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An American Citizen Born Overseas

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

There has been a lot of speculation as to whether a child born abroad to parents of American citizens is in fact an American citizen themselves. This; however, is not answered with a simple yes or no response, because the true answer lies in the specifics of each situation. There was much confusion regarding this circumstance until the Child Citizenship Act was emplaced in February 2001. Thankfully now, many laws that are in place state the exact requirements and rights of each child born abroad from American citizens. Most of this controversy centers on the ability for these children to acquire a new child passport.

As mentioned before, there are many different scenarios possible in association to this dilemma, and each can pan out to have as diverse a conclusion as the conditions represented. The easiest situation would be in respect to a child born abroad to at least one US citizen parent who plans on returning to the United States promptly. As long as the child is under the age of 18, upon admittance into America, as an immigrant, attains citizenship. This allows for the child to apply for a US Passport or an expedite passport without any further problems.

This process; however, is conditional. The child must now remain in the United States for permanent residency or the situation has been altered. If the child is born abroad and is to be continually living abroad then the parent or guardian possessing US Citizenship must have lived in the US within the past five years and also, must apply for naturalization of the child. This is preceded by bringing the child to America to go through the ceremony and possibly recite the oath of allegiance, depending on the child’s age.

Similar dilemmas are also faced by American Citizens looking to adopt children from foreign countries. In this case it is important to strictly adhere to all adoption procedures for both countries involved. Just because you complete the adoption process in the country to which you are adopting, does not make it legally binding in the United States and can further hinder the child’s ability to obtain a US Passport. Sometimes it is necessary to re-adopt, once back in the country with the child entering under a visa.

These laws are always subject to change depending on new laws enacted and further stipulations, so it is always important to research all laws when attempting to carry out a process enforced by the government, such as acquiring a US Passport for children born outside the United States. As long as all of the proper documentation is filled out and all the necessary procedures are followed, the child should have no difficulty assuring their US Citizenship and attaining a US Passport and can even use expedite passport usps. The only future dilemma that can be seen now is that none of these children will ever be able to legally run for the office of President because the strict rule of a ’natural born citizen’, has been secured since it was written in the US Constitution.

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The History Of Passports

Monday, February 28th, 2011

The main purpose of the US Passport is quite simple, to give the identity and nationality of an international traveler. While the Passport document helps to allow travelers admittance into another country, it does not assure entry into the desired country. The actual entitlement of a US Passport is to allow its bearer back into the United States. Importance of this document in traveling abroad is; however, still relevant and beneficial in gaining entry so guaranteeing that the booklet has not expired by using Passport Replacement is vital . This document, like everything else, has its own unique history that has changed and shaped it into the standardized booklet used today.

The first known record of the formation and usage of a passport like document in the United States was during The War Of Independence in 1775. They were much different in appearance during this time and there was no specific need of an Expedited Passport service which is currently available for a fast return. The document was one single page that bore no picture, just a description of the bearer. They were designed, at this time, as a replica of the French passport, by the Minister of France, Benjamin Franklin. Although they had a standard outline, they were not a requirement for US citizens until much later.

Passports had been used for centuries in the US as well as numerous other countries, but were not actually mandatory for international travel until 1918. It was around this time that Passports contained identification pictures of the bearer instead of just a physical description which was previously accepted. The photos were loosely attached with staples, but were stamped by the issuing department to prevent forgery. At this time, the Passport along with the mug shot, were the only two types of personal identification through a photograph.

In the 1920s, the League of Nations attempted to produce standard guidelines for all Passports, but was not able to accomplish this until much later. It was these guidelines; however, that helped shape current standards. Around this time pictures were glued instead of stapled onto the documents. Pictures further progressed in the 1970s when they went from black and white to colored. It was only a decade later that the pictures in issued documents were laminated on for further forgery protection. It was during this era that the official outlined standards were created for the US Passports under the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The Passport has changed physically as well as in terms of its relevance over the years since its origination back during The War of Independence. Currently a US Passport is issued with all of the bearer’s personal information along with a digitally generated picture from a Passport Agency. It is used to help gain access during international travel. This document is now required to gain entry into any country along with returning back to one’s home country. The Passport is strictly issued by the US Department of State. There is a strict process when applying for a US Passport which must be adhered to in order to succeed in obtaining one without tribulations.

