Our clients are our number one priority. We aim to give the professionals that we service the best experience with their executive ground transportation NYC and all over the U.S. Our purpose is not only to deliver the best in customer service, but to give you valuable and helpful information so that you can travel better and faster by providing you with the most current travel news and information. Recently, there has been a lot of buzz in regards to U.S. passport changes. Here are some notable things that you need to know so you can have a stress-free and smooth travel experience no matter your destination.
Don’t wait until the last minute to renew your passport
If your passport is about to expire within a year or two, don’t wait until the last minute. It has never been more crucial ensure that your passport is current. Last January, U.S. State Department officials announced that there is expected to be an uptrend of passport applications and renewals. The reason? In 2007, The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was introduced. The initiative mandated that all American citizens entering the U.S. by air from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean carry a passport. As a result, a bottleneck for millions of renewals and new passports ensued. With that being said, those millions of passports that were issued in 2007 are now up for renewal.
[Read: 5 Qualities Your Executive Ground Transportation NYC Company Should Have]
History inevitably is about to repeat itself with another backlog. If you are traveling to a country that requires and your passport expires in less than six months, you may have an issue. Over 25 countries require that a US passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months. Passports can take up to six week’s processing time, so it is important to make sure you have given yourself enough time to receive your passport before you head out on your trip.
[Read: Executive Ground Transportation NYC]
Are you compliant with the REAL ID act?
The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 and will be put into full effect on January 22, 2018. The Act put in place strict security standards for state-issued identification such as driver’s licenses. The Act prohibits, for official purposes, any Federal agency from accepting any licenses or ID cards from states that do not meet the REAL ID Act requirements. Surprisingly, there are only 23 states in the U.S. that are compliant with the REAL ID act and surprisingly, all states are not required to change their state-issued ID to follow suit. Residents of non-compliant states will have to provide alternate forms of ID when traveling. You may need to provide alternate forms of ID even with a passport depending on what state your ID has been issued. Renewing your passport now and understanding your state’s compliance with the REAL ID Act will be beneficial in saving you a headache as you approach the airport.
To find out if your state is compliant with the REAL ID Act, click here
Avstar Aviation provides executive ground transportation in NYC as well as other major cities like Chicago nationwide, Dallas, Los Angeles and more. Contact us on how we can help you with your corporate ground transportation needs. We are available 24 hours/ seven days per week for your convenience.
