Need a passport, or need to renew? You might want to get that paperwork submitted ASAP.

U.S. officials warn that they expect passport processing to be backlogged through 2018. Why? A U.S. law in 2007, dubbed the western hemisphere travel initiative, required any U.S. citizen travelling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda to hold a passport.

That year, U.S. officials issued 18 million passports because of the new law. Most of them are due for renewal in the next two years, meaning lines and waits are about to become longer.

If you do not plan to travel further than Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda you can opt instead for a passport card. These $30 cards are issued to U.S. citizens who currently have a passport. The cards can be issued much quicker than a new passport. Travelers cannot use them for international air travel, though they are good for those driving north or south of our borders, or venturing out via cruise ship.

To learn more about the passport rules, visit the Department of Homeland Security website at: http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative