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A U.S. Passport Gives You Access To The World

Monday, January 16th, 2012

If you are planning to travel out of the country, a U.S. passport is a necessity. The business of your trip does not matter. You could be planning an exotic getaway, studying for a semester in another country, or traveling internationally for business. Whatever the case, you will need this to enter any other country. It Is smart to plan and apply for your passport ahead of time.

Benefits

The benefits to having this document are vast. Without one, there are many places in the world that you will not be able to travel to. This is particularly true in the world today. In the past, without passports you could enter countries such as Canada. Presently, however, this is not possible. Any type of international travel requires that you carry this with you.

Easy To Obtain

Luckily, it is not too difficult to obtain passports. In most cases, you will be able to submit your application locally. It is a little more complicated if your travel dates are near. If you are planning to travel internationally in fewer than two weeks, you will be able to schedule an appointment at a regional passport agency. You can even obtain one from outside of the United States by contacting the embassy or consulate.

Valuable Document

You may believe that it is not necessary to have one at all times. In fact, it is recommended that those who have family living or traveling abroad, are considering a vacation internationally, or have a job that could lead to international travel always maintain their passports and make sure theirs is valid. Already having a valid document will save you substantial time and money in the event of an unexpected business trip, a family emergency, or even in the event you come across a great airline deal.

Foreign Country Requirements

In fact, some countries need you to have yours valid at least six months beyond the dates of your planned travel. Because of this, it is recommended that you renew approximately nine months before the expiration date. This way, you will avoid any unforeseen problems.

Valid Period

Your document is valid for ten years if you were over 16 when it was issued. It is valid for five years if you were fifteen or younger. In order to keep your passport valid you must keep track of the dates of issuing.

Emergency Situations

If there is an emergency, there are still solutions available to you. If you do not have a valid document and a life or death emergency involving death or serious illness or injury occurs to someone in your immediate family in a country that requires a passport, you can appear in person at a passport agency for emergency service. You may have to provide documentation about the emergency.

Having a valid U.S. passport allows you to easily travel the world. By applying for one even if you don’t need it right away, you will save yourself time and energy in the long run. You will now be prepared for any unforseen circumstances including business or personal. There are also passports for children, while applying for yours you can start the process for a child passport as well.

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Renewing An Expired Passport Is Simple

Sunday, October 30th, 2011

Soon after people acquire their passports, they will either use them continuously or simply throw them into the back of their desks, keeping them for the day when they eventually take that dream vacation in another country. If that day comes, the individual frequently opens the passport book only to find that the passport has expired. An expired USA passport doesn’t have to be a cause for stress simply because they can easily be renewed either via mail or perhaps in person.

One method to determine how long a passport is valid is to determine when the passport was originally issued. If an individual was issued a passport when they were sixteen or older, then the passport is good for ten years. If, however, the individual had been fifteen or much younger, then the passport is only good for five years. Since some countries do not accept newly issued or re-issued passports, it would be a good idea to renew a passport many months in advance. The typical is nine months.

Your Passport May Be Expired

An expired passport must be renewed if someone really wants to travel abroad. The individual can go about this process in one of two ways. A person might do this through the mail if they meet certain requirements. For instance, a person’s soon-to-be expired passport will have to be undamaged and sent in the mail. Coinciding with this, the passport has to have been issued 15 years ago or earlier. The name on the passport must be the same as the person’s current name, as well. Those that were under fifteen when they acquire their passport do not qualify for the mail-in option.

Finding Application Forms

To find the correct forms and conditions and terms with regard to renewing the brand new passports by mail, an individual only has to go online and perform a quick search. Possibly the forms could be completed electronically, on your computer, or they may be printed out to be filled out with pen. When the time comes for to send the whole package off, it must contain the form, the most recent passport, two copies of the same photograph, money for the fees, and, if it be the case, legal documentation regarding a name change.