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Spies And Passports – Why Passports Have Been All Over The News

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

National Security is a bigger subject than ever with the threat of terrorists and other problems. With more criminals than ever learning how to get a passport, the integrity of our United States borders is being compromised. Issues surrounding passports have been huge in the news lately, and one of the most shocking comes along with the story about the spies captured within the borders of the United States.

You’ve probably heard in the news about the ten Russian spies that had been captured in New York. One of these spies was Anna Chapman. She and her nine fellow Russians pleaded guilty to “conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign country” and for procuring information for a foreign government. They also had much more serious money-laundering charges held against them, but these were dropped. Russia agreed to swap four United States spies for the ten Russian spies, the biggest exchange since the Cold War.

Anna Chapman, also known as Anya Kushchenko, married a British man named Alex Chapman back in 2002, but they later divorced in 2006. The story behind their marriage is interesting and reflects Chapman’s life as a spy. They met at a party in 2002 and married less than six months later. They were happily married and head over heels in love according to Alex Chapman’s father, but Anna grew cold and distant. Soon she was meeting with Russian friends and a divorce resulted.

After this, she moved to New York, where she was working to gather information for her home government in Russia. Soon she sent a panicked call to her father, a Russian diplomat named Vasily Kushchenko. In this call, which was monitored by the US, Chapman voiced her concern that she might have been discovered. This call only hastened Chapman’s arrest, along with her other espionage agents.

This story has an interesting twist: Anna Chapman was stripped of her United Kingdom citizenship as well as her passport. This passport and citizenship were from when she was married to Alex Chapman, and even though she wishes to return to the United Kingdom one day, she is officially not allowed back in the country. Hopefully the whole world can see just how what kind of power revoking a passport can have, including our own government and US passport bureau.

This incident gives a whole new perspective about how vital passports are. Think about it, without one, you can’t even leave your home country. The National Government and the US passport bureau are always trying to stay one step ahead of the criminals who try to steal, copy, or forge new passports, but there’s only so much they can do. What you can do is keep a careful eye on your passport. If you don’t have a passport, or don’t know how to get a passport, be sure you go about it the right way in order to protect the identity of you and your family. While passports have been in the news more than ever, you don’t need to become part of the problem.

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Passports In The News – What You Can Learn From These Stories

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Passports have been mediums for identity theft since they were first invented. With a passport, a potential identity thief can enter and exit the United States, and, using it as a veritable form of identity, can access all sorts of stuff that can be potentially dangerous. There have been many news stories lately about passport fraud, and with increasingly technologies on both sides of the passport fraud “industry,” they are becoming more and more important for the American people to see. From a stolen U.S. passport to identity theft of a dead man, these stories show just how dangerous a misplaced passport can be.

One of these stories comes straight out of Baltimore Washington International Airport. John Skelton, a 41 year old British citizen, tried to enter the United States using the passport of a certain Kurt Branham. Kurt Branham has been dead since 1994. He was a Legislative Aide to a United States Senator, and an obituary article helped to pin the criminal. One of the most surprising elements to this story is the fact that Kurt Branham’s identity had been used two times before and was under monitoring by the US government.

Another story comes from Buffalo, New York. 29 year old Eugene Todie is a New York man that is on probation for criminal contempt. Managing to get out of the country and into Canada, he was arrested upon returning when he tried to re-enter the United States using someone else’s passport. Todie was wearing an ankle monitor, and when he was questioned by Customs and Border Control, he said he was wearing it out of his loyal fandom to Lindsey Lohan, who also happens to be wearing an ankle monitor for her various alcohol-related crimes. A little far-fetched, but people like this are dangerous nonetheless.

