U.S.

citizens may begin applying in advance for the new U.S. Passport Card beginning February 1, 2008, in anticipation of land border travel document requirements. We expect cards will be available and mailed to applicants in spring 2008.

The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry when arriving from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The card may not be used to travel by air. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the U.S. passport book and will be adjudicated to the exact same standards.

The Department of State is issuing this passport card in response to the needs of border resident communities for a less expensive and more portable alternative to the traditional passport book. The card will have the same validity period as a passport book: 10 years for an adult, five for children 15 and younger. For adults who already have a passport book, they may apply for the card as a passport renewal and pay only $20. First-time applicants will pay $45 for adult cards and $35 for children.

To facilitate the frequent travel of U.S. citizens living in border communities and to meet DHS’s operational needs at land borders, the passport card will contain a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. This chip will link the card to a stored record in secure government databases. There will be no personal information written to the RFID chip itself.

The passport card is a wallet-size card that can only be used for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. The card will provide a less expensive, smaller, and more convenient alternative to the passport book for those who travel frequently to these destinations by land or by sea.

Why can’t I use the passport card to fly to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda?

The passport card is designed for the specific needs of the northern and southern border resident communities and is not a globally interoperable travel document as is the traditional passport book. While the passport card has limited use, the passport book will remain the premier internationally accepted travel document.

Didn’t Congress just pass a law delaying passport requirements for land border crossings and sea travel until June 2009?

Questions about the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) must be referred to the Department of Homeland Security, which is the federal agency charged with deciding and implementing the documentary requirements. Our role in WHTI is to produce passport books and passport cards for international travel. Please check the Department of Homeland Security website at http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/index.shtm for the latest information on travel document requirements.

To facilitate the frequent travel of Americans living in border communities, and to meet the Department of Homeland Security’s operational needs along the land borders, the passport card will have a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. With this technology, Customs and Border Protection inspectors will be able to access photographs and other biographical information stored in secure government databases before the traveler reaches the inspection station.

There will be no personal information written on the electronic chip itself. The chip will have only a unique number linking the card to a stored record contained in secure government databases.

The Department has decided to use laser engraving and will include state-of-the-art security features to mitigate against the possibility of counterfeiting and forgery. In addition, to mitigate any possibility that the card could be tracked, it will be issued with a protective sleeve that will prevent the card from being read when not in use.

We are taking every care to ensure that this passport card is as secure as current technology permits. There will be no personal information written to the RFID chip.

Radio Frequency Identification technology (RFID) has been used successfully along our land borders with Canada and Mexico since 1995 in the Department of Homeland Security’s trusted traveler programs, such as NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST. U.S. border officials are able to expedite legitimate cross-border travel and trade of those trusted travelers who carry membership cards with vicinity read RFID chips that link to government databases. Membership in these programs currently exceeds 400,000.

RFID technology has been commercially available in one form or another since the 1970s. It can be found in car keys, highway toll tags, bank cards and security access cards. The Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, who staff the ports of entry, anticipate that the speed of vicinity RFID will allow CBP officers, in advance of the traveler’s arrival at the inspection booth, to quickly access information on the traveler from secure government databases, and allow for automated terrorist watch list checks without impeding traffic flow. In addition, they foresee that multiple cards can be read at a distance and simultaneously, allowing an entire car of people to be processed at once.

The RFID technology embedded in documents will not include any personally identifying information; only a unique number that can be associated with a record stored in a secure government database will be transmitted.

We anticipate that the passport card will be available sometime in the spring of 2008. However, beginning February 1, U.S. citizens will be able to apply in advance for their passport cards.

At this time, we cannot give a specific date as to when production will begin on the passport card. We will continually update our website, http://travel.state.gov, with information on the production start date.

Why are you accepting applications for the passport card before it is being produced?

We are aware that some Americans, particularly along the borders, will want to have the passport card as soon as it is available. For those customers, we want to give them the opportunity to apply for it in advance.

First time applicants can apply at any one of our 9,300 Passport Application Acceptance Facilities across the country. Applicants can locate a facility nearest to them by checking our website at http://travel.state.gov.

Can I apply for the passport card and passport book at the same time using the same application?

The passport card is a fully valid passport that attests to the U.S. citizenship and identity of the bearer. As such, the passport card is adjudicated to the exact standards as the passport book. Applicants must provide documents which attest to their U.S. citizenship and identity such as birth and naturalization certificates.

First time adult and minor applicants under the age of 16 will need to submit a completed Form DS-11 "Application for a U.S. Passport", 2 photos, evidence of citizenship, the application fee for the passport card and the execution fee. These applicants must apply in person at a Passport Application Acceptance Facility.

