passport expediter
Posted on July 7th, 2008 – 11:54 AMBy Kerri Westenberg
A reader just called asking for guidance on using a passport expediter. She’s headed to Canada — soon. We pointed her to two reliable services, A Briggs Passport and Visa and Zierer Visa Service.
I should point out that the reader is flying to and from Canada. Adults going by land or sea can still get away with a government-issued photo i.d. (usually a driver’s license) and a birth certificate; children 18 and younger need only a birth certificate. That will change June 1, 2009, when everyone entering by air, land or sea will need a passport.
We recommend getting your passports now. For information on getting a passport and to print out application forms, go to www.travel.state.gov.
2 Responses to "passport expediter"
I recently drove in and out of Canada–I get weirdly nervous at these things, even though I have nothing to hide, but it was the most lackluster border check I’ve ever had…despite the fact that I told the officer I lived in Philadelphia and still had my MN plates. He noted the difference and accepted my explanation that I recently moved.
However, the Canadian authorities gave us the 3rd degree…they were worried we were bringing in potatoes, which would ruin their potato crop. Really.
If you’re really in a hurry, you can make an appointment and go to the Chicago Passport Office where you can get one in a single day. You’ll pay an extra fee, but if you’re in a bind, it works very well. I had to do this the day before I left for Europe after being unable to find my passport. Just make sure you call for an appointment or you will be out of luck. Plan on spending the entire day in Chicago. They don’t give you your passport until around 4 PM.
We will be getting a Passport Office with same day service sometime next year in Minneapolis.
Kerri Westenberg has globe-trotted for National Geographic and other magazines. Now she zips around the region, on the lookout for travel news you can use.
Chris Welsch has traveled to more than 40 countries on six continents; he is as enamored of the Great Plains as he is of the Great Barrier Reef.
Elizabeth Larsen lived in Salzburg, Austria, and has traveled throughout Europe and the Americas. She can say "diaper," "bottle" and "crib" in four languages.
Troy Melhus has heli-skied on glaciers, dived alongside Monk seals and raced for 24 hours on a mountain bike. All this, and he rarely spends more than $500 on a trip.