Jan 22, 2007 By Jennifer Harr 3 min read

Want to get away? Whether you’re considering a weekend jaunt to Canada or a trip to the Caribbean to get away from the cold, if you plan to fly, you better bring your passport starting Tuesday when new regulations go into effect.

New rules require all air travelers to the United States to have a passport, including those coming home by plane from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Uniontown Postmaster Jeff Klamut said Friday that the post office on Iowa Street has seen “a significant increase” in requests for new and renewal passports.

At places like the post office and AAA, those who need a passport can apply and have their photograph taken. The standard waiting period is about four weeks, although for an extra charge, truly eager travelers can have expedited service that gets them a passport in about 10 days.

To help with the process, the Uniontown Post Office will hold a Passport Fair throughout the day Saturday, Feb. 24. The post office had a similar fair in September, Klamut said, and it was a success, bringing in people to renew their passports throughout the day.

Post office senior sales associate Leo Groppi said a passport costs $97, or a renewal fee of $67. The difference between the two is the $30 state application fee associated with the initial passport application, Groppi said.

Passports are good for 10 years.

Those applying for a passport need a state-issued birth certificate with a raised seal and a valid photo identification card, Groppi said. He cautioned that the birth certificate is not the one from the hospital with the newborn footprints on it.

No birth certificate? No problem, Groppi said.

“We have all the information they need here to get a birth certificate no matter what state you’re from. We can get it within a few days,” Groppi said. “The applicant can get all the documents here, so everyone can get everything in one stop.”

While the hoops might seem a little excessive, Groppi said it’s all in the name of better security.

He said the post office also sells passport wallets, which are leather folders specifically meant to hold the passports.

“We’re not only selling stamps anymore,” he said.

Tracy Edwards, manager of travel sales at AAA, said that the agency has seen activity from travelers, but not necessarily an influx of people clamoring to get passports because of the change in regulations.

“It’s been folks who know they’re going to be traveling and need a passport for where they’re going,” he said.

He cautioned that the new regulations are only for air travelers, noting that those who might be planning a drive to Canada or sail from the U.S. to the Caribbean still won’t need a passport – yet.

But he said there are plans in the works to require them for land and sea travel back to the United States from those countries.