Adult applicants with fully-valid passports can apply for the passport card by mail by submitting Form DS-82 "Application for a U.S. Passport By Mail", 2 photos, fully valid passport issued within the last fifteen years, and the passport card application fee. Please check our website, http://travel.state.gov for complete details on applying for the passport card.

For first time applicants, the passport card will cost $45 for adults and $35 for children under the age of 16, which includes the execution fee of $25. Adults with fully-valid passports issued within the last fifteen years can apply for the card by mail using Form DS-82, at a cost of $20.

First time applicants, minors, and those seeking to replace a lost or stolen passport must appear in person before a person authorized by the Secretary of State to give oaths to verify their passport applications. In order to offer American citizens convenient locations to apply for a passport, the Department of State authorizes Passport Acceptance Agents to accept passport applications on its behalf. The execution fee is to reimburse the acceptance facility for the cost of the service, which provides an incentive for them to act on behalf of the Department of State. Effective February 1, 2008, the execution fee per application will be reduced from $30 to $25. Applicants applying for both the passport book and card simultaneously pay only one execution fee.

Our fees reflect the cost of providing passport services to the American public. Per regulation, the Department of State employs an independent consultant to conduct periodic and regular cost of service studies to determine the cost of providing consular services. The cost of service study indicated that the Department could issue a passport card at $20 for an adult and $10 for a child. With the execution fee of $25, the total cost for an adult is $45 or 37.5 cents per month over a ten year period.

Once the passport card is being produced, the processing and issuance time will be the same as for the passport book. For instance, the current turnaround time for routine service passports is 4 to 6 weeks. Up-to-date processing times are located at http://travel.state.gov.

Expedited service is not available for the passport card at this time. Once we begin producing the passport card, we anticipate being able to offer applicants expedited service.

Can an applicant request overnight return delivery service for the passport card?

Neither overnight return delivery service nor Priority Mail service will be available for the passport card. Passport cards will be mailed to applicants using First Class Mail service.

Will the payment of one $60 expedite fee serve to expedite both the passport book and passport card, if applied for at the same time?

Currently the passport card is not in production. Once the passport card is in production then only one $60 expedite fee for the passport card and passport book will be collected if applied for at the same time. If the passport card and passport book are applied for at different times, the applicant would need to pay separate $60 expedite fees if requested.

If an applicant already has a fully-valid adult passport book issued within the last fifteen years, what form should be used to apply for a passport card?

The applicant can apply for the passport card using either Form DS-82 or Form DS-11. If the applicant chooses to apply using a DS-82, he/she must submit, along with the application, the fully valid passport issued within the last fifteen years, 2 passport photos, and payment to the Department of State in the amount of $20.

If the applicant chooses to apply using a DS-11, he/she must submit a completed Form DS-11 "Application for a U.S. Passport", 2 photos, evidence of citizenship, the application fee for the passport card and the execution fee. These applicants must apply in person at a Passport Application Acceptance Facility. This may be preferable to the applicant if he/she has frequent international travel requiring the use of the passport book.

How many photos are required when applying for both the passport book and passport card on the same application?

Traveling to Canada, Mexico and Bermuda by Air

U.S. citizens and citizens of Canada, Mexico and Bermuda traveling by air between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport or other WHTI-compliant documentation to enter (or depart) the U.S.

Traveling to Canada, Mexico and Bermuda by Land/Sea

Beginning January 31, 2008, the Department plans to move towards WHTI implementation at land and sea ports of entry by ending the routine practice of accepting oral declarations of citizenship alone.

Citizens of the United States, Canda, Bermuda and Mexico will need to present the following to enter or depart the United States by land or sea:

U.S. and Canadian Citizens

Citizens from Bermuda

Citizens from Mexico

Passport Requirements

All citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda are now required to present a valid passport when entering the United States at any airport as of January 23, 2007. This includes:

Other Acceptable Documents

In some cases, other documents may be accepted when entering or departing the United States by air.

Traveling To and From U.S. Territories

U.S. Citizens traveling to and returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the U.S. territory and do not need to present a passport.

Presenting Insufficient Documentation

For the general public, people who apply for entry but do not have appropriate documentation will likely be referred for secondary screening at the port. In secondary, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will evaluate any evidence of citizenship or identity the individual may have and will verify all information against available databases.

For foreign nationals, a determination will be made at that time whether to admit the individual or not. However, to prevent delay at the ports of entry, we would encourage all travelers to obtain the appropriate documents before they travel.

In addition, the State Department has processes to assist U.S. citizens overseas to obtain emergency travel documentation for those with lost or stolen passports.