You may have heard about Lindsay Lohan’s own issues regarding passports. While she was overseas, she claimed someone stole her passport, making it impossible for her to return to Los Angeles where she could appear in court for missing numerous court ordered alcohol education classes. She allegedly tried to re-enter the country without a passport, but she was denied entrance. Whether you believe her story or not, it just goes to show that no one is immune from the passport laws. She was able to handle her passport renewal emergency, but not without dealing with the consequences.

Dealing with passports is serious business, especially if it has been stolen, copied, or forged. A criminal can do a lot of harm to you and your family with a passport, so be sure to keep yours in a very safe place.

As you can see by these varying news reports, passports are potentially harmful tools. If you are traveling abroad and your passport gets misplaced or stolen, there are things you can do to prevent it being misused. There are solutions to a passport renewal emergency, and dealing with it correctly is important to keep your stolen U.S. passport out of criminals’ hands. The best thing to do, however, is just be diligent. If you are protective of your passport and your identity, you are far less likely to be left dealing with an emergency.

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The Conundrum That Surrounds The Native Iroquois And Their Issued Passports

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Iroquois Passport

Once again, passports are the subject of the news. This time, it involves an entire lacrosse team. Here’s the story: The top-ranked Iroquois lacrosse team were traveling to England in order to participate in the World Championships. However, when they were leaving, they were denied because of their Iroquois passports.

With members from both Canada and the United States, this team is comprised of Iroquois Native Americans who are part of the Iroquois Nation, which has been issuing their own passports to its members that show their unique Iroquois heritage. However, without an American or Canadian passport, they aren’t being granted entrance into the United Kingdom, which is questioning the validity and legitimacy of such passports. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a one-time exception waiver for the team, so they could regain entrance into the United States after their tournament overseas. The UK did not accept this waiver.

There are a couple different opinions on the whole situation. One side attests that if they’re a citizen of the United States or Canada, as some of them are, they should be required to get their respective country’s passports just like everyone else. They feel that this team should not be an exception to the rule. Increasingly more countries are turning down these passports because they don’t feature the anti-fraud and anti-identity theft features that American passports feature, and this in itself poses a National Security risk as well as a personal risk for the members of the team.

The other side of the argument feels that the Iroquois have been issuing their own passports and traveling on them without any sort of problem in the past. But in the face of recent terrorist attacks and scares, the measures have been tightened, resulting in the current conundrum. The Iroquois Nation is backed by people who claim that it’s silly to regard some of the top athletes in the world as potential National Security threats.

And yet another side of the argument claims that this is just another attack on the Native American identity. They feel that the Iroquois, ironically enough the creators of the game of lacrosse, are being taken for granted and subjected to this discrepancy because of their native heritage, and that forcing them to get a passport quick is demeaning to the culture. This is where the coach of the team stands. He feels that they are being trapped in a corner where they either must abandon their Native identity or be forced to forfeit a chance at the National Championship title for a sport they themselves invented a thousand years ago.

The laws surrounding passports are surprisingly vague when it comes to issues like this. For example, a recent story in the news talks about how 4,500 sex criminals were issued passports in order to travel abroad. In these sort of cases, it seems difficult to create and enforce laws to restrict or allow international travel. Is being forced to get a passport quick an unfair measure? Has this been turned into an unnecessary political excuse to butt international heads? How do you feel about this issue? Should the once-accepted passports of the Iroquois Nation be turned down in order to further prevent National Security risks?

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The Power Of Paper: A Basic Guide To Your Important Documents

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

We all have those documents that are deemed the most important. However, they hold a lot more meaning and uses than you might originally think. Passports, social security cards, driver’s licenses, and birth certificates are something that most Americans have. Knowing a little bit about them and the role they play in our day-to-day lives can show just how valuable these documents are.