If the person doesn’t meet the specific requirements needed to be able to renew by mail, then the individual will need to appear in person to complete the process. Through seeking on the internet, the person will find the proper office to appear at, but before venturing to the office, an individual needs to make sure that he or she has all the essential documents. Check online to see a list of acceptable forms of documentation.

The standard processing time for passport renewal or re-application is four to six weeks. The government offers an expedited delivery service that will process the renewal application within two to three weeks. Another alternative is to use an independent expediting service that can process the renewal within as little as 24 hours for an additional charge over the government fees. The independent expediting service can accommodate applicants who must renew in person, but applicants must first present the required documentation to the Passport Acceptance Facility or Agency.

Canada Residents

U.S. citizens who reside in Canada may renew their passports by mail. U.S. citizens residing in other countries excluding Canada must renew their passports at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. A directory of the locations of these facilities may be found online.

Bear in mind, simply because you have an expired American passport, does not mean that the vacation will have to be missed. Simply go online to find the appropriate steps to complete the process. For the situations when American passports renewal needs to be quick, a private expediting service should be considered.

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See How Simply It Is To Renew A U.S. Passport

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

Those who have a passport will have to get it renewed eventually. They’re best for quite some time, 10 years in fact, but they do eventually expire. Any time that occurs, online pass port renewal should be important because traveling is restricted to domestic only if it is not valid. The procedure hasn’t been so easy or even more convenient.

Whenever renewing a passport online, there are several criteria that should be met before even beginning the application process. The existing passport must be in good shape and undamaged together with still being legible. It must have been received by the applicant once they were above the age of 16 and it must be less than 15 years old with your current name on it.

Renewing Your Passport Online

If the passport is able to be renewed online, it takes very little time to do. All of the United states online passport application forms can be downloaded and filled out right over the Internet. After they are done, simply print them out and you’re just about ready to go. This is a great feature because it is so much quicker than having to fill everything out by hand.

Once these forms have been filled out completely and printed, there is yet one more step before anything may be sent to the address provided on the website. There will need to be two full color pictures, measuring 2 inches by 2 inches taken to accompany the rest of the paperwork. These are for the issuing agency to choose from for the new book or card and will need to be done by a professional rather than a photo booth or an attempt at home.

Processing Times

Sometimes, this process is a little more than anyone wants to deal with. Filling out forms, regardless of how quickly that they can be done, is not exactly on anyone’s high list of things that they want to do. There are services that can not only handle these tasks, but also expedite the speed in which the passport is received.

These special companies are plugged into the Department of State and have been given permission to process everything and speed up the entire turnaround time. They do all the dirty work and get the forms submitted and have the passport in hand long before traditional channels would be able to accomplish the same task. Family emergencies or an upcoming trip will no longer result in added stress.

Forms And Pictures

The forms and pictures along with the old passport will then be sent to the service provider via a traceable shipping method. Most of the providers request that either UPS or FedEx be used and many already have an existing account that for a fee may be accessed by the applicant for use. This makes sure that the documents reach not only them but are returned in a quick and reliable fashion.

Whether you are doing it yourself or contracting out a service, U.S. online passport renewal does not have to be a difficult task. Standard channels will have a new passport back in about two months and expedited services can have it back in a day. Regardless of the method used for your US online passport application, just make sure the passport is current or it can lead to travel difficulties at the worst time.

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Applying For First Time Passport Online Is Easy

Sunday, October 23rd, 2011

If you plan on applying for first time passport online, you’ll find it’s a relatively easy process. You no longer have to find a government office or agency that will accept your application. These services provide you with an agent who will assist you throughout the process. Couriers will hand deliver your application package for you and walk it through the entire process. Once that occurs, your new passport and supporting documents that you provided will be returned to you.

Form DS-11

There are some items that you will need to provide to whatever online service you choose. The first item is Form DS-11, which you will fill out if you have never had an American passport before. Form DS-82 is provided for those applicants who have had a passport before. These can both be found and filled out online and are issued by the United States State Department.

