TIA's New Passport Web Site

The Travel Industry Association has launched a web site, www.getapassportnow.com, to educate the public about the passport application process. Beginning Jan. 23, passports will be required for air travelers returning to the U.S. from the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada, while land and cruise passengers are facing a later deadline of June 1, 2009. Currently only 27 percent of U.S. citizens have passports. Roger Dow, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association, noted that demand for U.S. passports is up 60 percent, and passport offices are currently averaging three weeks to process an application. The one-page site explains the new passport requirements, cites the deadlines, and provides links for information about and applications for passports.