A Summer Reprieve from More Stringent Passport Rules

New passport rules for air travel came into effect January 23, 2007. Included in these rules was a passport requirement for air travel to countries such as Canada and Mexico, where previously only proof of citizenship was required for U.S. citizens.

However, record demand and a huge backlog for passports has led to the government amending its policy - temporarily. Until September 30, if you have applied for a passport, but have not yet received it, you can still travel by air - if you follow the new rules. As is the norm with air travel, the rules always seem to be changing.

A synopsis of the new air travel rules and important passport links are present in No Passport, Can Travel

Canadians are also subject to the passport rules that came into effect in January. The wait times and backlog have mirrored the United States. Thus Canadians traveling to the United States have also been issued something of a summer reprieve as well. Canadians Crossing Borders Without a Passport addresses the passport issue for Canadians.

The rules (from January 2007) that have been broken - Don't Forget Your Passport - The Must-Have Documents to Travel after January 23, 2007.

image from travel.state.gov