Arrested Development - Ex-Pats Mexico

United States Consulate General Guadalajara

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO AS MANY AMERICAN CITIZENS AS POSSIBLE

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
DO YOU HAVE YOUR U.S. PASSPORT YET?

!!! 2009 TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS !!!

On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, or passport card. The goal of the initiative is to strengthen U.S. border security while facilitating entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized documentation that enables the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler. As a reminder to all U.S. citizens traveling by air, you are required to present a valid passport book (not passport card). The U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara encourages all American Citizens to apply for the passport book or passport card in advance to avoid any set backs in travel arrangements.

Electronic Forms for passport applications:

The American Citizen Services section of the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara will require all passport applications to be filled out electronically prior to arrival. We will no longer accept hand-written passport applications. Note: This policy does not apply to emergency passport applications involving lost and/or stolen passports. All passport applications must be filled out using the following website: https://pptform.state.gov

New Exchange Rate for U.S. passport services:

As of March 17, 2009, the new exchange rate will be: $17.00 mexican pesos x $1.00 US dollar

Appointments:

The American Citizen Services section of the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara requires appointments for passport applications and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA). Note: This policy does not apply to emergency passport applications involving lost and/or stolen passports. Appointments are available through our webpage:

English: http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/service.html
Spanish: http://spanish.guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/service.html

We remind our customers that our monthly outreach visits to the Chapala and Ajijic are the first Wednesdays of every month. We visit the American Legion in Chapala from 09:30 am – 11:30 am; and the Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic from 12:00 pm – 02:00 pm. Note: Holiday schedule may change such visits.

United States Consulate General Guadalajara Website

(English) http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov

(Spanish) http://spanish.guadalajara.usconsulate.gov

I just love the exchange rate citizens are being offered - 17 pesos to 1 dollar.

Doesn anyone have any experience with the "Passport Card", which is adequate for driving in and out of MX as I understand it?

Passport card:


U.S. citizens can now apply for the new US Passport Card. The U.S. Passport Card provides a convenient alterative to carrying a bulky, full sized US Passport. The US Passport Card is similar to a regular passport as it provides proof of both US citizenship and identity; however, the US Passport Card is the size of a credit card. The US Passport Card fulfills the new border travel requirements that will take effect in June 2009 and will expedite sea and land border crossings between the United States, Mexico, Canada, Bahamas and the Caribbean. The regular U.S. Passport or Passport Book is still the only valid document for international air travel.

Applications for US Passport Cards were made available on February 1, 2008 and production began in July, 2008. Once the Department of State receives the US Passport Card application, individuals can expect to receive their US Passport Card in approximately three weeks. Individuals are encouraged to apply early for this useful and convenient documentation.

OVERVIEW OF THE U.S. PASSPORT CARD


Valid only for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
A US Passport Card cannot be used for international travel by air.
US Passport Cards became available as of July 14, 2008.
Only the U.S. Department of State issues the US Passport Card.
The US Passport Card is only available to U.S. citizens. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must first apply for United States Citizenship.


I would NEVER be in a foreign country without a VALID PASSPORT.