Passport Update– Canada/Mexico Requirement Waived?

I wrote a post a few days ago about making sure you get your passport renewed… wow, it's amazing the effect my blog post had! There has been such a rush on passport processing that it is causing a possible change in State Department Policy!  Just kidding… But read this article from the Associated Press:

"A proposal set to be announced as early as Friday will temporarily waive a requirement that U.S. passports be used for air travel to and from Canada and Mexico, provided the traveler can prove he or she has already applied for a passport, officials said Thursday."

(UPDATE- JUNE 2009: Yet more rules are now in play. PLEASE check the State Department website to get clear on the rules. The new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative just took effect June 1, 2009.) There is a massive backlog in passport processing.  From the article:  "The backlog has caused up to three-month delays in issuing passports and ruined or delayed the travel plans of untold thousands of Americans." 

I also wanted to comment on a comment… culturelady commented here that she tried to order from "Vital Records" and it cost $70 with the shipping.  Culturelady, you are correct that you can order your birth certificate for $10 from most state offices– but when I called to try to do this first, I was listening to on-hold messages for quite a while, and this state agency's message mentioned that you could use VitalChek.com.  It did not cost $70 for me– I paid about $40, which I found reasonable given that I would have the document in a few short days with a trackable shipping method.  I am not sure what website you used but I think it was a different one.

Anyway, it pays to be an Organized Traveler and get this stuff taken care of as soon as possible.  Thank you to everyone for your comments, both public and private, on this post!