Spring break travelers will need to plan ahead, especially after the new passport law takes effect.
In January, air and sea travel will require passports, and the following year, all border crossings will require a passport. The new requirement is part of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, according to the U.S. State Department Web site.
To help people prepare for the changes, the Carbondale Post Office, located at 1301 E. Main St. will hold a passport fair 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Dan Finnegan, customer service supervisor for the post office, said the goal is to bring awareness to students who don't know about the new requirements regarding passports and travel.
Starting Jan. 8, people traveling outside of the United States will be required to provide passports for identification. Finnegan said this new requirement is important for students to know because many spring break hot spots will now require passports.
"People who have flown to Mexico or the Caribbean without a passport last year or years before will not be able to do it this year," he said. "They will need a passport to get on that plane."
Employees at the fair will help students fill out passport forms and get the lengthy process started so they won't miss out on their plans, Finnegan said.
A table will be set up where passport agents will check to make sure students have all proper forms of identification. Students need proof of American citizenship, such as a birth certificate with a raised seal or a certificate of naturalization. Photo identification will also need to be verified, so it is important to bring a driver's license or state ID. University ID cards do not count as identification.
Finnegan said the fair provides a unique opportunity for students who want passports since the post office only processes them during the week. Many students are busy throughout the week so the fair gives them a chance to get their passports at a convenient time.
David Coracy, president of B and A Travel Service, said he has been pushing the passport issue for about a year to get people ready for the new regulation. He said making passports standard will make travel easier.
"We think it's a good thing," he said. "We think it's about time there's a single, standard, reliable form of proof of citizenship."
Getting a passport generally takes about eight weeks, so Finnegan said students should plan ahead. For an additional charge, students can cut the time down to between a week and 10 days. He said the bottom line is - get the passports done.
"Each year we have some disappointed spring breakers who can't get their passport on time," he said.
