Passport Required when travelling to Canada - Deadline Extended

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative proposed rule will require citizens of the US, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to present a passport to enter the US when arriving by air or sea from any part of the Western Hemisphere beginning January 8, 2007. Originally, the deadline was December 31, 2006.

For land border crossings, the proposed deadline for passport usage will be January 1, 2008.

Fewer than 30 percent of Americans have a valid US passport. I guess people are just not interested in international exploration.

However, according to the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL), 50-65 percent of passengers on long-duration cruises possess a passport. Only 30-40 percent of those who take short cruises have passports. The ICCL and the Travel Industry Association of America have been lobbying the government to postpone the deadline until June 1, 2009. So far, the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved an amendment to that effect, but the ultimate outcome is yet to be determined.

People complain about the potential backlog of passport applications, but I think you have procrastinated long enough, and you got ample time before the land crossing deadline, and a good amount of time before the air/sea deadline. So how about clicking HERE, and get started on your new passport.