Information for Travelers
Consular Affairs Press Guidance
Passports: Updated Rules
On November 19, the Department published in the Federal Register new rules updating existing passport regulations to conform to current practices.
These new regulations are effective February 1, 2008.
The new rules reflect several improvements in how the Department will process passports for Americans:
To help address the issue of abducted and runaway children, the new regulations extend the two-parent consent and personal appearance requirements to minors under the age of 16, up from age 14.
The new rules add state or local felony arrest warrants to federal felony warrants as a basis for denial, revocation, and restriction of passports.
The new rules codify the definitions, responsibilities, and qualifications of passport agents and passport acceptance agents, including the requirement that passport agents be U.S. citizens.
The rules clarify what documentation is required of an applicant whose name has changed and to reflect more accurately Department practice in this regard.
PASSPORTS
As of the summer of 2008, Americans crossing land and sea borders with Mexico and Canada are required to present a passport or other approved document in order to enter the U.S. The wallet-size passport card is convenient and less expensive than the passport book. However, the U.S. Passport Card cannot be used for international air travel. This new travel document can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry.
More information on applying for a passport or passport card is available at http://travel.state.gov.
Passport Services in Cameroon
The American Embassy in Yaounde provides the following services to American Citizens:
- Issuance of first time passports
- Renewal of a current passport
- Additional pages added to an existing passport
- Names changes in a passport
- Replacement of a lost or stolen passport
Please note that except in emergencies, U.S. passports are produced at facilities in the United States. American citizens are therefore advised to apply early and allow for three to four weeks for processing.