Passport law ups students' spring break budget
Stephanie Short
Issue date: 2/14/07 Section: Campus News
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Pre-law freshman Lauren Jellison's family had to budget more money than anticipated for spring break thanks to a recent passport law.
"I am going to Niagara Falls in Canada this summer for a family vacation, and none of us have passports yet," Jellison said. "Now, it's going to cost my family around $600 just to get our passports. That is almost as much as the trip itself."
She's just one of many students facing more hassles in finalizing their traveling plans because of a new passport law that took effect Jan. 23.
Anyone flying to Mexico, Canada or Bermuda is now required to have a passport to enter the country.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection the new law will make it more difficult for people to enter the United States by false identification.
"The 9/11 Commission recommended that a secure travel document be required for everyone to come into the county," said U.S. Customs and Border spokesperson Kelly Klundt. "We feel it will help create a more efficient travel environment."
Last year Customs and Border Protections saw around 84,000 forms of false identification and imposters attempting to enter the country, Klundt said. This law will drastically decrease that number because officials will only have to examine one form of identification, she said.
"When the documents are presented it is one of 8,000 (forms of American identification). That makes it very difficult to verify," Klundt said. "This will help create a more efficient order."
The new regulation is affecting travelers nationwide, and UK students are no different.
"For spring break, I planned a trip to Mexico with some friends because I didn't want to hassle with finding my old passport," said biology freshman Missy Beasley. "After I booked the trip, I realized the new law went into effect and I had to rearrange my plans to fly out of Nashville so that I could stop in my hometown to pick up my passport."
Before the law, travelers only needed a birth certificate or other form of credible identification, such as a driver's license, to travel to these countries.
Applying for a passport can take up to six weeks.
"I know a lot of people traveling to Mexico for spring break, and I'm sure that several are having the same problem that I am," Beasley said. "Some may not have the time or money to get a passport."
The Beaumont Post Office on Majestic Drive has also seen heavy activity from last minute travelers applying for passports. Due to its heavy increase in business, the post office hosted a passport fair.
"We held a passport fair in order to regulate people throughout the week," said supervisor Sherry Williams of the Beaumont Post Office. "It also keeps parents from taking kids out of school."
Williams said the fair was very successful and she hopes to have another one this month.
Wal-Mart will take passport photos for about $10. The passport cost varies for anyone over 16, depending on how fast it is needed. By next year, passports will be required for all forms foreign transportation, not just air travel.
Klundt advised all travelers to check the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Web site at www.cbp.gov before planning a trip out of the country.
E-mail news@kykernel.com
"I am going to Niagara Falls in Canada this summer for a family vacation, and none of us have passports yet," Jellison said. "Now, it's going to cost my family around $600 just to get our passports. That is almost as much as the trip itself."
She's just one of many students facing more hassles in finalizing their traveling plans because of a new passport law that took effect Jan. 23.
Anyone flying to Mexico, Canada or Bermuda is now required to have a passport to enter the country.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection the new law will make it more difficult for people to enter the United States by false identification.
"The 9/11 Commission recommended that a secure travel document be required for everyone to come into the county," said U.S. Customs and Border spokesperson Kelly Klundt. "We feel it will help create a more efficient travel environment."
Last year Customs and Border Protections saw around 84,000 forms of false identification and imposters attempting to enter the country, Klundt said. This law will drastically decrease that number because officials will only have to examine one form of identification, she said.
"When the documents are presented it is one of 8,000 (forms of American identification). That makes it very difficult to verify," Klundt said. "This will help create a more efficient order."
The new regulation is affecting travelers nationwide, and UK students are no different.
"For spring break, I planned a trip to Mexico with some friends because I didn't want to hassle with finding my old passport," said biology freshman Missy Beasley. "After I booked the trip, I realized the new law went into effect and I had to rearrange my plans to fly out of Nashville so that I could stop in my hometown to pick up my passport."
Before the law, travelers only needed a birth certificate or other form of credible identification, such as a driver's license, to travel to these countries.
Applying for a passport can take up to six weeks.
"I know a lot of people traveling to Mexico for spring break, and I'm sure that several are having the same problem that I am," Beasley said. "Some may not have the time or money to get a passport."
The Beaumont Post Office on Majestic Drive has also seen heavy activity from last minute travelers applying for passports. Due to its heavy increase in business, the post office hosted a passport fair.
"We held a passport fair in order to regulate people throughout the week," said supervisor Sherry Williams of the Beaumont Post Office. "It also keeps parents from taking kids out of school."
Williams said the fair was very successful and she hopes to have another one this month.
Wal-Mart will take passport photos for about $10. The passport cost varies for anyone over 16, depending on how fast it is needed. By next year, passports will be required for all forms foreign transportation, not just air travel.
Klundt advised all travelers to check the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Web site at www.cbp.gov before planning a trip out of the country.
E-mail news@kykernel.com
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