Proof Of Citizenship

You also need to submit proof of your United States citizenship. This is typically an official birth certificate issued from the municipality where you were born. You may also use a Naturalization Certificate or a Report of Birth Abroad from a US Consulate office. If you do not have one of these documents,you can offer forms of secondary proof accompanied by a Form DS-10, a Birth Affidavit.

Identification

Primary identification must also be provided. There are several types of identification that are acceptable, including a valid driver’s license, a current government ID, including military or a dependent’s ID or a Naturalization Certificate. If you do not have one of these types of identification, you can submit various forms of ID with a Form DS-71, Affidavit of Identifying Witness.

Two Photos

The last thing you need to provide to your online agent are two photos. You can use any pictures but there are requirements so you may want to have it done specifically for this use. Many post offices can take your photo. These identical pictures must have been taken in the last six months and must show a full frontal view as you look now. Your face must measure one inch to 1 3/8″ from the top of your head to your chin. It should have a white or off-white background and be 2″ x 2″ in size.

Contact Information

You will, of course, be asked for your contact information, birthday and email address. You will need to provide your itinerary or the information that it contains if you don’t have one. This includes your destination and travel date. You must also need to sign a letter authorizing your agent to discuss the details of your application on your behalf.

Processing Time

You will also be asked how quickly you need your documents. If you need your application processed quickly, you will be asked for an expedited U.S. passport processing and delivery payment. Fees vary and are dependent on the online provider you use. This will be in addition to the government fee, which is currently $170.

You will have the option to purchase a passport card. These cards can only be used for travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Wherever you are going, applying for first time passport online is a convenient way to prepare for your trip.

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What You Need To Know About The New Passport Application Form

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

There is a new passport application form, titled DS-11. It requests different information than what was required before. Depending on your circumstances,it may be required to submit an additional biographical questionnaire that is nearly impossible to complete because of the unusual information it requires about life circumstances from birth on. One question even asks for where you mother lived prior to your birth.

Age Requirements

This new form must be submitted if you are getting one for the first time or if you are under age 16, if your last one was issued more than fifteen years ago, it was lost or stolen, or your name has changed since your last one and you cannot legally prove the change.

Time It Takes

The completed, unsigned document should be presented to an agent at an acceptance facility in order to get it within four to six weeks. If you need it within two to four weeks, present it at a passport facility and request expedited service. To get one in less than fourteen days, present it at a regional agency or online through an express expedited passport agency. It cannot be submitted by mail.

Questionnaire

The biographical questionnaire that may be required is only needed by a small portion of the population but is very difficult to complete if it is needed. Questions are included about a person’s entire life from birth to present. This includes names, phone numbers, and addresses of employers throughout life, as well as personal addresses. Information surrounding birth and parents’ information are required as well. Other such information that may be hard to obtain is also required.

The argument has been made by some that this questionnaire seems to be designed to prevent the ability of a person to get approved. It is argued that the questions have little relation to qualification. Some might even be impossible to obtain, such as the one that asks you to name everyone that was present at your birth. You were definitely there but you might not be able to obtain names of all present, such as doctors, nurses, etc.

Passport History

Requiring some sort of document to travel to other countries is documented throughout history. The first known instance was in the Hebrew Bible, in about 450 B. C., when Nehemiah asked the king permission to travel in Judea. The king wrote him a letter to present to the government officials he encountered. In Medieval Europe, travelers between countries had to present a receipt for taxes paid to be able to travel.

It was not until the early 1900’s that pictures began to be attached. Older documents only had short descriptions of the holder. This is a long way from the current one, especially if the biographic questionnaire is required. The older ones merely verified that you had permission to travel. The new form is more of a recommendation for travel, a sort of statement of integrity.

For anyone wishing to travel internationally, it is now more of an ordeal to complete the new passport application form and its supplementary forms. The cost has gone up in the past few years as well. The time and expense of obtaining the expedited new passport must be accounted for when planning for travel.

