If your summer travel plans will take you outside of the U.S., you might want to get moving on obtaining a passport.
Many travel companies are lowering prices on summer deals. Larry Kamholz with AAA Wisconsin says trips to places such as Canada and Mexico may be an affordable option for those who want to leave the country, but can't afford to go far.
However, if that sort of trip appeals to you, Kamholz says you should get your passport ready. That's because it will soon be required to get back into the U.S. at any border crossing or port. Beginning June 1st, identification such as a birth certificate or voter ID card will no longer be accepted for those coming into the country by land or sea.
The change impacts travelers coming into the US from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, or Bermuda.
Kamholz says getting a passport can be time consuming, so you may need to act soon if you're already planning a summer trip that involves a border crossing. It can take up to three months for officials to process a request for the document.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:07)
