That's My Story

PASSPORT CRUNCH TIME – SIT ON YOUR HANDS STAY HOME!

Published the week of March 27, 2007 in Western Outdoor News

This is your public service announcement.

It’s crunch time, amigos.

Everyone is making their vacation plans to go places this spring and summer to catch fish or hunt or whatever. I’ve written this before but if you’re waiting around to get your passport and you have a trip in the next three months, you could be cutting it awfully thin!

Just in case you’ve been hiding in a cave and not seeing any news the last 3 months, this is the year that ANYONE flying in North America MUST have a passport to make sure you’re not a terrorist. Although I recently had someone walk up to me at one of the fishing shows and ask me, “Where in California is Baja California?”, it IS in North America for those of you who slept through your 8th grade geography classes.

Let me put it this way, it’s pretty easy to get OUT of the U.S. You just want to make sure they let you back in AFTER your vacation!

The State Department has warned to expect long delays in getting your passports as they’ve been overwhelmed by an unprecedented demand as more than a million new applicants a month have put a Hulk Hogan headlock on the agencies resources.

Even if you pay extra to expedite your paperwork, the government says to expect EXTRA delays of up to six weeks. Normally, it takes 6 weeks to process under ordinary conditions. Currently it’s taking up to 10 weeks or more and there’s no guarantees. The fees are $97 for normal processing.

Expedited service for which you pay extra, normally takes 2 weeks from the date you apply. The powers-that-be now tell us it is at least 3-4 weeks to get your documents. Expedited service charges $60 in addition to the $97.

If you don’t get your passport and it’s less than 2 weeks until your planned trip, there’s some recourse, but it’s not easy. You’ll have to make an appointment at one of the Federal Passport Agencies in a number of major cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle.

However, even with an appointment, it’s like waiting for the cable guy to come to your house. DMN…”Don’t Mean Nothing!” Reportedly lines snaking out and around the buildings are not uncommon. Some folks have reported standing in line for days trying to gain entrance. Even then, there’s no certainty that you’ll leave with your passport in hand.

Don’t mess your up your vacation. If you need more info: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html is the link.

As a sidebar, the airwars between Delta Airlines and Alaska Airlines is heating up as both carriers are now competing for the ever increasing Mexican travel dollar. Alaska has a 75th Anniversary Rate now if you buy tickets prior to March 31 and use them before November. For instance, rates as low as $250 round trip from Los Angeles to selected Baja locations can be found. Calling direct to the airlines seems to be the best way to secure these fast-disappearing seats. Delta has some competitive rates as well.

But you can’t use any of them if you don’t have a passport!

That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.