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Applying for a Passport
With the new laws that were just passed in early 2007, it will soon be
more restrictive to travel without a passport. In fact, if you are
traveling outside of the United States to any country, including Mexico
and Canada, you will need an up to date passport with accompanied photo
identification and this will be required some time in 2008. Applying for a passport is now a crucial thing to do
and since it usually takes four to six weeks to process it is wise to
get a jump on it as soon as possible. This article will cover the basics!
- When is a good time to apply for a passport? If you don’t
already have a passport or yours has already been out of date for some
time, you should work on getting one several months before you are due
to leave. Depending on what countries you are planning on going to,
you may need to obtain visas from foreign embassies. Having your passport
handy is always a good thing, especially with the new set of rules that
just were passed. Apply now, before the summer rush!
- Do I need to apply for a passport in person? Almost always!
You can get away with filing out an online form but it usually is only
passport renewals. Also, children under 14 must have a parental signature
with their passport.
- Where can passport documentation/ applications found? Look for
passport acceptance facilities for a passport form. You can also look
online for the paperwork, go to a local post office or call the National
Passport Information Center. Any of these options will at least
get the right stuff in your hands.
- Can I get a passport quickly? Usually a passport will take around
6-10 weeks to process and get through the system. This is why it is
strongly recommended to get them well in advance. If you are leaving
in a hurry, or need a quick passport because of any odd reason you can
get one in around one week by contacting your Regional Passport Agency.
You’ll have to pay a fee (varies) but you will get your passport
much quicker then the traditional way.
- Where does my passport application go after I send it in? Usually
once you apply for a passport it will be sent into the Passport Services’
banking facility the very same day. Your payment is deposited into the
US Treasury and your passport information is electronically entered
into the system. Then, your passport will be sent to a Passport Processing
Center where it is issued and sent to you through the postal service.
- What do I do when I receive my passport? Once you get it in the mail the first thing you need to do is sign it on the line in ink, not pencil and print your contact information in a readable format. This way, if you lose it, you’ll get it back! Your passport is your ticket from here to there!