Effective Jan. 31, 2008, New Requirements for Entry at Land and Sea Ports from Canada

Effective Jan. 31, 2008, U.S. and Canadian citizens (19 and older) will be required to present proof of citizenship, such as 1) a passport or 2) a birth certificate or naturalization certificate supported by a government issued photo ID, when entering the United States through land and sea ports of entry from Canada. Children ages 18 and under are only required to present proof of citizenship (without ID), such as a birth certificate, naturalization certificate or passport. If a birth certificate is presented, it must be a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state. A photocopy of a birth certificate will only be accepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) if the original has been sent to the Department of State in support of a passport application. In such case, the traveler must obtain and provide proof of passport application. These changes are significant as compared to the current and long-standing policy that allows CBP officers to accept oral declarations of citizenship from U.S. and Canadian citizens seeking entry into the United States through a land or sea border. Effective Jan. 31, 2008, oral declarations will not be accepted.

Travel agents should remind all customers traveling by land or sea to Canada to take either a valid passport or a government issued birth certificate and photo ID beginning Jan. 31, 2008. All travelers by air should be reminded to bring a passport. The passport requirement for air travelers entering the U.S. from Canada has been on the books since Jan. 8, 2007. Please note that travelers holding NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST cards will continue to be accepted for cross-border travel.

Eventually, at an unspecified date in mid-2008, the Department of State will require passports, or soon-to-be announced passport alternatives, from ALL travelers at ALL points, including air, land and sea, within the Western Hemisphere. Prior to the effective date, the State Department intends to make available a Passport Card, which is specifically designed for land and sea travel from neighboring countries. The primary advantages of the Passport Card are that it will be less expensive and smaller than a traditional passport. In addition, several states including Washington, Vermont and New York are creating an Enhanced Driver_s License that will, according to the CBP, also fulfill the proof-of-citizenship requirement at land and sea borders. Further details of these alternative products are unknown. However, CBP says that ample notice of the exact date of implementation will be provided to ensure travelers can obtain the appropriate documents.

Since passports are the gold standard for entering and exiting the country from all foreign destinations, ALL travelers, including those traveling by land or sea in the Western Hemisphere, should be encouraged to obtain, and travel with, a passport. The current turnaround time for a passport is four to six weeks. For information on obtaining a U.S. Passport visit www.travel.state.gov or call 1-877-487-2778. Specific documentation requirements for land, sea and air travel may be found at www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/. To learn more about NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST, visit www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/.

Note: this issue has been widely reported but we don't know if it is true. Before traveling to Canada be sure to check this website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/rehabil.html

Here are some of the articles--

Going to Canada? Check your past

Tourists with minor criminal records turned back at border

There was a time not long ago when a trip across the border from the United States to Canada was accomplished with a wink and a wave of a driver's license. Those days are over.

Take the case of 55-year-old Lake Tahoe resident Greg Felsch. Stopped at the border in Vancouver this month at the start of a planned five-day ski trip, he was sent back to the United States because of a DUI conviction seven years ago. Not that he had any idea what was going on when he was told at customs: "Your next stop is immigration.''

Felsch was ushered into a room. "There must have been 75 people in line," he says. "We were there for three hours. One woman was in tears. A guy was sent back for having a medical marijuana card. I felt like a felon with an ankle bracelet.''

Or ask the well-to-do East Bay couple who flew to British Columbia this month for an eight-day ski vacation at the famed Whistler Chateau, where rooms run to $500 a night. They'd made the trip many times, but were surprised at the border to be told that the husband would have to report to "secondary'' immigration.

There, in a room he estimates was filled with 60 other concerned travelers, he was told he was "a person who was inadmissible to Canada.'' The problem? A conviction for marijuana possession.

Welcome to the new world of border security. Unsuspecting Americans are turning up at the Canadian border expecting clear sailing, only to find that their past -- sometimes their distant past -- is suddenly an issue.

While Canada officially has barred travelers convicted of criminal offenses for years, attorneys say post-9/11 information-gathering, combined with a sweeping agreement between Canada and the United States to share data, has resulted in a spike in phone calls from concerned travelers.

They are shocked to hear that the sins of their youth might keep them out of Canada. But what they don't know is that this is just the beginning. Soon other nations will be able to look into your past when you want to travel there.

"It's completely ridiculous,'' said Chris Cannon, an attorney representing the East Bay couple, who asked that their names not be used because they don't want their kids to know about the pot rap. "It's a disaster. I mean, who didn't smoke pot in the '70s?''

We're about to find out. And don't think you are in the clear if you never inhaled. Ever get nabbed for a DUI? How about shoplifting? Turn around. You aren't getting in.

"From the time that you turn 18, everything is in the system,'' says Lucy Perillo, whose Canada Border Crossing Service in Winnipeg, Manitoba, helps Americans get into the country.

