Under the government's new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, everyone (including kids) will be required to show their passport when traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The only exception will be if you travel to a U.S. territory, such as Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. There, your driver's license and birth certificate will still be all you need. WHEN WILL THE CHANGES TAKE EFFECT The deadline for when these new passport rules kick is keeps changing, so beware of outdated information. The current timeline is: If you're traveling air, you will need your passport beginning on January 23, 2007. If you are traveling by land or sea, new passport rules will go into effect as early as January 2008. APPLYING FOR YOUR FIRST PASSPORT:  Do it online.  It cost a little more, however, the mistakes are few and the service,  is fast, secure and timely. Passports and Visas within 7 Days If you want to walk your Passport papers through, it will take 6 weeks or more, if there are errors in your passport application. Passport agencies are usually a post office, government office or public library. To find an agency near you, visit: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/. Your first passport will get you through the next 10 years and will cost $97 if you're age 16 or older. Child passports last for five years and cost $82. The US News report that only 21% of American have a valid Passport.  AOL reports that 27% of Americans have a valid Passport.  Either way, over 70% of Americans, have limited travel choices.  Meaning, they cannot leave the country, not legally, and if they do, they can't get back in.  GET YOUR PASSPORT.