U.S. Eases Rules In Face Of Passport Delays

The State Department today temporarily modified its new passport rules, allowing U.S. citizens to travel to and from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda if they have applied for a passport, but have not yet received one.

The State Department said that through Sept. 30, travelers who are not carrying passports must present "official proof of application for a passport" and government-issued photo identification. "The federal government is making this accommodation for air travel due to longer-than-expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand," the State Department said in a statement.

Through the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, the government modified passport rules and beginning Jan. 23 required passports for air travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. "As early as January 2008, the Departments will begin to implement WHTI at land and sea ports of entry," the State Department said today. "A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking outlining a phased implementation is expected to be published in the Federal Register within the next two weeks."