Canadian attorney David Lesperance, an expert on customs and immigration, says he had a client who was involved in a fraternity prank 20 years ago. He was on a scavenger hunt, and the assignment was to steal something from a Piggly Wiggly supermarket. He got caught, paid a small fine and was ordered to sweep the police station parking lot.

He thought it was all forgotten. And it was, until he tried to cross the border.

The official word from the Canadian Border Services Agency is that this is nothing more than business as usual. Spokesman Derek Mellon gets a little huffy when asked why the border has become so strict.

"I think it is important to understand that you are entering another country,'' Mellon says. "You are not crossing the street.''

"People say, 'I've been going to Canada for 20 years and never had a problem,' '' Lesperance says. "It's classic. I say, 'Well, you've been getting away with it for 20 years.' ''

A prior record has always made it difficult to cross the border. What you probably didn't know was that, as the Canadian Consulate's Web site says, "Driving while under the influence of alcohol is regarded as an extremely serious offense in Canada.''

So it isn't as if rules have stiffened. But what has changed is the way the information is gathered. In the wake of 9/11, Canada and the United States formed a partnership that has dramatically increased what Lesperance calls "the data mining'' system at the border.

The Smart Border Action Plan, as it is known, combines Canadian intelligence with extensive U.S. Homeland Security information. The partnership began in 2002, but it wasn't until recently that the system was refined.

"They can call up anything that your state trooper in Iowa can,'' Lesperance says. "As Canadians and Americans have begun cooperating, all those indiscretions from the '60s are going to come back and haunt us.''

Now, there's a scary thought. But the irony of the East Bay couple's situation is inescapable. Since their rowdy days in the '70s, they have created and sold a publishing company, purchased extensive real estate holdings and own a $3 million getaway home in Lake Tahoe.

"We've done pretty well since those days,'' she says. "But what I wonder is how many other people might be affected.''

The Canadian Border Services Agency says its statistics don't show an increase in the number of travelers turned back. But Cannon says that's because the "data mining'' has just begun to pick up momentum.

"It is too new to say,'' he says. "Put it this way. I am one lawyer in San Francisco, and I've had four of these cases in the last two years, two since January. And remember, a lot of people don't want to talk about it (because of embarrassment).''

"Oh, yeah,'' he says. "Just the number of calls I get has gone up. If we factor in the greater ability to discover these cases, it is just mathematically logical that we are going to see more.''

The lesson, the attorneys say, is that if you must travel to Canada, you should apply for "a Minister's Approval of Rehabilitation" to wipe the record clear.

Oh, and by the way, if you don't need to travel to Canada, don't think you won't need to clear your record. Lesperance says it is just a matter of time before agreements are signed with governments in destinations like Japan, Indonesia and Europe.

Who would have thought a single, crazy night in college would follow you around the world?

C.W. Nevius' column appears regularly. His blog, C.W. Nevius.blog, can be found at SFGate.com. E-mail him at cwnevius@sfchronicle.com.

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US Today also covered this issue; you can read about it here:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/cruiselog/2007/03/caught_smoking_.html#comments

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http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/seattle/visas/inadmissible-en.asp

Persons who are inadmissible to Canada

Members of Inadmissible Classes include those who have been convicted of MINOR OFFENCES (including shoplifting, theft, assault, dangerous driving, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of illegal substances, etc.), or of INDICTABLE CRIMINAL OFFENCES (including assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter, etc.). As well, those who have been convicted of DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED (DWI) are considered Members of an Inadmissible Class. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is regarded as an extremely serious offence in Canada.

Those who have received TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS (including parking/speeding tickets, etc.) and other minor violations (i.e. littering, etc.) most likely will NOT be prohibited from entering Canada. Similarly, those who have JUVENILE CONVICTIONS (convictions for crimes committed while under age 18) most likely will NOT be prohibited from entering Canada unless they could have been tried as an adult for their offences.

TEMPORARY RESIDENT PERMIT, APPROVALS OF REHABILITATION, AND PERMISSION TO RETURN TO CANADA:

Those who have been convicted of an offence IN CANADA who wish to return to Canada must first apply for a PARDON from the CLEMENCY AND PARDONS DIVISION OF THE NATIONAL PAROLE BOARD. A Pardon permanently erases the Canadian criminal record, and any consequences of inadmissibility resulting from it. Those unable to obtain a pardon may still apply for a TEMPORARY RESIDENT PERMIT. For more information on pardons, contact:

NATIONAL PAROLE BOARD,
Clemency and Pardons Division,
340 Laurier Avenue West,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0R1.

