Phoenix, Ariz., July 7, 2010 – As globe-trekkers prepare for international voyages, AAA suggests that those travelers in need of a passport act quickly – the U.S. Department of State announced last week new passport fees take effect July 13.

“We encourage travelers to apply for and retain valid passports, as the opportunities for global travel have never been more abundant,” said Linda Gorman, director of communications and public affairs for AAA Arizona. “Even if you are not planning to travel outside of the country anytime soon, submitting your passport application this week could save you money in the future.”

It is estimated that fewer than 30 percent of Americans hold valid passports. This scenario not only complicates the process of planning international vacation travel for a majority of the U.S. population, but with raised fees, it will be more costly.

The new fees will be applied to the passport book, the passport card and other passport services. To illustrate the fee increase, AAA has compiled the following list of passport products and services, and their current and future fees:

The State Department is currently processing routine applications in approximately four to six weeks from the time of application. Expedited passport processing services, including overnight delivery to and from the passport agency, are reported to take between two and three weeks door-to-door.

Travelers in a hurry have additional options for obtaining a passport quickly.  Through AAA’s partnership with Travisa, travelers can pay $199 for same day passport processing, $179 for 48-hour processing, and $99 for 3 to 10 day processing. These charges are in addition to regular passport fees. AAA also provides Plus and Premier members with passport photos at no charge.  

Arizona travelers should also be mindful of the changes implemented by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which was enacted last year. Forms of identification that were previously accepted at land crossings, such as original birth certificates, are no longer accepted to gain entry or re-entry to the United States. U.S. citizens returning from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda, by land or sea, are required to have either a passport book, a passport card, or in exceptional cases, another approved travel document.

To learn more about U.S. travel requirements, or how to apply for a U.S. passport or renew one, visit the State Department Travel website at http://travel.state.gov/.

AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 800,000 Arizona members.  Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists. Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.  In 2008, AAA was ranked the No. 1 “socially responsible” brand by Landor’s BrandAsset® Valuator.