A passport is a document issued by the national government that verifies your identity as well as your United States citizenship. In order to obtain your passport, you need to have proof of your identity and your American citizenship. The passport usually features such information as name, place and date of birth, and sex, along with a photograph. Despite popular belief, the passport itself does not grant you entrance into a country. Rather, it ensures that you can legally re-enter the country that issued the passport. Therefore, a passport is generally required for international travel. However, it is also a valid form of identification.

Your social security card is a small card that features your social security number. Your social security number is a nine-digit long code that is unique to every citizen of the United States. While these numbers were originally used to track people for taxation purposes, they are now used as a form of identification. Many types of records are accessible by social security number, some of which are bank accounts, student credit accounts, and hospital records.

A driver’s license is a document, often in the form of a plastic card, used to show that you are qualified and legally allowed to operate a motor vehicle. Different types of driver’s licenses exists that permit you to operate different types of vehicles, from motor cycles to huge buses. Most Americans own a valid driver’s license, establishing it as a credible form of identification. This identification can be used when buying tickets of any type, buying cigarettes, lottery tickets, or alcohol, or applying for a job. This license also indicates whether or not you are an organ donor, meaning you would donate your organs should you face an untimely death.

A birth certificate is a document issued by a hospital verifying the birth of a child. Birth certificates, depending whether it’s a “long” or “short” form, usually feature such information as parents’ names, child’s name, date and place of birth, sex, and other information. These certificates are often used to prove relationships, identity, and citizenship. For example, a birth certificate is needed in order to prove the parent-child relationship when applying for a passport. A birth certificate is also needed for marriage licenses, driver’s licenses, and social security cards.

As you can now see, these documents come in all forms and are needed for a whole variety of instances. Keeping good care of these documents by storing them in safe places where they can’t be stolen or damaged is something that every American needs to take very seriously. Identity theft and counterfeit forms of these identifications can put you and your family in harm’s way. However, keeping these documents handy make day-to-day activities much more convenient and stress-free.

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Forged Passports: The Very Real Danger Surrounding The Abuse Of Passports

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Recently in the news have been stories about Israeli diplomats being asked to leave various foreign embassies because of forged passports used by the is is Israeli secret service to assassinate Mahmoud el Mabhouh.  Friday, the 11th of June, 2010, Mabhouh was murdered in Dubai by the agents of Israel’s secret service.

In Ireland, the government issued a statement asking Israel to, “withdraw a designated member of its staff” from their embassy in Ireland. Ireland is the third country to ask Israeli diplomats to leave, in addition to Britain and Australia. Here’s the story: The Israeli secret police, collectively called the Mossad, entered Dubai using forged passports that were inextricably tied back to forging by the government of Israel. In addition to fake Irish passports, fake Australian and British passports were also used. Mabhouh, the victim of the assassination, was claimed by Israel to be the person in charge of the smuggling of weapons from Iran into the Gaza Strip.

Passport forgeries along with identity theft are one of the biggest problems plaguing countries and international travelers from all over the world. As you can see, even other countries deal with these counterfeits. Counterfeits are used, just like in the Mabhouh case, to illegally enter a country. They also can be used to open a fraudulent bank account, steal someone’s identity, fly abroad, and purchase a weapon. Keeping your passports, along with your other important documents, safe is important in order to discourage this type of thing.  However, only tougher government regulation and careful inspection can stop it all together.

By simply typing in “forged passport” into a search engine, you get websites offering to make fake IDs of all kinds. Videos and blogs help kids fabricate fake IDs. Even the RFID chips inside passports – installed in order to provide increased security – can be “hacked” and duplicated.

Abuse of passports and the rights they entitle puts those who use them legally in very real danger. If you suspect your passport has been stolen, contact a passport agency immediately and have them void it. This is the first step in preventing criminals from stealing your identity. Next, file a police report and be sure to cover all the details surrounding the theft, such as when you had it last or when you used it last.

