Our congressman, Timothy V. Johnson of Northern Illinois Dist 15, posted an article to his web site today that warns Americans about new travel procedures regarding normal vacations that many of us used to take.
Just three years ago, we took a trip to the Bahamas with nothing more than our Illinois driver’s license as our photo I.D.. Soon, you’ll need a passport for most simple cruises like that.
Under new rules passed last year to help ensure the safety of our Nation, travel by air to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean requires a U.S. Passport. Other forms of identification are no longer accepted. On June 1, 2009, land and sea travel will be added
to the passport requirement.
I want to ensure that your travel plans are not affected by a problem with documents. When traveling out of the country, the safest and best document in your possession is your U.S. Passport. Currently, there is a four-to-six week processing period for a passport., slightly less for a passport renewal. Expedited service of three weeks is available at a higher cost.
If you are planning to travel later this summer, I urge you to plan ahead and obtain your Passport or passport card as soon as possible. The following contact information may be of assistance to you:
State Department Travel Website www.travel.state.gov
National Passport Information Center 1-877-487-2779
Congressman Timothy V. Johnson Office 1-217-403-4690
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative www.travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223