Travel Tips

Not too long ago, a passport was not necessarily required for travel between many countries. Things have changed a great deal in the last decade or so, and now a passport is needed for almost every international destination. United States territories, of course, do not require a passport, but almost every other country does. The passport information below should help ease the process for you.

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.

Regardless of whether this is a new passport or a renewal, you will need to provide proof of your identity and citizenship. You will have to provide two identical color photographs of sufficient quality. Background and size restrictions also apply. The pictures taken in booths such as you find at the mall are inadequate. Many post offices are equipped to take the photos, and many businesses or stores can also provide them for you.

Summer is the busiest time for passport issuance, and during that time it may take up to 3 months to get your passport. You should plan to make your application in plenty of time to receive it well ahead of your scheduled departure. Even during off-peak times, it can still take a month to a month and a half for processing. If you need to trim about half of the wait time from your passport application, you can pay an expedited services fee.

If your passport is lost or stolen while you are abroad, you should immediately notify the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate. They can assist you in obtaining a duplicate passport or the necessary documents to allow you to exit the foreign country and be allowed back into the States. This is not necessarily an easy task, however, so travelers should guard their passports carefully.

Anyone who is behind with payments for child support can have a passport application rejected. Children involved in custody disputes may not be permitted to leave the country. In most cases, each parent must approve the application for the child’s passport. This can sometimes be waived if a parent can provide a court decree granting full custody of the child. Everyone must have his or her own passport, from infancy on. The proofs required for a child are the same as for an adult when it comes to establishing citizenship. In addition, the adult must offer proof of his or her relationship.

In the event of a true emergency requiring immediate travel, application must be made in person at one of the regional agencies. In addition to the information normally needed for a passport, be prepared to document the emergency. This may be a death certificate or other official notification that states the circumstances of the situation. You may have to prove kinship to the person identified in the notice.

In the last few years, much US passport information has become outdated. It always pays to be sure you have the most current facts. You should review the travel restrictions for your destination, since they can change quickly. Plan to receive your passport in plenty of time for your departure date. And if you are mailing in a renewal request, be sure that you have included all the documentation requested. All of this will help make your United States passport application process, and your whole trip, a much more pleasant experience.

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