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Your ticket to anywhere: How to get a passport

Under new rules that took effect Jan. 23, all air passengers returning to the USA from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean must carry a passport. And as early as next year, cruise passengers and travelers who re-enter the USA by car or on foot will need one as well. USA TODAY's Laura Bly shares tips on how to get one:

•For tips, application wait times and downloadable application forms, visit
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

•For a first passport, you'll need to apply in person at one of about 8,000 post offices, public libraries or other government offices.

•Bring a certified copy of your birth certificate, two identical 2-inch-by-2-inch color photographs, a valid photo identification, an application form and fee for the new passport. It is good for 10 years ($97 for travelers 16 and older and $82 for those under 16).

•Passport renewals cost $67. If your passport is undamaged and less than 15 years old, you were at least 16 years old when it was issued and you have the same name (or can legally document your name change), you can renew by mail.

•If you're traveling in less than 10 weeks, consider paying $60 for expedited service, plus overnight-delivery fees. These passports take about two weeks to process.

•Last-minute travelers leaving within two weeks who haven't yet applied for a passport should make an appointment to visit one of 14 regional passport offices (Boston, Chicago, Aurora, Colo., Norwalk, Conn.; Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle or Washington, D.C.)

by e-mail (go to travel.state.gov/passport, click on "About Passport Services," then "National Passport Services Center")

or by calling 877-487-2778. The call center is staffed from 6 a.m. to midnight ET, Monday-Friday, plus limited weekend hours. According to the State Department website, the best time to call is after 8:30 p.m. or before 9 a.m. ET.

•Travelers who already have applied and are within two weeks of departure can check the status of their application at travel.state.gov/passport: Click "Online Application Status Check." Note that the State Department is taking up to one week for expedited applications and up to four weeks for routine applications to be tracked online.

•Consider paying extra ($100 or more) to a private passport expediter, which is allotted rush-application slots at regional passport offices. But ask first about delivery times and guarantees. Many of the largest firms belong to the National Association of Passport and Visa Services, napvs.org.

•As early as next year, under a proposed rule by the Homeland Security Department, U.S. and Canadian Ch*ldren will not need passports to enter the USA by land or sea as adults will. As long as they have parental consent, U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 15 or younger can enter the USA with a birth certificate; those ages 16 to 18 can with birth certificates if they're part of an adult-supervised school, religious, cultural or athletic group.

Good tipe Wit.

If I may add something... the 877 number they ask you to call with passport questions is very busy.

I was on hold for about 90 minutes on Thursday night at 11pm. I just put it on speakerphone and watched TV until somebody answered. I guess the demand for passport really is that great.

I found out that if you make an appt to one of the Regional Passport Centers (selected cities), you can have your new or newed passport in 1 day, 2 at most. You must pay the extra $60 expedite fee though. And another $15 for them to overnight it back to you. Or just pick it up for free.

I am travelling late next week and I'm going in on Friday to renew my passport. It should be ready for pick-up on Monday or Tuesday.

I was in DC one day a few years ago and renewed my passport the same day. It only took about three hours. Dropped it off...went site seeing and eat lunch...went back and picked it up.....