Passport Assistance
If you are having difficulties obtaining a U.S. passport and your application is outside the normal processing time, I would be pleased to make an inquiry on your behalf with the U.S. Department of State. For assistance, please send the completed Passport Intake Form and a brief description of your problem to my Dallas office at:
Office of U.S. Senator John Cornyn
5001 Spring Valley Road, Suite 1125E
Dallas, Texas 75244
Phone: (972) 239-1310
Fax: (972) 239-2110
To see the current processing times, please visit
http://travel.state.gov/passport/processing/processing_1740.html
To check the status of your passport application, please visit
http://travel.state.gov/passport/status/status_2567.html
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or depart the United States from within the Western Hemisphere.
The travel document requirements make up the departments of State and Homeland Security’s WHTI. This change in travel document requirements is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.
The goal of the initiative is to strengthen U.S. border security while facilitating entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized documentation that enables the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler.
Acceptable documents include:
• U.S. Passport – This is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies a person’s identity and nationality. It is accepted for travel by air, land and sea.
• U.S. Passport Card – This is a new, limited-use travel document that fits in your wallet and costs less than a U.S. Passport. It is only valid for travel by land and sea.
• Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) – Several states and Canadian provinces are issuing this driver’s license or identification document that denotes identity and citizenship. It is specifically designed for cross-border travel into the U.S. by land or sea.
• Trusted Traveler Program Cards – NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST enrollment cards can speed your entry into the U.S. and are issued only to pre-approved, low-risk travelers. The cards are valid for use at land or sea; the NEXUS card can be used in airports with a NEXUS kiosk.
• Special Groups – Information for Children, Groups of Children, Native Americans, "Closed Loop" Cruises, U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents, U.S. Military, Merchant Mariners, Ferries and Small Boats, and Boaters.
• Knowing what documents are required and having them ready when you return home will help streamline the entry process and ensure your return to the U.S. is as smooth as possible.
More About Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
• Document requirements for WHTI
• Current U.S. border crossing procedures and information
• Read the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Federal Regulations
• Final Rule - Air Phase (PDF)
• Final Rule - Passport Card (PDF)
• U.S. Land/Sea Document Requirements (PDF)
Other Relevant Links
• Department of Homeland Security
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Applying for a Passport
• Applying for a Passport Card