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How To Make Getting A Passport Trouble Free

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

An up-to-date United States passport is a necessity if you plan to visit another country. Mexico, Canada and some Caribbean nations used to require only a valid identification and birth certificate but even a casual day trip across the border means that travelers must have the correct documentation. Getting a passport is not difficult with the right preparation.

The Application

To begin, an application can be easily downloaded from the U. S. Government website or you may pick one up at the local post office. If you download,the government is particular about the way the printout looks. It must be in black and white, on standard 8-1/2 by 11-inch medium-weight matte paper and cannot have any damaging holes or rips. There are specific forms for expedited US passports.

DS-11 Form

Officially called DS-11, it must be filed in person if you have never applied previously. This is also necessary if an old document has lapsed, been stolen or if your legal name has changed. Minors under age 16 have special requirements as do people applying from outside the United States. Filing by mail is allowed if none of these categories affect you.

At the government website, you may enter the pertinent information and then print. If you print first, complete the form by hand in black ink on one-sided pages. First-time applicants should not sign the form until submitting it at an acceptance facility, which the government has designated at locations such as the post office, some public libraries, court clerk offices and any other local governmental offices.

Proof Of Citizenship

When applying in person, proof of citizenship is absolutely necessary. It may be in the form of the first passport you received, as long as it is undamaged or unaltered, or a certified birth certificate issued by the city, state or county where you were born. Copies are not accepted and a valid birth certificate needs the official registrar’s embossed seal.

Birth Certificate

For other situations involving those people without a birth certificate, those born abroad or who have become naturalized citizens, check the government website for instructions. An applicant must also be able to prove identity through a valid state driver’s license, a local or federal government ID, or a military identification. Additionally, you will need a new photograph showing you in standard clothing, wearing your normal accessories such as glasses.

Color Photo

The color photo must be 2X2″, the correct facial size and taken within the past six months. While a professional photo service can fulfill all the requirements, it is also possible to do it yourself using the Department of State’s free photo tool on line or at many post offices. Also, you must have your social security number available at the time of application.

The basic fee goes up regularly so check on line for the current cost. It normally takes from two weeks to two months to receive but for an additional processing and delivery fee, rush orders are possible. The status of your request may be checked on line one week after submission. If you have collected the necessary data ahead of time, getting a United States passport should be a smooth and aggravation-free process. You an even get an urgent passport.

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Tips For First Time Passport Applicants

Saturday, August 6th, 2011

Getting a passport is an important milestone for most Americans. They are now officially allowed to travel to foreign countries. When they visit other lands,it comes with a request from the U. S. to treat her citizens with respect. Travel abroad is an enriching experience. It is a great way of learning. If you are a first time passport applicant, this short guide will tell you what you need to know.

Age Makes A Difference

The procedure for first time adult applicants differs from those who are still of minor age. When the document applied for is for children below 15 years of age, the parents have to accomplish all the paperwork. They have to appear together with the minor applicant when it is time to appear in the acceptance center. Applicants who are 15 to 16 years old can appear unaccompanied by adults. They must be able to show proof of parental consent that permits them to travel abroad.

Form DS-11

All applicants are required to get a copy of Form DS-11. This is a publicly available document that can be obtained from most post offices and any US passport office. It can also be downloaded from the Internet address of the State Department.

Birth Certificate

Another important document is the applicant’s birth certificate. It must show a dry seal of the office where the document was obtained. Changes to passport rules approved only on April 2011 say that birth certificates must bear the complete names of the applicant’s parents. Other information that cannot be missing is his complete name, his place of birth and the applicant’s date of birth.

Make A Personal Appearance

When all the required documents are completed and filled out, the applicant has to make a personal appearance at the nearest passport acceptance center. He has to bring along a recent picture of himself. Both parents of minor applicants are encouraged to be present. They will indicate parental consent allowing the child to travel by signing on Form DS-11. If a guardian represents the parent then an affidavit authorizing the guardian to accompany the children must be shown.

