Results tagged “Passports” from Intelligent Travel Blog

It's less than a month to senior editor Norie Quintos's trip to Kenya (her third) with her teenage sons (their first). Here's how she's been prepping. This is the second in a series of blogs on the trip. Click here to see the first.

Kenya currently remains under a U.S. State Department travel warning due to "threats of terrorism and the high rate of violent crime." (Many on-the-ground experts say this designation is unfair, undeserved, and politically motivated, but that's another story). I consulted the travel intelligence folks at iJet, who said that if I avoided the northwestern border areas, as all safari itineraries do, and practiced basic personal precautions, there was no reason to stay away. As with any trip to a developing country, or any trip really, I wanted a tour operator that would be able to respond effectively should the unexpected and unlikely happen. There are many established safari companies that fit the bill. The one I selected--New York-based Micato Safaris--maintains deep ties to Kenya; its Kenyan founders still reside in Nairobi. The company also uses the services of a group of aircraft-supported physicians if medical treatment is necessary.

A recent IT post on the June 1st implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative that ups the ante on what documents U.S. citizens returning from travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean are now required to show prompted the following question from a reader:

Q: I am planning on going on a cruise this August with my husband. My passport is in my maiden name. Would that be sufficient documentation or do I have to change it? Where would I change it and how long will it take?

A: First off, congratulations on your recent marriage! I'm assuming you're heading off on a cruise this August to Mexico or perhaps one of the 17 nations categorized as the Caribbean by Customs and Border Protection. If you're returning to the U.S. by air, you'll need a valid passport. If you're heading back by sea or land, you'll need a valid passport or passport card.

Also, you should change the name listed on your passport to your married name. Also, be sure your tickets for travel (the cruise, any flights involved) are reserved under your married name (to match your new passport). I'd work with your airline and cruise company to be sure your tickets match your new passport and list your married name.

Now, the nitty gritty of changing your name on your passport: If your old passport, the one that lists your maiden name, was issued less than one year ago, you need to send your valid passport, form DS-5504, a complete copy of your marriage certificate, and two recent photos to the National Passport Processing Center in Philadelphia whose address is listed on form DS-5504. There is no fee to change your name on a passport issued less than a year ago unless you need to expedite it.