Search
Contact Nancy
Stay Informed
Congress On Your Corner
Photo Gallery
Where's Nancy
Veterans History Project
Fram Nancy's Desk
  |
Boyda Announces Major Change in Passport Rules
06/08/07DEPARTMENT OF STATE EASES PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAVEL TO CANADA, MEXICO
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) today announced that the United States Department of State has temporarily eased the passport requirements for American citizens traveling by air to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. In place of a passport, travelers may now present a photographic identification and official Department of State proof of application for a passport, which can be obtained online at www.travel.state.gov. The new rule will apply through September 30, 2007.
Since January of this year, the State Department has required American citizens to present passports for air travel to several regions where, previously, no passport was required. As a consequence, the number of new passport applications has climbed dramatically, creating a major backlog and increasing the average processing time from 10 weeks to 14-18 weeks.
Since the new passport requirements entered effect, Boyda’s office has received approximately 300 complaints from constituents about passport delays. Boyda’s staff has worked with the State Department to expedite the affected constituents’ applications, and Boyda authored a May 23 letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice requesting “information and assistance in resolving the numerous outstanding passport applications.”
Earlier today, in response to mounting concerns about passport delays from Boyda and many other Members of Congress, the State Department announced its new accommodation. The move is expected to reduce passport backlogs and decrease application waiting times in the short term.
Boyda said, “I’m glad that the State Department is finally acting to clean up the passport mess, but in many ways their actions are too little, too late. They had over three years to implement new rules for travel to Canada and Mexico, yet they were still entirely unprepared to handle the increase in applications that resulted. I hope Congress will investigate the causes of this debacle and act to prevent similar problems in the future.”
Boyda added, “The 9/11 Commission suggested that America require passports for travel to Canada and Mexico as a way of protecting homeland security. Although waiving these passport requirements may make sense as a temporary response to a crisis, it is only a stopgap measure. I hope the State Department swiftly reimposes its travel regulations in a manner that respects both homeland security and the needs of travelers.”
Second District residents who encounter passport problems in spite of the new State Department regulations are encouraged to contact Boyda’s Topeka office at (785) 234-8111 for assistance.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) today announced that the United States Department of State has temporarily eased the passport requirements for American citizens traveling by air to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. In place of a passport, travelers may now present a photographic identification and official Department of State proof of application for a passport, which can be obtained online at www.travel.state.gov. The new rule will apply through September 30, 2007.
Since January of this year, the State Department has required American citizens to present passports for air travel to several regions where, previously, no passport was required. As a consequence, the number of new passport applications has climbed dramatically, creating a major backlog and increasing the average processing time from 10 weeks to 14-18 weeks.
Since the new passport requirements entered effect, Boyda’s office has received approximately 300 complaints from constituents about passport delays. Boyda’s staff has worked with the State Department to expedite the affected constituents’ applications, and Boyda authored a May 23 letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice requesting “information and assistance in resolving the numerous outstanding passport applications.”
Earlier today, in response to mounting concerns about passport delays from Boyda and many other Members of Congress, the State Department announced its new accommodation. The move is expected to reduce passport backlogs and decrease application waiting times in the short term.
Boyda said, “I’m glad that the State Department is finally acting to clean up the passport mess, but in many ways their actions are too little, too late. They had over three years to implement new rules for travel to Canada and Mexico, yet they were still entirely unprepared to handle the increase in applications that resulted. I hope Congress will investigate the causes of this debacle and act to prevent similar problems in the future.”
Boyda added, “The 9/11 Commission suggested that America require passports for travel to Canada and Mexico as a way of protecting homeland security. Although waiving these passport requirements may make sense as a temporary response to a crisis, it is only a stopgap measure. I hope the State Department swiftly reimposes its travel regulations in a manner that respects both homeland security and the needs of travelers.”
Second District residents who encounter passport problems in spite of the new State Department regulations are encouraged to contact Boyda’s Topeka office at (785) 234-8111 for assistance.