Are You Passport-Ready?

Are you Passport-Ready?

If you haven't renewed your U.S. passport since 2006 or 2007, then this is a good time to do so. The U.S. State Department officials announced they're expecting a spike in passport applications and renewals in 2016, with 10-year passports set to expire soon.

In case you haven’t heard, in 2007, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was put into effect, mandating that any American citizens entering the U.S. by air from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean must carry a passport, which may trigger a backlog in renewals for millions of applicants.

Many travelers are also concerned about whether they'll need to show an alternate form of acceptable identification for domestic flights to comply with the REAL ID Act, which will be put into effect on Jan. 22, 2018, and will impose more stringent ID requirements. There is also the matter of entry requirements imposed by international countries. With a number of places requiring a minimum of six months left on your passport, there's never been a better time to be passport-ready for smooth, stress-free travel.

Though some upcoming changes are clear there are many questions still unanswered:

Do I need another form of identification with my driver’s license to travel within the U.S.? Check here.

How long will it take for me to get an updated passport? Check here.

How much will a new passport cost me? And what if my friends needs to renew their passport? Click here.

Know that when traveling internationally, there still may be additional costs associated with visas and entry requirements of other countries. #liveandlovethejourney

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