DESTINATION/ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

On almost every flight, boarding is denied to passengers who do not have proper identification and/or proof of citizenship for international travel. In these situations, NO REFUND is made as most tour operator services are prepaid.

PASSPORT UPDATE
United States Travel Requirements

January 28, 2008

The U.S. Passport Agency announced new rules for the issuance of passport cards and for children under 16 applying for passports.

New forms allow applying for a passport book and/or a passport card:

The application form for applying for a new passport has been amended so that applicants can check whether they are applying for a passport book (the traditional passport), a passport card or both. The new Application for Passport form DS 11, which is the same number as it has been previously, must be used for all persons applying after February 1, 2008.

The passport card is not valid for travel by air. It is valid only for land and sea crossings between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean region. The passport card has the same validity as the passport book: 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors under 16.

Also, effective February 1, 2008, there are new forms that must be used for passport renewals, adding pages to a passport book, name changes and parental consent for a minor under 16 to apply for a passport.

Change in the age for parental consent and issuance of passports to minor children:

Effective February 1, 2008, both parents must appear or sign consent forms for a child under 16 to apply for a passport. Formerly, the requirement for both parents to consent was for children under 14. It is now required for children under 16.

Effective February 1, 2008, a parent may request that their minor children’s (under 18) names be entered in the U.S. Passport name-check system. Once entered into the system, the program known as the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) will notify the parent if a passport application is submitted in behalf of his/her minor child(ren), and will deny the issuance of a passport if there is an appropriate court order on file with the CPIAP.

The new fees for passport cards and passport books are as follows:

Fee Type	New Passport Fee	New Post Office Fee	New Total

Passport Book 16 and over	$75	$25	$100
Passport Book 15 and under	$60	$25	$85
Passport Book renewal	$75	N/A	$75
Passport Card 16 and over	$20	$25	$45
Passport Card 15 and under	$10	$25	$35
Expedited Service Fee*	$60	N/A	$60

*Not available for cards

Beginning October 1, 2007, passport applications will no longer be accepted in lieu of an actual passport for entry into and departure from the United States. The use of temporary identification was implemented in June by the U. S. Department of State due to a backlog of passport applications.

The U.S. Passport Department has restored passport service to the standard six-to-eight-week processing time for routine passport applications and no more than three weeks for expedited service.

Information on how to obtain a passport can be found at http://www.travel.state.gov

If you need to locate a passport office near you use the zip code search on http://iafdb.travel.state.gov

Vacation Tip: No passport will be required for U.S. citizens flying to these great destinations:

U.S. Virgin Islands - Florida - Hawaii - California

Dominican Republic Travel Requirements

As of April of 2005, Dominican Republic law requires that children under 18, traveling with an adult or guardian other than their parent, must present written authorization from the parent(s), on the day of departure.

This authorization must state that the parent(s) have given consent for the child to leave the country. The letter must be written in Spanish and notarized at a Dominican Consulate in the United States. If the child is traveling with only one parent, the letter is not necessary. In addition, Dominican immigration authorities have recently begun restricting the ability of children to depart the country with only a birth certificate, especially when those children are American citizens of Dominican heritage.

If the child's last name differs from the last name of the accompanying parent(s), proof of parentage is required. Parent's name change must be documented (i.e. marriage certificate). If the minor is 14-17 on the day of departure, they must hold either a valid passport or a valid, official photo ID along with their birth certificate. Anyone under 18 on the day of departure will be denied boarding if not accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.

Barbados Tourist Advisory: The wearing of camouflage or military apparel is considered illegal and clothing will be confiscated and persons charged accordingly.

No Passport? No Worries! Get your travel documents from A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors

Awesome Adventures Travel is offering travelers the convenience of having standard and expedited travel document services online though A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors.

Get Ready to Go:
For a processing fee, you may choose to work with a trusted, direct-to-government service to obtain your passports, visas, and birth certificates in time for your vacation. A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors also provides a convenient online kit of required documents and access to travel document professionals to make the process simple and hassle-free.

International travel used to require months of advance planning. Now you can take advantage of hot deals and great close-in travel specials with this optional processing service.

