Get A Passport !!!

[Carib Mark]

The temporay stay of execution by DHS on needing a passport to go to Mexico and the Caribbean is expiring Oct 1, 2007. If you are even dreaming of going to the Caribbean, avoid last minute rushes and costs of expediting, which will only reduce the wait by a minimal amount, and get a passport application at the post office, get 2 pictures and with a check, get the application in! There's nothing worse than standing there at the ticket counter or pier waving bye bye to all your friends as they leave on your vacation. Besides, you might win that Riviera Maya trip above, then what will you do?!

[kirbychristian]

Thanks for the great reminder Carib Mark!

Do not rely on expidited services to allow you to wait until the last minute for getting your passport. A friend of mine missed out on a family reunion trip because even with expidited passport fees, her passport still came two weeks too late for her trip to Europe. (The passport office refunded her extra fees but that was small comfort for missing such a special trip)

[sunrae33]

Hi Carib Mark,

I have a question... does that mean if you apply for a passport by Oct 1, you will be able to go to Jamaica in December with your birth certificate, proof of passport application and driver's liscense?

[Carib Mark]

It simply means that if you intend to go pretty much anywhere outside the continental US and Alaska/Hawaii after Oct 1, you should have a passport. All of those other documents are not going to cut it anymore. The world has unfortunatley been made very inconvenient over the past 6 years, but if you plan ahead, it won't be a problem at all.

[kirbychristian]

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html