Accurate Passport Information Has Been In Demand
The time has passed when citizens could cross many international borders without the need of a passport. Once, a quick trip to Mexico or Aruba required nothing more than a valid driver’s license and sometimes your birth certificate. They still are not needed for travel to a U.S. Territory, but they are required for almost every other nation. Changes in the law means that there is now much more passport information travelers should know.
A recent development is the passport card. This wallet-sized card is less expensive than a passport book, or traditional passport. However, it can only be used for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, and certain nations in the Caribbean. It cannot be used for international air travel. In addition, some countries may require additional documentation. Therefore, you need to check the specific requirements of your destination before deciding whether this will suffice for your trip.
A traditional passport is still required for most international destinations and for all international flights. It may be possible to renew your passport via mail, if you meet the requirements. If you have never had a passport, or it has been longer than 15 years since it was issued, you must apply in person. There are several regional passport agencies, but most post offices and some country clerks also process passport applications.
Whether applying by mail or in person, you will have to prove that you are a U.S. Citizen and that you are, indeed, who you claim to be. Two good quality color photographs are required, and they must meet certain size and background specifications. The coin-operated booths do not produce the type the passport requires, so you will need to have them taken elsewhere. Some post offices have the ability to take them, as do many of the business service centers that provide shipping and printing services.
During the busiest times of year, it can take as long as 3 months to receive your passport. Advance planning will make sure that you have it in hand well before your departure date. Even during the slow periods, you should allow up to 6 weeks. For an additional fee, you can expedite your passport application, which will trim approximately 50 percent of the time from your wait.
When you are in a foreign country, be sure and guard your passport. Should it be stolen or lost, report it immediately to the U.S. Consulate or embassy. They can help you obtain another passport or provide the documentation you will need to exit the country and return to the U.S. Since this is not normally an easy chore, you should make every effort to avoid it.
A parent behind on payments for child support may find his or her application for a passport denied. A child may not be allowed to exit the country during a custody dispute. In addition, unless the mother or father has proof of a court decree granting sole custody, both parents must sign a child’s passport application. Every child, even an infant, must have his or her own passport. Getting a passport for a child is not much different in terms of the documentation required. But the parent must also establish proof of the child’s relationship.
Emergency passports can be obtained from regional passport agencies. Applications are only accepted in person. The situation must be a genuine emergency that requires you to travel immediately. You will have to provide the normal documentation, but will also have to provide proof of the emergency. An official death certificate or other acceptable notice may be needed which states what the emergency is and how it relates to you.
With the many changes in passport information that are continuously occurring, it is always best to verify the most current information, particularly the requirements of your destination. Be sure to make your new passport application in time to meet your departure schedule. And if you are mailing in an application for a renewal, double check that you have included everything requested. These simple steps should make it much less stressful to obtain your passport.
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