Now that you need one to re-enter the US by air from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
You still have 1 year if entering by land from Canada or Mexico (but not the Caribbean).
I bet a lot of people will get snagged in this year, especially around spring break.
“What, Cancun counts as Mexico?”
Of course. Haven’t got the kids passports yet (they should be here in a couple weeks). Always have a passport, in case you need to flee the … er, take a sudden trip.
I’m one of those guys who lived overseas as a kid, and have had a passport for a good long time. I intend to have one for a good long time in the future.
I live next to Windsor Canada. In Detroit you go south to hit Canada. Every trip will require a passport. I drink Canadian beer I got a passport a couple years ago because it made the crossing easier.
I got one in 2005, when I first heard they were going to start requiring passports for Canada. I go curling in Windsor occasionally, and I wanted to be able to cross the border without trouble. Passports were supposed to become manditory last year, but they pushed it back because they weren’t ready yet.
I got my first one when I was about 5, never used it. My mom needed to get one on short notice, so we went to the consulate in LA and she figured that as long as I was there, I may as well get one.
Got my second one a little less than four years ago and it’s nearly half full. I anticipate having one for the rest of my life, so that I can flee the cou… take a sudden trip with Bobotheoptimist on a moment’s notice.
I’ve had my blue passport since I was 15 years old, and my black (diplomatic) passport for 5 years now. The new dip passports are actually quite cool, with stiffer back and front pages and depictions of the state mottoes and historical quotes on the middle pages. Coolest of all – the endorsement on the back page that reads “The bearer is abroad on a diplomatic assignment for the United States of America.”
Have had it since '91 – my job of the time could have required international travel, so I got the fee refunded by the company.
As to entering from the Caribbean overland… well, you never know what some American Spring-Breaker will attempt…
(And you KNOW the respective Tourism Offices of Puerto Rico and of the US Virgin Islands are going to be sending reminders to Travel Agents and Tour Operators that you can still just show up here with a driver’s license…)