Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all airline passengers are required to present a valid passport in order to enter and depart the U.S. On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document.

Travel by C does not recommend you obtain the so called "passport card". There are simply too many circumstances that can arise that may lead you to need a US Passport Book. Don't risk being caught without proper documentation. Airlines, cruise lines, and others may deny boarding you and they will take no responsibility if you do not have the right documents.

There are two ways to obtain your passport.

(1) You can access the State Departments website shown below and submit your application via US Mail or at your local Post Office. Keep in mind that typically the process takes 6-8 weeks and you will have to send your actual birth certificate with the application.

(2) If you are in urgent need of a passport as soon as possible, you can contact an agency that expedites passports. Fees apply. Click on the link below for passportsandvisas.com