TIP: Now is the time to get your passport

I hope everyone is home safe and sound from your holiday travels. If you're planning any foreign trips in the near future, please check your passport. Rules have changed and your passport needs to be valid a minimum of six months from the date of your return trip.
By Jan. 23, 2007, all U.S. citizens are required to have a valid passport when traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Bermuda and all other international destinations.

As of Jan. 1, 2008, all U.S. citizens are required to have a valid U.S. passport when crossing any land borders, in addition to air and sea travel. The bottom line here is if you want to travel outside the United States, you'd better have a passport. To help you secure a passport the Redlands post office and the University of Redlands are sponsoring a Passport Faire from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20, in the Hunsaker Center lobby at the university. You must bring the following documentation:

Proof of citizenship: Acceptable documents include a previous passport, a certified copy of your birth certificate issued from your state's Office of Vital Records or a Naturalization Certificate of Citizenship.

Proof of identify: Acceptable documents include a valid state issued driver's license, valid government-issued identification card or military identification card.

Passport photos: Two passport size photos, 2 by 2 inches in size. Photos can be taken on site for an additional $15 per person. The government is very strict regarding passport photos; I do not recommend trying to print your own.

Payment for fees: Payment must be made in cash or by personal check. Do not make checks out until being instructed to do so. If paying by cash, there is an additional 95-cent money order fee. Prices vary with age.

Ages 16 and older: $97 - $67 payable to Passport Services and $30 payable to Postmaster. Your passport is valid for 10 years.

Younger than 16 years: $82 - $52 payable to Passport Services and $30 payable to Postmaster. If you are younger than 16 your passport is valid for only five years.

All applicants must appear in person, including minors under the age of 14. For children under 14, both parents or the child's legal guardian(s) must appear with the child. If only one parent appears, that parent must submit one of the following: the second parent's notarized written statement consenting to the passport issuance for the child, primary evidence of sole authority to apply or a written statement made under the penalty of perjury explaining the second parent's unavailability.

To access forms or obtain travel information, visit the U.S. State Department's Web page at http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport1738.html

Today, with all the added security at our airports and borders, it really is important for everyone to have a passport for proper identification.

Speaking of airport security, if you plan to lock your checked luggage, make sure you have Transportation Security Administration-certified locks. If airport security needs to inspect your bags, they won't have to break your lock. You can buy TSA-certified locks at most large stores (Target or Kmart, for example) or luggage stores.

For added safety, just in case your luggage doesn't get to your final destination, make sure you have a luggage tag with your name, current address (business address is preferable), phone numbers both inside and outside your baggage, and a copy of your itinerary. This is the fastest way for the airlines to get your bags back to you when something goes wrong. Several companies have recently come out with tracking luggage tags; they have a unique tracking number to recover lost luggage around the world. I just ordered some for my office; hopefully, I won't have to activate the tracking system.

At check-in, make sure the agent or skycap has tagged your baggage to the correct and final destination. If you're not sure of the airport's three-letter code, ask the agent what the letters on the tag stand for. LAX is easy, BNA (Nashville) or SMF (Sacramento) are not easily recognizable. Use a colorful nametag or ribbon to easily identify your luggage and protect yourself from what the airlines call "bag swaps."

Black luggage is so common; it's easy to see how people can unintentionally pick up the wrong bag. My luggage is bright red and stands out at baggage claim. It's also a good idea to itemize what you packed. If you bought new clothes for your trip, keep the receipts until you get home. If your luggage should be lost, you can turn in the receipts with your insurance claim. Even if you did not take out a travel policy, your homeowner's policy may cover some of the loss. Expensive jewelry or hard-to-replace items should be packed in carry-on luggage, along with prescription medication, cash and travel documents.

Happy traveling.