Citizens with no passport at border face fines

Citizens with no passport at border face fines

Lorena Figueroa, El Paso Times
5:29 p.m. MDT April 22, 2016

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(Photo: VICTOR CALZADA / EL PASO TIMES)

U.S. citizens returning to the country without a passport could soon face fines.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is proposing to establish a non-compliant traveler fee to cover the costs of processing the identities of U.S. citizens who cross at the ports of entry without a passport or without a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative-approved document.

The WHTI requires all travelers to show a valid passport or other approved documents when traveling to the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere, including Canada and México.

Other documents include a Passport Card, and Enhanced Driver’s License, or a Trusted Traveler Program card, which includes a Sentri card.

Currently, U.S. citizens who lack WHTI-compliant documents are not denied entry into the United States.

However, CBP is now considering a fine. On April 14 the agency sent the proposed rule change to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the White House. The rule, which is scheduled to be considered next month, does not set the non-compliant traveler fee.

CBP spokesperson Roger Maier said El Paso ports of entry still encounter U.S. citizen travelers who do not have WHTI-compliant documents on a daily basis. Although he did not provide a specific amount of time it takes to process them, they often face longer wait times to cross, he said.

“Since the implementation of WHTI, we have encouraged travelers who do not have a WHTI-compliant document to obtain one because having and using one makes the entry process quicker and more efficient,” Maier added.

The Department of State has helped travelers obtain their passports through outreach events, such as the Passport Day, without making an appointment.

The El Paso Passport Agency will have its own Passport Day on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The local passport agency is located at 303 N. Oregon Street.

Jennifer Archibeque, customer service manager of the El Paso Passport Agency, said this is a good opportunity for El Pasoans to apply or renew their passport.

“The future enforcement of WHTI may be stricter, so it is better to have a passport now to avoid any fines,” she said.

Travelers should also take advantage of getting their passport ahead of the traveling season, when the passport demand is higher, she said.

Archibeque said it takes an average of six weeks to process a passport after applying for it. She estimates that wait will increase up to eight weeks during the busy season.

Expedited service, which cost an extra $60, takes two weeks and as little as two days through the El Paso Passport Agency, she said.

Processing times during traveling season, however, could increase even more because of the expected surge in passport renewals starting this year. The 10-year passports people got in 2007, when WHTI went in to effect, will expire next year.

Archibeque said the El Paso’s office has already seen an increase in passport demand of about 15 percent during the first trimester of 2016 compared with the same period last year.

Currently, the agency processes up to 60 regular and 180 expedite service applications from local residents and up to 3,000 expedited service applications from all over the country each week, she said.

People can apply or renew a passport at the Department of State’s 29 passport agencies, including El Paso’s, as well as at any of the 8,100 acceptance facilities, including the El Paso district clerk's office and post offices.

An adult passport cost $135, including processing fees. The adult passport card is $55.

The cost is $165 for both the passport book and card.

For more information about passport requirements and fees, visit www.travel.state.gov. To schedule an appointment, call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.
Lorena Figueroa may be reached at 546-6129; lfigueroa@elpasotimes.com; @LFigueroaEPT on Twitter.

MAKE PLANS
What: Local Passport Day at the El Paso Passport Agency
When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: 303 N. Oregon
TO APPLY, applicants must be present and bring:
1) An unsigned passport application (this can be downloaded atwww.travel.state.gov
2) Original Proof of U.S. citizenship
3) A valid, government-issued photo ID
4) Payment in the form of check, money order, credit card or debit
5) There are special requirements for minors listed at www.travel.state.gov

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