Those who have been convicted of an offence OUTSIDE CANADA, and have had 5 years elapse since the termination of the custodial portion (if any) of the sentence imposed (not the sentence served), may apply for a Minister's APPROVAL OF REHABILITATION. The Minister's Approval will permanently remove the inadmissibility caused by conviction.

If less than 5 years have elapsed, or if persons are only seeking entry to Canada for a single or limited period, then they may apply for a TEMPORARY RESIDENT PERMIT.

Those subject of a previous DEPORTATION ORDER FROM CANADA require PERMISSION TO RETURN TO CANADA before they can enter Canada. As well, those who have been subject of an EXCLUSION ORDER within the past 12 months require Permission to Return to Canada before they can re-enter Canada.

**NOTE: In general, applications for Temporary Resident Permits, Approvals of Rehabilitation and Authorization to Return to Canada take into consideration the nature of the offenses committed by the applicant, the number of offenses on the applicant's record, the length of time since the last offense, reports from parole or probation officers, the purpose for which entry into Canada is sought, and the applicant's standing in the community.

APPLYING FOR A TEMPORARY RESIDENT PERMIT, APPROVAL OF REHABILITATION, OR PERMISSION TO RETURN TO CANADA:

Persons may apply for a Temporary Resident Permit, Approval of Rehabilitation, or Permission to Return to Canada either in Canada or at one these CANADIAN VISA OFFICES IN THE UNITED STATES:

**NOTE: Be sure to visit the website of the Canadian Visa Office that will be processing your application to confirm hours of operation, processing times, documents/forms required, and other instructions. Application Forms may be obtained from the above offices.

DOCUMENTATION THAT MAY BE REQUIRED BY A CANADIAN VISA OFFICE TO PROCESS TEMPORARY RESIDENT PERMIT OR APPROVAL OF REHABILITATION APPLICATIONS:

DOT Needs Travel Agents’ Help in Raising Safety Awareness Among Traveling Public

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is working to provide the public tips on safe carriage of batteries and battery-powered devices such as cell phones, laptop computers, PDAs and power tools. As batteries become more powerful and use a wider variety of technologies, they are becoming more risky and dangerous. A front-page story in USA Today recently highlighted the dangers of flying with batteries and battery-related equipment. DOT_s safety measures can prevent in-air fires and other incidents. The DOT is asking travel agents to help them by sharing safety tips with their clients so that they may travel safely with these items. Here is the DOT's message:

If you're planning a trip, bring your laptop computer, cell phone, camera, personal digital assistant, or other battery-powered device along. These items are safe to fly with!

Batteries pose little risk contained in the devices they power. Taking the battery out of the device does not enhance safety. To be safest, carry the device with you, not in your checked baggage. Do not remove the battery!

Carry your battery-powered devices or spare batteries in your carry-on baggage. In the passenger compartment, flight crews can better monitor safety conditions to prevent an incident, and can access fire extinguishers, if an incident does happen.

Finally, if you must carry a battery-powered device in your checked baggage, package it to prevent inadvertent activation. Cordless power tools, for instance, should be packed in a protective case, with a trigger lock engaged.

Many travelers like the convenience of readily available spare batteries. It's safe to travel with spare batteries, as long as you follow these simple spare battery tips.

Wherever you travel in the world, cold hard cash is your most essential necessity. This is true if you're buying a cup of coffee in Los Angeles, a silk scarf in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar or a bracelet off a street vendor in Hong Kong. That is why the first thing many travelers look for when they step off the plane in a foreign country is an ATM machine.

ATMs usually solve the traveler's dilemma of where to safely and quickly obtain local currency. All cash withdrawals, regardless of size, are exchanged based on the wholesale exchange rate, which is usually a few percentage points better than the rate at a local exchange counter. Plus, these machines are practically everywhere — ATM cards linked to the PLUS or Cirrus networks can be used in more than 135 countries — which makes them the convenient choice of cash-strapped travelers.

Yet some travelers are running into ATMs that, like stingy uncles, refuse to give them money, usually when they try using their debit cards. Recently, debit cards have been the targets of international frauds, prompting banks to block out entire countries where these frauds occur most often. Travelers usually don't even know a block is currently in place until they are standing cashless in front of an ATM, mildly cursing at their debit card that no longer seems to be working.

Countries that have recently been blocked by various banks include England, Thailand, the Philippines, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Singapore and Japan, though different banks utilize different criteria when selecting countries. Also, some banks block PIN-based transactions, while others block signature-based transactions; it all depends on their risk threshold.

Unfortunately for travelers, banks are not required to inform their customers about these bans, for they do not want to tip their hand to the countermeasures they're employing to criminals. Travel agents urge you to call your bank or check out its Web site before you leave to find out if your debit card will work at your destination.

