Your absent passport might lead to a summer vacation limbo. There seems to be a massive passport backlog that is jeopardizing the travel industry. New federal rules aimed at increasing Homeland Security now require travelers to Canada and Mexico to have a valid passport. The Houston passport office is behind by about 700,000 expedited passports.
The white house has stepped in and suspended its rule requiring U.S. air travelers to produce the travel document when flying to and from Canada. However, the same is not applicable to the Canadian tourists who will still be required to carry passports when flying to the U.S. A clause that is likely to increase bilateral tensions.
The departments of homeland security and state will make a joint announcement confirming a six-month suspension of the air rule. Under the changes, Americans will be still allowed to fly to and from Canada if they can show border officials a receipt proving they have applied for a passport.
Since the passport requirement for air travel came into effect, U.S. border officials have provided leeway to many Canadian travelers without passports, allowing them to enter with only a driver’s license or birth certificate during an extended grace period. However, it is unlikely that the leniency will continue.
Critics said the decision to relax the passport rule for Americans proves the program is dysfunctional. Some have come out against the plan saying it threatens national security. Well in case your airline travel plans are ruined, there still are cruises, since cruise travel does not require passports till 2008.
Source: The Vancouver Sun
