Travel Alerts

Know Before You Go

New Passport Requirements for U.S. Citizens Coming Soon
Attention American travelers without passports-if you are planning on taking a Caribbean cruise or Canadian ski trip over Christmas and into the new year, you could find yourself stranded on the wrong side of the border.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is changing the rules regarding how you re-enter the United States. The muscle behind this Initiative-the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004-requires that by Jan. 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada must have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States.

This Initiative affects anyone who will travel between the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States, most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and Mexican citizens will also be impacted.

The Initiative will roll out in phases with advance notice before each phase so that the public can meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline will be as follows:

> Dec. 31, 2006 - Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

> Dec. 31, 2007 - Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

Currently, only a passport will be recognized as the document of choice for travel within the Western Hemisphere because of security features and general availability. However, other documents are currently being investigated as alternatives for land border crossings, such as the Border Crossing Card, (BCC - also known as "laser visa") which currently serves as an acceptable substitute for a passport and a visa for citizens of Mexico traveling to the United States.

Other documents that are also being considered are the Customs and Border Protection Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI), NEXUS, and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program cards. The Departments of Homeland Security and State are using the latest technologies to secure these options and create other alternative documents, which they will make public as soon as they become available.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will not affect travel between the United States and its territories. U.S. citizens traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa will continue to be able to use established forms of identification to board flights and for entry. However, if your itinerary takes you out of U.S. territories, you will need a valid passport for re-entry beginning Jan. 1, 2007.

TravelSense advises all travelers-even those with no immediate plans to travel in the Western Hemisphere-to apply for passports now to avoid a last-minute crunch. You can always turn to a trusted travel agent to get passport information, updates and, if available, their passport services, along with timely advice on all your travel needs.

Independence Air to Shut Down
Jan. 3, 2006 - Independence Air will voluntarily cease operation by discontinuing all scheduled flights planned to depart after 7:00 pm on Thursday, Jan. 5, except Flight 1777 from White Plains, N.Y. to Washington Dulles departing at 7:26 pm.

According to Independence Air, customers with roundtrip reservations for trips departing before the cessation of operations (including those customers who have already departed) but were scheduled to return afterwards will be contacted and offered the opportunity to change their return reservations to one of the remaining days of operation. Customers that have not yet been contacted should call Independence Air or their travel agent immediately. Independence Air will waive change fees for changes made by phone.

The company is seeking bankruptcy court approval to automatically refund customers with reservations for flights scheduled to depart after cessation. Alternatively, affected passengers can elect one of the following options:

1) Fly Confirmed Space. Alternate airlines may offer special "confirmed space" concessions to affected ticket holders. For example, US Airways has announced plans to offer customers affected by the shutdown the opportunity to purchase a confirmed ticket for only $100 each way. Tickets will be available for this special fare beginning Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006, and travel under the special confirmed-space offer must be completed by Jan. 31, 2006. Contact your travel agent for more details.

2) Fly Standby. Under Section 145 of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, Congress has obligated U.S. airlines to offer stand-by transportation to passengers holding un-refunded tickets for airlines that have ceased operations due to insolvency or bankruptcy. Passengers holding tickets for travel within three days of cessation have seven days to make alternate arrangements (e.g. create standby reservation) with an applicable alternate airline. All other ticket holders must make alternate arrangements within 60 days of the cessation of service. The maximum fee an airline can charge is $50 each way. Passengers must provide the alternate airline with an original paper ticket or e-ticket receipt.

3) Deny the credit card charge. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, ticketed passengers who are not allowed refunds have certain rights to refuse to pay credit card charges related to services not provided. Ticketed passengers who made payment by credit card for travel that does not take place because the airline ceases operation should contact their credit card company immediately to dispute the charge. Full details can be found at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fcb.htm .

4) File a Claim. If you paid by cash/check or your credit card dispute was denied by your card's issuing bank, you should file a Proof of Claim with the Bankruptcy Court. The court will provide claim procedures within months of the initial Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition.

State Department Updates Worldwide Travel Caution
Dec 12, 2005 - The State Department has updated its Worldwide Travel Caution to remind U.S. citizens of the continuing threat of terrorist actions and anti-American violence. According to the public announcement:

"The Department of State remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas. Ongoing events in Iraq have resulted in demonstrations and associated violence in several countries. Americans are reminded that demonstrations and rioting can occur with little or no warning."

You can find the full text of the most recent Worldwide Caution on the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Web page at http://travel.state.gov/ .

State Department Will No Longer Amend Passports
In an effort to bolster security, the State Department's Passport Services will no longer amend valid passports, effective Sept. 26, 2005. Instead, passport holders requesting name changes, extension of validity for limited passports or correction of a printing error will have to apply for replacement passports using a U.S. Passport Re-Application Form (DS 5504) or an Application for Passport by Mail (DS-82). Forms are available at travel.state.gov

National Passport Information Center Offers Toll-Free Telephone Access
The National Passport Information Center (NPIC) offers toll-free telephone access for U.S. passport information. Callers can reach NPIC at (877) 4USA-PPT (877-487-2778). Live operators will be available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. Twenty-four hour, seven-day automated information is also be available. See the State Department's Passport Services page at http://travel.state.gov/passport/ for more information.

Federal Trade Commission Cautions Against Bogus International Driving Permits
The Federal Trade Commission advises U.S. consumers with plans to drive while traveling abroad that international driving permits (IDPs) are available from the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) only, at a cost of less than $20. Ads offering IDPs that consumers may receive through the mail, through unsolicited email, in person or through other channels -- for prices ranging from $60 to $400 -- are scams, according to the FTC

The FTC has more information on bogus international driving permits on its Website at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/idpalrt.htm