Get Your Passports NOW if...

Residents of nine U.S. states won't be able to use their driver's licenses as identification to fly; this comes as a result of the federal government's new security rules, which go into effect in January 2018.

Those who live in Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington will need to use an alternate form of ID, like a passport, permanent resident card, or military ID, in order to pass TSA security checkpoints for both domestic and international travel. So unless the aforementioned U.S. states update their ID card process, affected travelers will need to apply for a passport or use another type of identification in order to get through TSA. Check with your state as passports are expensive and take several weeks to get processed.

TIPs: Check your current passport's expiration date, as they are only valid for 10 years. Always have a photo copy of your passport (even if at home) so if it gets lost,it will help you in getting it replaced. If traveling abroad, travel with this too in case your actual passport is stolen and you need to go to the local US Embassy to get it replaced.