The U.S. Department of State isn't sweating a last-second surge of applications with only four months left before U.S. citizens will be required to have a passport to re-enter the country.
Since the summer of 2007 — when wait times doubled to 10-12 weeks for most passports and even longer for others because of a record spike in applications — the Department of State has accelerated its hiring and expansion efforts to meet the demands. By October that year, the wait times were cut in half, and the current wait time is four weeks at the longest.
"We have expanded our capacity to the point that we can handle as many as 30 million passports (a year) and we're not seeing anywhere near that demand at this time," said Brenda Sprague, deputy assistant secretary for passport services with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs. "We are very confident that we are very well situated to handle whatever comes up."
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After passport applications surged to 18.5 million 2007 — up from 12 million in 2006 and 10.4 million in 2005 — they dipped in 2008 to 16 million, Department of State figures show. This year, officials are expecting around 12 million, Sprague said.
The decrease in demand can be traced to less international travel due to the economic downturn, she said.
"We rise and fall with the travel industry to a large extent," Sprague said.
Customs officers don't actually have the authority to keep a U.S. citizen out of the country, even after the requirements go into effect on June 1, said Bonnie Arellano, spokeswoman for Customs and Border Protection in Arizona.
But, those traveling without a passport card or passport book will experience major delays because they would have to go into secondary inspection and validate their citizenship through other documents, she said.
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative?
The initiative requires all U.S. and Canadian citizens to have a passport or other approved documents when entering the United States.
It is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.
On June 1, the second phase of the initiative will go into effect for land and sea travelers. Starting on that date, U.S. citizens must present a valid passport book, passport card or approved travel documents when entering the U.S. by land and sea from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda.
Passport books vs. Passport cards
The traditional passport is valid for international travel anywhere in the world by any means, land, air and sea. It is larger and more expensive than the passport card.
• Cost for first-time applicants: $100 for adults/$85 for minors under 16
• Cost for renewal: $75 for adults
• Validity: 10 years for adults/5 years for minors under 16
• Current wait time: Approximately four weeks from date of application, often faster. Expedited service can be requested for an additional $60, which shortens the wait time to two weeks.
The new, wallet-size passport card is designed for people living in border communities. It is valid only when entering the U.S. from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda by land or sea. It cannot be used for international air travel.
• Cost for first-time applicants: $45 for adults/$35 for minors under 16
• Cost for renewal: $20 for adults
• Validity: 10 years for adults/5 years for minors under 16
• Current wait time: Approximately four weeks from date of application, often faster.
You can save $25 if you apply for both at the same time. The cost for both would be $120 for adults and $95 for minors. Note: If you are considering getting a passport card for a cruise, the Department of State recommends that you check with the cruise line to make sure the passport card will work for the destinations on the cruise.
Where to get a passport
• Pima County Clerk of Court, 110 W. Congress St.; Room 131A, 740-3210
• UA International Affairs, 1128 E. Mabel St., 626-7161
• Pima County Juvenile Court, 2225 E. Ajo Way, 740-2064
• Sahuarita Municipal Court, 360 W. Sahuarita Center Way, 344-7150
• Several area post offices, though you should call ahead because many of these locations require appointments or only do passports at certain days and hours.
More Online
• U.S. Department of State: www.travel.state.gov
• Customs and Border Protection, "Know Before You Go," under the "Travel" tab at www.cbp.gov
• The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: www.getyouhome.gov
• See the State Department's travel alert for Mexico at go.azstarnet.com/travelalert
By the numbers
• 360,000 — number of Arizonans who have applied for passports each of the past two years.
• 1.422 million — Arizonans who currently have passports
• 22 — percent of the total Arizona population with passports.
• 27 — percent of U.S. citizens in the border states - Arizona, Texas, California and New Mexico — that have passports.
• 29 — percent of U.S. citizens with passports.
• 60 — percent of Canadians and Europeans with passports.
• 820,000 — wallet-size passport cards issued through January in the U.S. The Department of State began production of the cards in July 2008.
Passports issued,
By fiscal year:
• 2008: 16.2 million (including 523,706 passport cards)
• 2007: 18.3 million
• 2006: 12.1 million
• 2005: 10.1 million
Passport applications
By fiscal year:
• 2008: 16 million
• 2007: 18.5 million
• 2006: 12.3 million
• 2005: 10.4 million
