POULSBO — Sept. 11, 2001 rocked the nation to its very core, and from that fateful day have come numerous changes in the American way of life.

While security screenings at airports have become the norm, a new layer of protection is being added through the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

The goal of the initiative is “to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized, secure and reliable documentation which will allow the Department of Homeland Security to quickly, reliably and accurately identify a traveler,” according to the U.S. Department of State advisory on the changes.

Beginning Jan. 23, 2007, U.S. citizens traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda will be required to present a valid U.S. passport, Air NEXUS card or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner document.

Travel by land and sea, including ferries, will have that same requirement as early as Jan. 1, 2008.

Any direct travel between the continental U.S. and its territories won’t be affected by the new requirements.

The initiative could have a definite impact on the number of passport applications processed by the Poulsbo city clerk’s department, which is one of five passport processing facilities in the county.

Applications and other forms are available during normal business hours, but applications are accepted by appointment on Tuesdays only.

The total cost of a passport for U.S. citizens 16 years of age and older is $97, and for those 15 years of age and younger the cost is $82. Those costs include a $30 processing fee.

The normal processing time for a passport is about five weeks, but that time can be reduced to less than two weeks for an additional $60.

A $67 passport fee must be made payable to “Passport Services” or Department of State.

Passports can be renewed by mail for $67. For more information, residents are encouraged to call the city clerk’s office at (360) 779-3901 or visit the State Department’s Web site, http://travel.state.gov/