U.S. Relaxes Passport Rules For N. America

Through Sept., Citizens Re-Entering Will Only Need To Show Application, Government ID

(CBS/AP)  The Bush administration on Friday suspended some of its new, post-Sept. 11 requirements for traveling abroad, hoping to placate Congress and irate summer travelers whose vacations have been thwarted by delays in processing their passports.

This is a temporary fix, good through September as the State Department deals with what's described as a record-breaking demand for passports, reports CBS News correspondent Peter Maer.

The proposal would temporarily lift a requirement that U.S. passports be used for citizens flying to and from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. Instead, they'll have to show border agents two things: A State Department receipt for a passport application and another government identification, such as a driver's license.

Those without passports would receive additional security scrutiny, which could include extra questioning or bag checks.

"If they did convince us that we needed to have passports due to security and now they're telling us that they're going to relax it, I guess we're going to be saying that we are giving up some security for passenger convenience," Terry Trippler of Cheapseats.com said on CBS News' The Early Show Friday.

The suspension should allow the State Department to catch up with a massive surge in applications that has overwhelmed passport processing centers since the rule took effect this year. The resulting backlog has caused up to three-month delays for passports and ruined or delayed the travel plans of thousands of Americans.

"It's taking much longer than the government told us it would to get a passport," Trippler told co-anchor Hannah Storm.

Speaking with CBS News State Department Reporter Charles Wolfson, a senior State Department official acknowledged the problem.

"We didn't need Congress to tell us there was a problem because we were getting calls from concerned, scared or just plain pissed off American citizens," said the official. The chief complaint was that people had followed instructions and still had not received their passports in the time frame indicated by the State Department.

The change would help those like Judy and Darrell Green, of Rifle, Colo., who are still waiting to hear whether their son-in-law's passport will arrive in time for a a family vacation to Mexico to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary and Darrell's 60th birthday.

Darrell Green's passport arrived Thursday, only after Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., helped expedite it. Their son-in-law expects to get his Friday with the help of his congresswoman.

"It makes you feel kind of frantic because you've spent all that money," Judy Green said.

Homeland Security signed off on the proposal Thursday after consultations with the State Department, the White House and members of Congress, who have been deluged with calls from angry constituents seeking help with their passports.

Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-N.Y., whose district lies near the Canadian border, said White House officials had been on Capitol Hill trying to work out a compromise amid what he called a "turf war" between State and Homeland Security.

Reynolds faulted "arrogant" officials for failing to get the system working properly, and said he was worried about even more headaches next year when passports will be required to drive into Canada or Mexico.

Lawmakers had been pushing for a change for weeks.

"To say people must have a passport to travel and not give people a passport is right up there in the stupid column," said Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., who urged the State Department to lift the rule last month.

The application surge is the result of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative that since January has required U.S. citizens to use passports when entering the United States from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean by air. It is part of a broader package of immigration rules enacted after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Between March and May, the department issued more than 4.5 million passports. It has millions more to process, according to consular affairs officials.

Wilson's office took more than 500 calls from frustrated travelers seeking help in May alone. The problem has since spread from border states to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Colorado and elsewhere.

[misha131]

Just more administration mismanagement; establish a security program and fail to provide the operational necessities to actually achieve it. Just like Iraq; win the war and lose the peace.

[crystalblue3]

D*mmit! I was just in San Diego on vacation and remarked to my boyfriend "Gee too bad we need passports to visit Mexico".

[rushlimpdrug]

Guess no one saw this coming.
Note to Homeland Security:
1.People (including Americans) take summer vacations.
2.Failure to prepare on your part makes you look STUPID and leaves everyone wondering if your brains are on vacation.
3.Stupid is as stupid does.

[finalmessiah]

"...according to one official familiar with the discussions."

Such reputable sources. Great journalism.

[prolegomena]

Just like any other politicized issue... the folks in government only move when discomfort is applied, and the discomfort has come from the flood of citizens complaining to their congress-people and senators.

Lesson of the day-- when things in government are wrong, complain en masse.

[frankinaz]

I agree with Misha. Establish Homeland Security,
but let twelve million-plus illegal immigrants into the U. S. with no background, criminal, or disease checks. Travel legally and put up with obtaining passports, many hassles and legalaities. Enter this country illegally with no identification and be rewarded for your actions.
Once again, our tax dollars at work.

[infidel_us]

That's great. It took me 8 weeks to get my passport, but, according to the now dead amnesty bill, they were going to be able to do background checks on ILLEGAL ALIENS in 24 hours.

What's wrong with this picture? Is our government now TOTALLY dysfunctional? Seems so.

[downtowner97]

I jist re ad thiz an gougd out my eyes wirh a penxil and now i",m typinf by memory.

[lochlan-2009]

Getting into America if your:

American- Take out $200-250, get a copy of your birth certificate, social security card and go to the post office so you can wait in line. Now wait for your passport to come, under two weeks for an additional charge or up to three months if you don't want to pay. After a good and thorough probing of all your body parts and baggage you may now leave the country and enjoy your vacation, unharrassed at your destination(unless you tell them your American). Now coming back home, step through bomb sniffers, metal detectors, get interrogated by security(don't say anything that sounds even remotly like a joke here), go into special booth where they rub you all over with a wand and examine your shoes for anything suspicious. Welcome home.

Mexican/(Possible Terrorist): Get shoes and plenty of water. Run across border. Welcome to America.

[toldyouso21]

If it is on again off again and can be suspended at will--then how legitimate and necessary was it really?

All Americans should just proclaim that "we don't need no stinking passports, when we want to come back--we'll just run through Canada like the TB man did!"

They can't rebut that.

[toldyouso21]

Lesson of the day-- when things in government are wrong, complain en masse.
Posted by Prolegomena at 09:42 AM : Jun 08, 2007


Actual true lesson of the day: most of the scares about terrorism and the hype about security and this terrorism war--are true monkey *************--color codes and restrictions can be lifted on a whim-- readjusted on a whim, ignored on a whim, waived through borders on a whim---just when a record number of bombing plots are over the country are being discovered...and the American sheeple will still fall for the latest hype every time.....

[toldyouso21]

That's great. It took me 8 weeks to get my passport, but, according to the now dead amnesty bill, they were going to be able to do background checks on ILLEGAL ALIENS in 24 hours.

What's wrong with this picture? Is our government now TOTALLY dysfunctional? Seems so.
Posted by infidel_us at 10:14 AM : Jun 08, 2007


What background check? They okay'd most felons--and who will come in for the TB screenings? It's all a scam, the real question is why do we keep believing in and falling for it?

[toldyouso21]

well...my kids will need new passports in 2009. guess I better apply now--and keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best....

[rushlimpdrug]

What is today's color?

[antoniof123]

What is wrong with this administration, I understand about George he is stupid, but I can't believe that we need to have our passports to go to the islands. What in Gods name are they trying to do **** us off real good. First it is getting bad to go anywhere because of everyone hating us. Now to add insult to injury they are asking for *** that is of no use to anyone. Unless you consder that this is a way to get more taxes from us or register any one who leaves the country even for a fricking vacation. The neo cons are out of control they are by far pissing me off more and more each day.

[pghlady3]

PEOPLE ARE LAZY AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO READ....
LAST YEAR they announced the new rules for travel. I was going to St. Thomas for my honeymoon Janurary of 2007, so in July after the announcment, I got my application and photos, and mailed it off, and three months later (I actually got it back after about 2 1/2 months) our passports arrived in the mail. If our citizens are this oblivious of the laws, then they don't need to travel. I WANT MY BORDERS PROTECTED, AND I WANT TO KNOW WHO FROM WHERE IS COMING INTO MY COUNTRY, people need to learn to read and think on their own.

[briannorwood]

Another "war on terror" plan gone awry. Is there anything this administration can execute competently?