Here are some additional tips from travel agents concerning the use of ATMs when traveling abroad:

With these tips and a little TravelSense, you should be able to freely explore the world without standing in long lines at the bank trying to access your money.

Or do we? Did you know that packing books or chocolate in your checked luggage increases its chances of being singled out and opened by screeners? Or that it's a good idea to e-mail a copy of your itinerary to yourself before you set out?

In these days of crowded and delayed flights, changing security restrictions and heightened awareness, it's more important than ever to be your own best advocate and increase the odds of making your trip go smoothly. Here are travel strategies learned over the past five years.

• • •

Pre-trip preparation

• Sign up with your airline to be automatically notified of flight time changes, cancellations and gate changes. Most airlines will send text or voice messages to your cellphone.

• But don't just depend on the airline to keep you informed. Before going to the airport, check the airline's Web site for changes in the flight's departure time, or call and talk to an agent about probable flight delays. If there's an hours-long delay or the plane is stuck in another city, try to change the flight to the next morning.

• Make sure someone you know has a copy of your flight and hotel information.

• Ask your doctors for spare prescriptions for regular medications, and take them along; you never know when you'll get stranded.

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• Preprint your boarding pass 24 hours before your flight if your airline allows it. It will get you through the check-in line quicker and, if you're not checking luggage, will allow you to go directly to the gate.

• Crowded flights mean it's more important than ever to know your rights, since planes can be overbooked. Check your airline's Web site for its "contract of carriage," or find links to them at sites such as OneTravel (www.onetravel.com;click on "Rules of the air"). Familiarize yourself with the rules and print a copy to take to the airport, since ticket agents don't always know their airline's policies. In brief, federal law requires all airlines to pay you from $200 to $400 if you are involuntarily bumped, depending on circumstances outlined in each contract. Airlines have varied policies for other circumstances, like canceled flights, that cause delays.

• Know what you can and can't pack in your carry-on and checked luggage. Go to the Web site of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, www.tsa.gov, or phone 866-289-9673.

The carry-on rules for flights from U.S. airports were relaxed last week, with the total ban on liquids, gels and aerosols lifted; travel-size toiletries now are permitted.

• To determine when to leave for the airport, check with your airline for the recommended time — generally two hours before a domestic flight and three hours for an international flight, but certain airlines and airports have significant exceptions. Then check the U.S. Transportation Security Administration Web site at http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov to determine average waits at security lines, and add that to the airline's estimate.

Foreign destinations

• Register with the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country you're visiting (go to the U.S. State Department site, www.travel.state.gov;click on International Travel, then Registration With Embassies). This is especially important if the country is experiencing civil unrest. The State Department will be able to contact you or assist in an evacuation if there's an emergency.

• Keep informed about developing situations by checking the public announcements and travel warnings at the State Department site, www.travel.state.gov. As a reality check, compare the U.S. warnings with those on other countries' sites, such as the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, www.voyage.gc.ca, or the United Kingdom's Foreign & Commonwealth Office, www.fco.gov.uk. For U.K. transportation issues — especially relevant given the carry-on restrictions after the August terror plot to bomb transatlantic planes — go to Department for Transport, www.dft.gov.uk.

• Set up at least two free e-mail accounts (Gmail, Hotmail, etc.), since an account that works in one country may not work in another. You can keep the same account for every trip as long as you access it once every 30 days.

• Scan your main passport page, visa and any paper tickets or other documents and e-mail them to yourself and a friend. It will make things easier if you lose any documents. Also take a photocopy of your passport's main page and your itinerary in a separate bag. For extra security, leave photocopies at home, too.

Packing

• Pack light, pack light, pack light. It makes life easier. Leave behind possible electronic products whose wires could alarm a security officer.

• Spread throughout your checked baggage any thick or heavy objects, such as books, chocolate or peanut butter, that might be difficult for X-ray machines to penetrate. This may keep your luggage from being opened. For a list of permitted and prohibited items (in checked and carry-on luggage), go to www.tsa.gov.

• Invest in a TSA-approved lock (you'll find them labeled as such at travel stores) for your checked bag; the locks are designed so screeners can open them. Screeners who want to inspect checked luggage will cut open non-TSA locks. Of course, they may cut TSA-approved locks, too (not all screeners have gotten the word), but the approved locks reduce the odds of this happening.

• If you're traveling with a friend, split your toiletries and clothes into two groups, then combine one another's stuff in two pieces of checked luggage. This way, if either bag is lost, you'll have at least half your stuff at your destination.

• As a favor to airport security officials who might have to paw through your luggage, carry clear plastic bags for storing dirty clothes at the end of a trip.