Processing Fees

The applicant will then pay for the processing fee after his documents have passed inspection. There are two kinds of applications. The regular process takes at least a month to complete. There is also an expedited process that is completed in about three weeks.

Your Status

If the applicant wants to monitor the status of the processing of his document, he can log on to a web tracking page. Applicants log on by providing their last names, date of birth and the last four parts of their Social Security Numbers. This service only becomes available five days after application.

Take Care Of It

The new United States passport owner should do their best taking care of this document. Once it gets any unauthorized changes, it becomes invalid. It cannot be replaced and his only option is to apply for a new one. First time passport applicants will find the process surprisingly easy to accomplish, not to mention the availability of expedited United States passports. As long as the required documents are available there is no reason why the application cannot be finished in the allotted time.  In some cases, you may only need a US passport card.

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Discover Ways To Obtain A New Passport

Saturday, July 16th, 2011

A travel document is required for anyone who wants to travel outside the United States. Individuals who have never had this type of travel documentation will have to apply for a new US passport sometime in advance of their trip. Children, adults and teens must follow different application criterion. What follows is an explanation of the process and what documentation is required for an adult application.

Travel Document

When applying for the United States passport travel document, one of the first things to do is locate the closest acceptance facility. These facilities are typically inside a post office, library or county clerk’s office. Check with the Department of State online to locate the office that is closest to you, even trying to use an expedited child American passport service.

Proper Identification

There are specific documents that are needed as proof of your identity such as a driver license, state photo ID card, military certificate, or naturalization paperwork. An ID from another state will need to be accompanied by a social security card, credit card, library card or any other form of secondary ID. Be sure to make copies of your identification documents and take them with you to apply for your document.

US Citizenship

Applicants must also show some proof of US citizenship when applying for the document. Documents that can be used as proof include citizenship papers, naturalization papers or a US birth certificate. A current picture is also needed for the new document. There are a number of places were the photo can be taken including some of the acceptance facilities.

Acceptance Facilities

After gathering all the documents, take them with your pictures to the post office or other acceptance facility. To save time, you can locate the appropriate form online, print it and fill it out prior to your visit to the facility. Remember not to sign the application since it must be signed when an agent tells you to. The authorized agent acts as a witness to the signing of your application.

Document Fee

An authorized agent at the acceptance agency will look over your documentation and accept your payment of the document fee. Payment in the form of a check or money order will be accepted. Periodically these fees change so make sure that you have checked by phone or on the Internet for the correct amount.

Application Completion

After completing the application and providing the documentation required with the required photo, the packet is forwarded to the Department of State for approval. For those who wish to receive their document in three weeks, an extra fee is charged. The normal delivery time for the document will be in about six weeks from the date submitted.

Simple Steps

Getting a new U.S. passport or new passport pages is much easier than one might believe when the application process is started early enough to guarantee the document will be ready at travel time. Nationwide, there are thousands of passport acceptance facilities and many of them are located inside the local post office. To make the task even easier, it is not uncommon to have photo services on site, even when working with an expedited child pass port service. This creates a type of one stop shop for acquiring travel documentation.

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Enjoying A Passport Isn’t Very Difficult

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

A large group of today’s global travelers are American citizens. Of course getting a pasport is an essential prerequisite for anyone before they can cross the border into another country. This document acts as your identification and authorization for entry to other countries. It must be kept safe at all times.

First Time

First time applicants for urgent passport often find this an overwhelming prospect. Many folk are unfamiliar with the course of action of getting this document. The application procedure is in fact very straight forward.

Passport Services

US Passport Services, a division of the Bureau Consular Affairs, is responsible for the issue and renewal of passports to US citizens. There are sixteen main offices across the country. In addition applicants can go to any one of the other nine thousand facilities which deal with the issue and renewal requests. Only biometric passports with machine readable parts as well as visually readable parts are issued nowadays.