Passports are supposed to be a tool to help people connect as a global community, bringing the people of the world together and allowing them to interact to promote tolerance and peace. When passports are being forged and people are dying because of it, it has pretty much the opposite effect, to say the least. Make sure you’re buying and renewing your passports with a reputable and dependable online passport service or in person at a passport agency. Imitators exist that will try to sell you counterfeit passports, meaning you could unknowingly become a victim of passport fraud. Also, keep your passports in a safe location, both at home and when traveling. These are just a few things you can do in order to help reduce the occurrence of episodes like the one in Dubai.

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Foreign Entry Requirements: A Couple Of Examples Of Unique Entry Requirements

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Often traveling internationally requires certain passport requirements that are specific to the country that you’re visiting. There are no universal rules that cover entrance or re-entrance into a country, so, if you are traveling, you will have to find out exactly which countries require which items. A few of the more popular travel destinations are included in this article. All of these destinations require a passport in order to gain entrance into the country and re-entrance into the United States, with the exception of Mexico. Mexico, Canada, and other nearby countries allow you to use a passport card as opposed to having to purchase a complete passport.

There are specific criteria for whether or not you will need a visa in order to successfully gain entrance into the United Kingdom. The UK runs by a five-tier system in order to determine who needs to obtain these visas. Tier one covers “highly skilled” workers, such as scientists. This is the only tier that doesn’t require a sponsor. Tier two is for “skilled” workers, such as teachers and nurses, who have received a job offer from the United Kingdom. Tier three handles “low-skilled” workers, like construction workers, who are sent to the United Kingdom for a specific purpose, such as shortages or help for a specific project. Students are covered in Tier four, and Tier five are for temporary workers, such as traveling musical artists coming to play a concert. A sponsor is required for Tier two, three, four, and five. The type of sponsor depends on the tier. For example, if a student under tier four wants to come to the United Kingdom, he or she needs to be sponsored by an educational foundation within the United Kingdom. The tiers that deal with work-related visits require the sponsorship of a United Kingdom-based employer.

A trip to Mexico requires either a passport or a passport card; however, a passport card cannot be used for air travel. Minors traveling without adults are required to carry a written consent by their parents, featuring the names of both parents and the child, the name of the child’s fellow travelers, and the notarized signature of the parents. This letter needs to be an original, not a copy. It’s recommended that this letter also give a brief summary of the trip, including such things as travel dates, reason for travel, and destinations, and airlines. The child also needs to carry proof of parent-child relationship, such as a birth certificate. Tourist cards, similar to a visa, are issued only if you’re staying for more than 72 hours outside of the “border zone,” or areas within 30 kilometers of the border. The price for these cards is usually included in air fare.

In France, you will only need to acquire a visa if you are staying for more than 90 days. Your passport also needs to be valid for the next three months.

As you can see, some country’s passport requirements are stricter than others. Be sure to do thorough research plenty of time in advance to ensure that you have all the requirements ready for your trip before the travel date. As previously stated, you will need a passport for any air travel. Traveling has the opportunity to create unforgettable experiences and awesome memories, so don’t let the preparation scare you away. Get traveling!

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USPassportNow: Where Your Passport Expediting Service Needs To Be

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Getting an expedited passport is tough business. Waiting on normal passport processes can take up to three months, and most people don’t have that kind of time to wait around for something to come in the mail. Getting a passport expedited is even more frustrating. You have to call and make an appointment at a U.S. passport agency, wait in the line, and personally submit your passport application. However, there is another way.

A private expediting service can handle all of this for you. These services are available online, meaning that with one click, you could have this entire process cut down. It’s the equivalent of someone calling, making the appointment, waiting in line, and submitting your application for you .However, picking the best one is extremely important. You want to place your faith in an experienced, trustworthy, legitimate company that will get your stuff done for you. This is where I recommend USpassportnow.com. USPassportnow has taken their customer’s safety concerns to heart, and, especially when dealing with passport services, keeping your information and transactions secure is more important than ever.