• Bring medication in its original packaging, including the label with your name on it. Make sure the name on the label matches the one on your ticket. Consider carrying a copy of the prescription in case you need more while traveling.

• To prevent leaks in checked luggage, pack liquid and gel products in resealable freezer bags (carry-on toiletries must be packed in a resealable plastic bag so they can be easily examined at security checkpoints). Use leak-proof bottles for shampoo and lotion (leave room at the top of bottles for expansion). Pack bubble wrap to cushion wine or other liquid souvenirs, such as olive oil.

At the airport

• More than ever, don't check bags if you can avoid it. This lets you go straight to the security line clutching your preprinted boarding pass, with no stop — and wait — to check luggage. Traveling with carry-ons only also gives you the chance to fly standby on earlier flights. Just be sure to check the airline rules on the size/weight of carry-on luggage; they can be stricter on European airlines.

• If you have to check bags, do so at the curb, where lines can be shorter. Doesn't work for international flights, though.

• Women traveling through airports that use the new "puffer" bomb-detection devices should consider wearing pants and a close-fitting top. Skirts and loose-fitting shirts tend to fly up in the breeze.

• Dress down. We would never have stooped to flip-flops at the airport in the old days, but their convenience in the security line — since shoes may need to be taken off and X-rayed — outweighs the horror we know they cause our mothers.

• Since you never know when you might get stranded, travel with a supply of food, such as power bars, nuts, trail mix and fruit.

• If a flight is delayed or canceled — or the airport lines are so long you will miss your flight — immediately call the airline from your cell phone for alternative options. This will spare you from having to fight the crowds for the attention of the desk person.

• Invest in an iPod or other audio player. You can pack a lot of distractions in it.

• Be genuinely polite to everyone, from security personnel to flight attendants. The lines are not their fault.

In the air

• Drink lots of water or other nonalcoholic beverages to combat dehydration from the dry airplane air. At U.S. airports, drinks purchased in airport stores in the secure area beyond checkpoints now can be carried aboard planes.

• Really pay attention to the flight attendant when he or she gives the security briefing.

• Warm up to your seatmate, since you never know when you'll need a friend.

Trains and subways

• On subways in cities such as New York and London, stand near the door for a quick getaway.

• Check Amtrak's Web site, www.amtrak.com, for information on possible last-minute security-related delays.

• Never ignore a bag left in the aisle or at a seat. Get out and inform a security official immediately.

• Pick cars at the far ends of the subway or train, since they will be less crowded (everyone heads for the center cars).

Road trips

• Embrace the humble highway. Flying hassles — and prices — may lead you to load up the car, even for long-haul trips. You can have more fun than you think with books on tape, motel pools and roadside diners.

• Estimate your fuel costs with the AAA Fuel Cost Calculator: www.fuelcostcalculator.com.

At your destination

• Tune in to the television, radio station or newspaper at your destination; they can alert you to any local security concerns. When traveling overseas, check the Web site of the U.S. Embassy in the country you're in for updates on any unrest: http://usembassy.state.gov/.

• At museums, arenas or ballparks with metal detectors, find the entrance the farthest from the subway or parking garage. People tend to head for the first entrance they find, and it's always the most crowded.

• When touring museums and churches, carry only the essentials, and bring only a small bag so you won't have to check your valuables.

And finally ...

• Be observant, not scared, and keep on traveling.

Many of us go to the U.S. State Department's website to look for official travel warnings. Although these are helpful, there are other countries whose governments use different criteria in developing their travel warnings.

A helpful article that discusses this issue and gives ideas for alternatives, is from the Seattle Times:

Our agency is a member of ASTA: the American Society of Travel Agents. The following summary was provided to all ASTA agencies and we’re sharing this with our clients. It describes the new rules regarding information collection for everyone making an airline reservation. This is current as of October 24, 2008.

How Will The New DHS Secure Flight Rules Affect You?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued its Final Rule on Secure Flight. This rule shifts pre-departure watch list matching responsibilities from individual airlines to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). ASTA filed extensive comments on the proposed rule, most of which were acted upon favorably in the final rule. In this memo we will address the main issues we raised, TSA's resolution of them and other important aspects of the rules, using Q & A format.

Q. What is the exact information you will have to collect from each prospective air traveler?

A. There are four mandatory facts to collect:

(1) full name as it appears on the document that will be used to verify identity at the airport
(2) date of birth
(3) gender
(4) Redress Number (if the person has one)

Q. When do agencies have to begin asking for this information?

A. Airlines will be brought into Secure Flight individually over time and should issue directions. The reservation systems also have to inform agencies about where to put the information in the reservation.

