Passport Problems
By: LaTonya Stephens
Updated: June 1, 2007
Passport delays are still a major problem for many travelers.
New Homeland Security regulations require all U.S. citizens to have a passport for air travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
The new policy has caused delays in passport application processing.
Leaving Owensboro resident Heather Montgomery without a passport for her mother and six month old daughter.
The new mother says the thought of not having her baby girl with her as she takes a business trip to Bermuda makes her very upset.
Its two weeks before her trip and she applied for the passports in March but hasnt heard anything since.
Heather says she called the State Departments customer service line numerous times but the phone message directed her back to the website.
The State Departments web site does say they are receiving a high volume of calls and that customers should expect delays.
But that everyone should receive their passports in 10 to 12 weeks.
If she doesnt, Heather says she will lose more than 900-dollars for her mothers plane ticket and will have to leave her daughter behind
At this point the passport could show up anytime.
But Heather says its the not knowing...the inability to get any information from the State Department that she has a big problem with.
