Gov't shutdown Oct 1 - will it affect travel?

[buddysmom]

We are returning from Puerto Rico on October 1.  Do you think the gov't shutdown will have an affect on travel?

[Deleted]

no-they'll keep essential employees on

[Deleted]

Will this effect passport processing? H and I were planning to go the 7th to apply.

I hope not, H has been working crazy overtime and this will be our first chance to go because we will be off for the week and are leaving town the next day.

[osumelissa]

The airports will keep operating so that aspect will not be affected, but passport processing will be halted (at least it was during the last shutdown).

However, I think the possibility of a government shutdown in being exaggerated in the media (I work for a federal agency in DC).

[Deleted]

Sept 23, 2013 17:56:24 GMT -5 @kjewell said:

Will this effect passport processing? H and I were planning to go the 7th to apply.

I hope not, H has been working crazy overtime and this will be our first chance to go because we will be off for the week and are leaving town the next day.

NPR says that it will effect passport processing


Visa and passport delays

Those hoping to enter or leave the country during a shutdown would most likely experience some difficulty. The government was unable to process around 200,000 pending passport applications and a daily average of 30,000 visa and passport applications by foreigners during the 1995-96 shutdowns. This would result not only in a headache for would-be travelers but a loss in millions for the airline and tourism industries.

www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/09/23/225462813/8-things-to-know-about-a-government-shutdown

[magdala]

Yes. While air traffic controllers are considered essential, other services at the airports will be scaled back...I am guessing that get through TSA will take much longer.