Q. What happens if the passenger refuses to provide the Secure Flight information?

A. Agencies may make the booking anyway, but should tell the passenger that s/he will not be able to get a boarding pass either at home or at the airport until the information has been provided. Giving the Secure Flight information is not optional.

Q. Are there time limits on the provision of the Secure Flight information?

A. Yes. The information must be provided no later than 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure time, unless the reservation is made within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time, in which case it must be collected at the time of booking.

Q. Must agencies collect the Secure Flight information for both domestic and international flights?

A. Initially the program will cover only domestic flights but around September 2009 international flights will be integrated into the system.

Q. What is a Redress Number and where does a passenger get one?

A Redress Number is obtained from DHS when a passenger has had identification issues related to the terrorist watch lists but is not in fact a terrorist. Additional information regarding the DHS' Redress program can be found online. Applying for such a number is the passenger's responsibility, not the travel agent. It is alright if a passenger, when asked, says "I don't have one."

Q. Does Secure Flight have a privacy notice requirement in light of the personal information involved in the program?

A. Yes, but non-airline Web sites only have to provide the privacy notice if they are capable of taking reservations for an airline. If your Web site is just information about the agency and its services, but does not have a booking facility, you are not required by the rules to display the privacy notice.

Q. If an agency has a booking engine on its Web site, is there a particular form of privacy notice that must be displayed?

A. Yes. The rule requires specific language, as set forth below, but the requirement can be satisfied by posting a link to the TSA Web site.

"The Transportation Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires us to collect information from you for purposes of watch list screening, under the authority of 49 U.S.C. section 114, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. Providing this information is voluntary; however, if it is not provided, you may be subject to additional screening or denied transport or authorization to enter a sterile area. TSA may share information you provide with law enforcement or intelligence agencies or others under its published system of records notice. For more on TSA Privacy policies, or to view the system of records notice and the privacy impact assessment, please see TSA's Web site at www.tsa.gov."

Q. Are travel agents required to provide the privacy notice in telephone, personal or other non-Internet based contacts with prospective air travelers?

A. No. Agents are free, however, to inform consumers that their request for this personal information is a requirement of the federal government for security purposes.

Q. When does the government expect the entire airline industry to be able to collect and transmit Secure Flight information to TSA?

A. Within nine (9) months of publication of the final rule in the Federal Register. That publication should occur within a week. ASTA will advise when more certain implementation dates become available.

Q. Does a travel agent have to verify or validate the accuracy of Secure Flight information provided by a client?

A. No.

Q. Does the travel agent have to make a record of an individual's refusal to provide the Secure Flight information?

A. No, but it would be wise in ASTA's view to do so.

Q. Is the government going to do anything to help educate the traveling public about these new requirements?

A. TSA says it will develop a public awareness campaign. ASTA has made input to drafts of such a campaign in the past, but we do not know at this time whether the campaign will be similar. ASTA has offered to assist the government in assuring that the messages in the campaign are framed in language that will help both consumers and travel agents understand what is required.

Q. Will the airlines be able to use the Secure Flight data entered by travel agents for marketing and sales purposes?

A. ASTA asked TSA to make clear that the information was for purposes of Secure Flight watch-list matching only and could not be so used. The explanation of the rule issued by TSA says that "TSA will _ instruct covered aircraft operators to appropriately safeguard the dated related to Secure Flight_." We believe the intent of this language was to prohibit the airlines from using the data for marketing and sales but ASTA will seek further clarification of this point.

ASTA will continuously monitor the implementation of Secure Flight and provide updates and practical suggestions as to how to deal with the program as efficiently as possible.

The Independent Traveler just had a very interesting article about the relationship between flying on an airline and getting a cold.

Forbes Magazine recently ran an article addressing this issue. Here is a weblink to their online article, and the text that you'll find there.

Traveling to Canada, Mexico and Bermuda by Air

Traveling to Canada, Mexico and Bermuda by Land/Sea

U.S. and Canadian Citizens

Citizens from Bermuda

Citizens from Mexico

Passport Requirements

Other Acceptable Documents

Traveling To and From U.S. Territories

Presenting Insufficient Documentation

Note: this issue has been widely reported but we don't know if it is true. Before traveling to Canada be sure to check this website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/rehabil.html

Here are some of the articles--

Going to Canada? Check your past

Tourists with minor criminal records turned back at border

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US Today also covered this issue; you can read about it here:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/cruiselog/2007/03/caught_smoking_.html#comments

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US Today also covered this issue; you can read about it here:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/cruiselog/2007/03/caught_smoking_.html#comments

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http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/seattle/visas/inadmissible-en.asp

Persons who are inadmissible to Canada

Credit cards

Debit cards

Cash

Traveler's checks