Get your passports now

[Silver Bullet]

http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2005_2nd/Apr05_USPassports.html

Ive been hearing a lot about this lately.  From the  ... article:

--Starting Dec. 31, a passport will be required for all travel to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central America and South America.

--Starting Dec. 31, 2006, a passport will be required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.

--Starting Dec. 31, 2007, a passport will be necessary for all border crossings, regardless of destination or method of travel. If people aren't aware of the changes, they're going to be hearing about them soon.

I have heard that the government is considering delaying the first item in the quotation to the end of 2006.

Ive also heard that in a couple years passports are going to be harder to get.  

I also heard that RFID chips are going to be added to American passports.  I asked a passport clerk about that, and she said that is going to start in December.

Passports are good for ten years and cost about $100 after all the fees are included.

[thorn]

man i havent had one since i was a baby- if you even need them as a baby?

i like to go to CaNAda, but by car, so for now i am ok.
would like ot get one minus the RF chip though

[Silver Bullet]

would like ot get one minus the RF chip though

Absolutely; we dont need Big Brother tracking us any more than he is already (soon-to-be cellphone GPS, anyone?).

Ive also heard someone say that terrorists could scan passports for RFIDs, and kill anyone whose passport had one as an American.  I have no idea of that is true; sounds more like an urban legend or a half-fast political argument

[Silver Bullet]

I forgot to include the link that makes it easier to get one:

http://www.travel.state.gov

[Antibubba]

I think any time you go to a Third World contry, you should have a passport.  And let us face facts, Mexico is a Third World country.

[charby]

How much do you want to bet they jack up the rates on passports again?

Charby

[stevelyn]

I have no reason to travel outside U.S. borders. That includes Mexico (yes there is a border there Mr. President) and the socialist paradise aka Canada.

[Standing Wolf]

How much do you want to bet they jack up the rates on passports again?

Surprise!

[Winston Smith]

Or maybe they are just getting us used to the idea of "papers please!"

[Silver Bullet]

Or maybe they are just getting us used to the idea of "papers please!"

Now that's a wrinkle that didn't occur to me.  I was seeing the lack of a passport as a restriction on my freedom, especially when the passports become harder to get.   Your post makes me realize that a mandatory ownership of them could be used to restrict freedom inside our own borders.

They getcha comin' and goin' !

[Jamisjockey]

Papers, please.

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Y'know a couple of minutes in the microwave will kill that RFID chip.

Make sure you are properly shielded by your tinfoil hat while cooking it, though.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[jefnvk]

So you think that if the RFID tags were ever implemented, they would let you use a passport that didn't have one?

[Silver Bullet]

They may or may not.  My purpose here is to call members of this sites attention to a situation; they can make their own decision as to whether they need to act.  

I guess I did title this get your passports now   , but I was focused on acquiring a passport before it 1) became more expensive; and/or 2) involved a longer wait due to increased applications; and/or 3) became more complicated in terms of identity verification; and/or 4) became more necessary due to increased border crossing control.  People for whom those are concerns will want to be alerted to possible future impediments.

Anyone who believes that potential government control inherent in having a passport outweighs their benefits are free to pass on this.

[Silver Bullet]

I mean, theyre free to pass on this until the statists take control.  

Which is why we won't let them.

[atek3]

I have no reason to travel outside U.S. borders. That includes Mexico (yes there is a border there Mr. President) and the socialist paradise aka Canada.

That's a very American sentiment to hold.  There really is a lot of great stuff out there that isn't here in the good ole' US of A.  

atek3