United States, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
Beginning June 1, 2009 travelers will need a passport, or a “passport equivalent” document, to leave and re-enter the country. To avoid delays, you must travel with one of the four following types of identification:
Passport: The traditional blue book costs $100 for adults ($75 for renewals) and $85 for children 15 and younger. It’s the only one of the three that’s valid for air travel and for travel to non-WHTI countries.
Passport card: The wallet-sized passport card was developed to offer a less expensive alternative to a traditional passport. Designed primarily for those who cross the border frequently, it features a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip so it can be read wirelessly for faster processing. First-time cards are $45 for adults and $35 for children 15 and younger. However, it’s valid only for crossings by land or sea (not air) and only within WHTI countries.
Enhanced driver’s license: Comparable to passport cards, enhanced driver’s licenses (EDL) are state-issued driver’s licenses that can also be used for land and sea crossings from WHTI countries. The cards, which are also RFID-enabled, are currently available to residents of New York, Vermont and Washington. (Note, though, that foreign countries, even ones covered by WHTI, set their own rules regarding entry, so confirm EDL acceptance before you go.)
“Trusted Traveler” Card: The cards -- NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST -- are issued to pre-approved frequent border crossers, allowing them to use dedicated lanes to expedite their crossings.
There are two exceptions to these rules. U.S. citizens 16 or younger returning from WHTI countries by land or sea AND passengers on cruises to WHTI countries that start and end in the same U.S. city can continue to travel with a birth certificate and photo ID.
Because of the increased need for passports, people applying for one should expect a delivery time of four to six weeks for routine applications and two to three weeks for expedited service. Travelers who do not comply with the new requirements will get a warning and will only be allowed to enter the U.S. after a background check.
If you have submitted a passport request and are concerned you might receive it too late for your trip, caseworkers in my district offices are available to assist you with the State Department. Although these new rules might create some inconvenience, they were enacted for improved safety of all travelers at our airports with international flights and for greater security at our nation’s borders.
However, there is no better way to insure your family or school trip is an outstanding success than to make certain you’ve given yourself plenty of time to navigate the passport process. Enjoy your travels this summer and beyond!
Congressman Dan Boren was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District in 2004. He currently serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the House Natural Resources Committee.
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