Passports

The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced June 7, 2007 that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received passports can nevertheless temporarily enter and depart from the United States by air with a government issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through September 30, 2007.  The federal government is making this accommodation for air travel due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand. This accommodation does not affect entry requirements to other countries.  Americans traveling to a country that requires passports must still present those documents. 

Passport Services is expecting to process more than one million more passports this year than they anticipated, bringing the total to 17 million passports this year alone. Currently it is taking at least 10-12 weeks to process passport applications. I am currently working with congressional appropriators to ensure we are providing the agency with the adequate funding for staff and resources to deal with the increase.

Although my staff has in the past been able to help expedite passports that have gotten lost in the system or in cases of emergency, given the sheer number of passport applications being processed at this time, I encourage citizens to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Travelers should apply for a passport at least 12 weeks in advance. If the trip is sooner than that, travelers are advised to pay the expedite fee. If the country also requires a visa, travelers should provide for additional time.
• If a traveler has not received their passport ten days before their trip, contact my Eau Claire District Office by faxing a passport casework request form or by calling the office at 715-831-9214.
• Travelers can get a passport, same day, by driving to the Chicago Passport Agency. To do so, one will need a new application, new photos, a birth certificate, and proof of departure. The Chicago office makes every effort to serve those with departure dates within 48 hours. My office can arrange for an appointment at the Chicago office. Applicants should plan to be at there as early as possible (8:30 a.m.) and be prepared to spend the entire day.

Right now, the public is limited to calling the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) within 14 days of travel at 877-487-2778 to inquire about the status of their application.

More information is also available on the State Department website at www.travel.state.gov.