Hello Newbie Question I know But I have never been out of the USA and was wondering if i got hired and sent to Canada or Mexico would I need a passport.

 

Starting next year you will. They started with airline travel first. But all vehicles crossing the border will have to carry a passport.

 

Looks like it's time to get one.With the back log will take forever.

 

I've heard of people that have been waiting for 14 weeks and haven't recieved theirs. My mom and stepdad applied for their passport renewals and it took both of them 12 weeks to get it back. My passport renewal was back to me in a little over 4 weeks. If you cough up the expedited fee, it's taking an average of a week for those.

 

My wife and daughter recently applied for theirs. They were told 10-12 weeks maximum right now. They have opened up additional processing centers to cover the backlog.

 

How much does it cost, including the expiditing fee.

 

I think it was $89 and another $60 if you wanted it expedited. Not certain if that's right on, but it's close.

 

And $67 if yours is expired and you want to renew it without having to re-apply.

I'll let you in on a little secret though. My ex-father in law is an DHS/immigration officer at the Columbus, NM Port of entry and he told my ex-wife when she inquired about getting a passport that they can't deny you entry back into the US if you don't have a passport as long as you can prove you are a US citizen with a drivers license, SS card, birth certificate, etc. They can detain you for secondary inspection but you won't be denied entry as long as you have documentation that you are a US citizen. My ex FIL got this info from a meeting they had with Department of Homeland Security brass a few weeks ago.