So start packing, and leave the work to them. Go to A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors to choose the option that fits with your travel needs.

About A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors

A Trusted Name Since 1987

For the last 18 years, A Briggs has specialized exclusively in hand carrying passports and visas. They handle everything for international travelers, including answering questions by phone and email, submitting and picking up applications in person and returning them by FedEx, UPS or US Express Mail.

The website provides complete instructions and forms for obtaining passports and visas to all countries of the world. All transactions on this site are covered by Verisign Security to protect the privacy and security of our clients.

In May of 2005, The Washington Business Journal selected A Briggs as one of the “50 Best Places to Work in Greater Washington”. We have been recognized by the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Washington Business Journal, and the Midland Business Journal of Omaha.

They are the recognized industry leader and serve many Fortune 500 companies, large travel agencies and online booking services including Orbitz. Our national offices are located in Georgetown in downtown Washington, DC at 1054 31st Street, just a few minutes from the Washington Passport Agency and all embassies.

Their courteous and professional staff answer all calls live – we have no recorded messages. In fact, 97% of calls are answered live within three rings. A Briggs guarantees that their rates are the lowest. They offer professional, personal service in 11 cities.

A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors is an independent service provider, not affiliated with Awesome Adventures Travel & Tours. Awesome Adventures Travel is only providing this referral to A Briggs Passport Service as a way to assist customers with close in reservations. There are other passport and visa expediting companies you may want to use. Awesome Adventures Travel has no responsibility for the services of A Briggs Passport Service, the Passport Agency, any Consulate, any Embassy, or any delivery service; regarding the service each respective entity provides. Awesome Adventures Travel is not responsible for any delays, loss of passports, or loss of other materials occasioned by such services. Damage compensation is not available from Awesome Adventures Travel or affiliate tour operators.

Briggs Passports & Visas application costs are as follows:

Visa Service
Regular	$55
Rush	$95
Same Day	$135*
Passport Service
7+ Day	$65
5 to 7 Day	$95
1 to 4 Day	$145

*Passport fees are subject to change.

To obtain a U.S. Passport, Visas online click here.
These services are provided by a third party.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO OBTAIN YOUR PASSPORT EARLY!

To obtain a passport for the first time, go in person to one of the 6,000 passport acceptance facilities located throughout the United States. To locate the nearest acceptance agent, click here.

Acceptance facilities include many Federal, state and probate courts, post offices, some public libraries and a number of county and municipal offices. Travelers should bring two photographs of him/herself, proof of U.S. citizenship, and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license. Foreign nationals should contact their respective governments to obtain passports.

Make sure you allow a sufficient amount of time to apply and receive your passports in advance of travel. The government suggests allowing 6-8 weeks for processing of U.S. passport applications. Peak U.S. passport processing is between January and July. For faster service, apply between August and December.

Non-U.S. citizens must check with the consulate of their intended destination, U.S. authorities, and the air carrier(s) to obtain information on the required documentation for entry to the destination and re-entry to the U.S. All documents must be current and unexpired. The above information regarding documentation is subject to change.

It is the participant's responsibility to obtain current requirements needed for your carrier and destination. Passengers denied boarding, entry or re-entry due to lack of proper documentation will not be entitled to a refund.

For more information on the new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) including U.S. Passport requirements please visit http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

DISCLAIMERS/RESPONSIBILITY

Awesome Adventures Travel & Tours Agency has no special knowledge of foreign entry requirements, foreign travel advisories or warnings or foreign health problems.

For the most up-to-date information on "Foreign Entry Requirements" click here.

For the most up-to-date information on "Current Travel Warnings" click here.

The Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) exists to serve Americans traveling or residing abroad.

The State Department Travel Advisories can be found at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html

For international health requirements and issues, visit the Centers for Disease Control's Travelers' Health Web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationList.aspx

Also see Terms & Conditions for Awesome Adventures Travel Consumer Disclosure Notice.

DESTINATION/ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

PASSPORT UPDATE United States Travel Requirements

PASSPORT UPDATE
United States Travel Requirements