Eager to see an unimpeded flow of travelers into the USA once new passport regulations take effect next month, the Travel Industry Association this week launched getapassportnow.com to provide "one-stop shopping" for passport applicants.
Beginning Jan. 23, all air travelers, including Americans, entering the USA from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean (excluding Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands) must show a passport. Land and sea travelers coming from those areas likely will need passports by 2008; exact dates haven't been set.
The new website has links to appropriate agencies for U.S., Canadian and Mexican citizens, although they still will need to apply for new passports in person. U.S. passport demand is up about 60%; about 15 million are expected to be issued by year's end. Expect wait times of up to six weeks.
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http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2006-12-14-passport_x.htm