USPassportnow is revolutionizing the passport expediting service industry. They are now Verified by Visa and also feature the Mastercard Secure Code function, meaning your online purchases are more secure than ever before, and they are the only online passport service to offer this.

The Verified by Visa system has been protecting sites and online vendors for years. With this system, online shopping sites are dramatically less susceptible to fraud. Knowing a little bit about how the system operates can give a better understanding on just why people trust their information more with Verified by Visa sights. Basically, when completing an online transaction, the member’s card will be identified. A small box will appear, prompting the individual to enter his or her password. Once the password has been verified, the transaction is finished. Enjoying this enhanced security while shopping online plays a huge role in deciding the extent to which customers trust a certain website.The Mastercard Secure Code performs a similar function. After entering your account number into the box provided by an online vendor, a small box will appear, prompting you to enter your secure code. Your financial institution will then personally verify that it is in fact you making the purchase and will the transaction will be completed. There is no limit on how many cards you can register, meaning you can protect all of your Mastercard debit or credit cards and make them safe for online purchasing.

Because these services simply aim to stop other people from using your credit or debit card online, you can rest assured that your information and personal safety isn’t being compromised when shopping online. USPassportnow is the only passport expediting service to offer this increased layer of security, meaning you can be sure your valuable information isn’t in a dangerous situation. Many people choose to shop only at online retailers that offer this level of security, as identity theft and personal safety concerns are becoming even more of a problem with the increased amount of business transactions occurring online.

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Becoming A United States Naturalized Citizen: What You Need To Know About Obtaining A Passport

Friday, June 18th, 2010

When becoming a United States naturalized citizen, individuals may become overwhelmed with all the processes and formalities involved. Once everything is over with, he or she might think that that’s where there job ends. However, there is one more thing that would be beneficial to do. Look into getting a passport. A passport is a valid form of identification and serves as a handy tool to travel beyond the United States’ borders and back, and an expedited passport service could have it in your hands in significantly less time.

There are many reasons a naturalized citizen will want to invest in a passport. As a naturalized citizen, your certificate is your lifeline, as it is the only solid proof you have of being a legal United States citizen. You definitely do not want to lose this document. Applying for and obtaining a passport prevents you from having to travel with your naturalization certificate. This certificate is not an acceptable stand-in for a passport, and it will not grant you re-entrance into the United States. And like any other important document, be sure to keep it in a very safe place where it can’t get damaged or misplaced.

A passport can be used as identification in place of a naturalization certificate when applying for a job, when questioned by authorities, or simply when you need to show a valid form of identification. Of course, a passport also serves as a way to travel around the world. With a passport in your bag, you can visit anywhere you like in the world and always gain re-entrance into the United States. Also, having a passport beforehand reduces the stress, cost, and preparation associated with last-minute travel plans.

If you are a naturalized citizen, you will need to be present in person, and you will also need to bring your naturalization certificate with you when you apply. Your application will be sent to one of the two passport processing centers of the United States Department of State, the only place where passports can be issued out. The application must include your certificate of naturalization, two acceptable passport photos, along with your physical paper application. Because you will be temporarily missing your only proof of United States citizenship, it is a good idea to make a copy of your certificate of naturalization to keep with you. The process could take up to eight weeks, and you might need to use it before then.

There are two places where you can apply for your passport. Since this is your first passport, you are required to apply in person. You will need to visit either the State Department passport agency or a passport acceptance facility. It’s recommended you visit the passport acceptance facility, unless you need an expedited passport service, where they recommend you visit the passport agency.

If you are a newly naturalized United States citizen, first of all, congratulations! However, there are still some things you can do to solidly establish proof of your citizenship. Obtaining a passport can verify your identity, as well as protect your one-of-a-kind naturalization certificate from damage. Applying for your passport requires a little more effort on your part, but having one will prove to be an indispensable ally and tool to establish your new citizenship. And with expedited passport service, you can be reaping the benefits as soon as tomorrow.

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