Certified Copy

Applicants must produce a certified copy of their birth certificates when requesting new travel documents. The old one will suffice when you apply for a renewal. Applicants who were born outside the US need to produce the necessary documents from the Consular Report of Birth Abroad. The obligatory application form can be collected from any US Postal Service facility. US Postal Service offers the option to download forms online.

Application Forms

Different types of application necessitate different forms relevant to your circumstances. Form DS-11 is for first time applicants as well as those whose previous document was issued before they were 16 years of age. If you do not fit into this group, you can mail your application which will be on Form DS-82. Form DS-64 indicates to the US Department of State’s Passport Services that your document was lost or stolen.

Passport Fee

The fee for this document varies according to the type of application. Two small photographs must be attached to your application. For an additional fee, your photo may be taken at some of these offices.

Required Visa

If you plan to visit a country that requires a visa, you must be prepared with additional photographs as these will be a necessary enclosure. Once you have completed this procedure and handed your application documents in, you will wait about five to six weeks before you receive your travel document in the mail. You might wait longer of you happen to apply at a busy time in the department. If you need your document urgently, you can request an expedited service. This will cost you more in fees and delivery charges, but you can get it within two weeks. You may find services helping with expedited passports online net or request the Department of State’s expedited processing service. Passports can be issued within a day or two in cases of dire emergency.

Requirement Changes

There may be changes in the requirement of various documents. Rules for issuing a new passport or a US passport renewal are decided by the Passport Services of the Departments of State. These may change from time to time. For getting expedited U.S. passports, we need to keep abreast of such changes.

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The Current Requirements For A New Passport

Friday, May 20th, 2011

Understanding all of the rules and regulations for obtaining a new U.S. passport can be a bit confusing. The laws are in place for a reason, however, and must be followed in order to complete the application process successfully. By understanding what exactly is required, the process is faster and less frustrating. Information required includes Form DS-11, Present Identification and Evidence of U. S. Citizenship.

Download Forms

Download Form DS-11 form the Internet. It is the passport application that must be completed, but not signed for a U.S. passport replacement. You must sign it in front of the field office official when you submit your application. You need to photocopy your Present ID, like a driver’s licence or government ID. Make sure to copy both sides. When your application has been processed, the original, certified copies of documents will be returned to you.

Citizenship Evidence

Evidence is divided into Primary and Secondary. You must provide one type of Primary Evidence of US Citizenship. It can be a valid driver’s license, a current federal identification card or several other types of documents. In order to make sure you have acceptable documentation, check online for a complete listing of allowable items.

Rule Change

The newest change in rules is that birth certificates used as evidence must include the names of the applicant’s parents. Sometimes, when obtaining certified copies of birth certificates, an abbreviated version is sent to the applicant. This will no longer be accepted as evidence of citizenship. If your birth certificate does not meet the requirements, you must use Secondary Evidence of Citizenship.

Public Records

Early public records are considered Secondary Evidence. To be accepted, they must include your birth name, date of birth and the location of your birth. These documents should have been created before you reached five years of age. They will be rejected if they are used as evidence alone. They must be submitted with the Birth Record or Letter of No Record.

Accepted Forms

Baptism certificates, hospital records and census records are among the documents that may be accepted as Secondary Evidence. They do not replace the documents submitted for Primary Evidence, but must be submitted in addition to them. If submitted alone, they are not sufficient and the application will be rejected.

Application Submission

You must bring Present Identification with you when you submit your application at one of the field offices. This includes a valid state driver license, an official identification card or other accepted forms of ID. You must also bring a copy of both sides of your ID to leave at the office. Bring a photograph of the appropriate size, which will be affixed to the document.

New Rules

Make sure you know all of the rules and regulations when applying for a new us passport or a American passport replacement. Originals and copies of all of the information should be gathered before you submit your application. You can request the processing be expedited, which will reduce the time considerably. Expediting companies can help you to get through the processing in as little as a day. The cost for this service is expensive but can be worth it if you have a family emergency.

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