Get a Passport Now for Winter Travel

Are you planning a trip to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean this winter? The relatively new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WITI), requires that all United States citizens, arriving by air to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean carry a valid passport. Those arriving by land and sea will be required to have a passport after January 31, 2008.

To obtain a first-time passport, visit one of the over 7000 passport acceptance offices. These are mostly post offices, but also include regional passport offices and American embassies overseas. Cleveland area passport offices are listed in the blue pages of the telephone book.

New applicants must complete the required form (printable from the US passport office website) and bring proof of citizenship (an original or certified copy of your birth certificate or naturalization papers), a photo ID, two passport-size photos, and $97.00. Those renewing passports may apply via mail. Passports are valid for ten years.

Processing has been taking six to eight weeks, so make sure to plan ahead.

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