see the world, don’t come back
tommyIf you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
In 2004, the State Department announced that beginning January 2006, a passport would be required for trips to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and the Bermuda Islands. In anticipation of possible travel to the Caribbean in 2006, my family and I planned to apply for our passports months in advance. Just before we were to begin the process in late summer of 2005, officials announced the one year delay to January of this year. Knowing that passports are good for ten years, we went ahead to acquire them anyway. We made an appointment, showed up on time, filled out the paperwork, and received our papers in a few weeks. A really easy process.
In this morning’s newspaper, you will find a comprehensive article by Tribune reporter Elaine Silvestrini about the increase in time it takes to get a passport since new rules went into effect. Lots of Americans take trips to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and the Bermuda Islands, so the demand for passports is understandably higher. It makes sense for a process that used to take a month and a half now takes up to three months. Adding to the frustration for travelers is a three hour wait for those without appointments.
These rule changes were widely reported in 2004. When officials held off a year to head off a crunch, it was widely reported. When the changes went into effect this January, it was widely reported - even Joel mentioned it in the sticks. But even with all that, everyone (except the travel industry) apparently failed to take American apathy, procrastination, and laziness into account, leading to Silvestrini’s article today.
Listen - if you plan to travel - or even if you think you might be able to travel within the next ten years, start the process to GET YOUR PASSPORT NOW. If you don’t, and are denied travel or unable to get back to the U.S., it is your own fault, not the Post Office.
By the way, the Silvestrini article is well-written and unbiased, but I can’t say the same for the headline. “Acquiring Passport Borders On Absurd” is clearly an opinion.
Tags: government, tourism, transportation
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May 3rd, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Well, I do have to say that the process (at least earlier this year) was terrible.
The Post Office passport hours are something like 9-2:30. And when we went to the TIA post office there was ONE person working the desk. ONE. Granted, there was plenty of warning. But to under-staff like that and to have inconvenient hours is wrong.
And then there’s the cost. Even without expedited service our family of three would have been into Uncle Sam for about $300.
To me, it seems like being a citizen should be enough. Sure, make me come down and fill out some paper-work and wait in line; that’ll be the “fee”. And most especially now with the new rules.
Turns out we didn’t need them yet just for a cruise. But we’ll be getting them soon enough I’m sure.
May 3rd, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Send your requests to Boston. Its the biggest office and handles them the quickest.
May 3rd, 2007 at 4:07 pm
In March, I made an appointment in Lakeland for April 3rd. I filled out my passport application ahead of time and printed it out. Had my photo done at my appointment and was out in 15 mins. I used the expedited service. I had my passport in barely over two weeks.
What amazed me was my photo looks like I’ve been on a month long backpack tour of Europe.