[infidel_us]

It's all a scam, the real question is why do we keep believing in and falling for it?
Posted by toldyouso21 at 10:40 AM : Jun 08, 2007

I no longer do. In another blog, someone was calling for Bush's impeachment on the grounds that he's not carrying out his constitutional duty to uphold our laws by not enforcing the existing immigration laws.

I'm all for signing on to that program! We need a sacrificial lamb in order to make an example of. He will do, nicely!

[vinepetal904]

' ... so why are naked people made to exit the trail because of what people will say (when most people can't name the vice president), while terrorists are not allowed to exit the trail because of what people will say (when most people can't even name a terrorist)? ... '

[thgdriver]

This reminds me of New Orleans, they had 3 to 4 days warning Katrina was on her way---The city government did nothing, the state government did nothing, the folks that live there did nothing.

In this case the federal government gave over a year warning this was coming----the folks that travel did NOTHING!!! A lot of folks have a lot of growing up to do.

[jehpa]

While this sounds like a nice plan, it is a complete waste of time. Each of the individuals waiting for a passport sent their birth certificates with their applications - you require ID and that birth certificate to re-enter the country without a passport.

Sooo, the travelers still cannot go anywhere.

[ssporleder]

Well, here comes another 9/11.

[bykergal]

jehpa,

You can have more than one official copy of your birth certificate. Sending in A copy of your birth certificate will not keep people from traveling.

[drummer94]

This is going to work out real well.(sarcasm intended) Take off your shoes. No passport? No problem! Um, your not a terrorist or anything are you? Sheesh.

[terrapin78]

Another "war on terror" plan gone awry. Is there anything this administration can execute competently?

Posted by briannorwood at 11:14 AM : Jun 08, 2007

Besides the gutting of regulations and looting the Treasury, NO!!!!

[toldyouso21]

I WANT MY BORDERS PROTECTED, AND I WANT TO KNOW WHO FROM WHERE IS COMING INTO MY COUNTRY, people need to learn to read and think on their own.
Posted by pghlady3 at 11:01 AM : Jun 08, 200

well...good luck with that--since we have Border guards just waving people with Tb into the country.

[bareemperor]

More of nothing from the do-nothing Congress and Bu$hit administration...

[crystalblue3]

PEOPLE ARE LAZY AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO READ....
LAST YEAR they announced the new rules for travel. I was going to St. Thomas for my honeymoon Janurary of 2007, so in July after the announcment, I got my application and photos, and mailed it off, and three months later (I actually got it back after about 2 1/2 months) our passports arrived in the mail. If our citizens are this oblivious of the laws, then they don't need to travel. I WANT MY BORDERS PROTECTED, AND I WANT TO KNOW WHO FROM WHERE IS COMING INTO MY COUNTRY, people need to learn to read and think on their own. ****

Well if YOU read it says that the reason why people weren't getting their passports was because of a HUGE backlog. You just got in under the wire when you got yours. But the rest of us...even those of us who applied well in advance, alotting for time were STILL not getting ours in 3 months. THIS is why they REVOKED the law! They weren't prepared for the amount of people applying or renewing their passports! eesh.

[lford4264]

Test

[tuckerndfw]

If it was necessary to impose this restriction to "wage war on terror," does this mean the "war on terror" is over?

Who won?

[jerr11]

More evidence of the great competence of this adminstration.

They can't even get this passport thing right!

How the heck did they think they could invade another country and occupy it?

[thgdriver]

Once upon a time in the USA we were free to go and come, the fools in Washington with all the rules and regulations, the terrorists are winning every time we have another restriction.

[ioweign]

They (State Department) knew this was coming 2 years ago. The Postal Service knows Christmas is coming every year and hires temps to help cover the extra load. Oh yeah - USPS isn't political and the State Department is. You are doing a heck of a job Shrub!

[j-whitman]

Obviously we need a much larger government,,, Passport offices, immigration offices, customs, Border Patrol are badly outdeteed & undermaned --- GOP's mantra ??? - Smaller government