If you are a United States and desire to travel to foreign lands,
you are required to have a passport. In years past, you were free to
travel to Canada and Mexico without having a passport. However, the
rules have changed and you now need one to travel to our neighboring
countries for an extended time period. Even if you are a minor, you
still need to obtain a passport for foreign travel. Prior to beginning
the passport application process, you need to know where to get a
passport and the applicable documents.
Obtaining a United States
passport is a reasonably easy process. However, you should learn all the
details and steps before you proceed with the process. You are required
to have proof of citizenship (certified birth certificate) and proof of
identity such as a drivers license or military ID. Next, you need to
fill out the proper government form and have passport photos taken.
Don't
procrastinate. Start the passport application as early as possible. The
process can take some time. You need to gather the information, get the
photographs taken, fill out the forms, and get to a passport acceptance
facility. This all takes a little planning and time.
How long
does it take for you to receive your new passport? The average time for
the government to get you your passport is 6 weeks. Sometimes it arrives
faster than that. If you want to shell out some extra money for
expedited service, you may get it in three weeks or less. This faster
service will set you back about $60. There may be other fees that apply
that will increase the cost of the passport.
Your next step in the
process is finding out where to get a passport. You may get a passport
at government buildings across the country. District courts, post
offices, municipal courts and municipal offices are some of the
locations to check. You might want to check with the United States
passport service online for the nearest location. There are nearly 7000
passport acceptance facilities across the country so you will be sure to
find one near your house. In addition, you will find some sites online
that offer passports. Please check these sites out carefully prior to
sending any money or personal information.
If this is your first
application for a passport, you will need to apply in person. If you
lost your passport and are applying for a new one, you will also need to
go to a passport acceptance facility in person. If you are renewing
your passport and you were older than 16 when you obtained the lost one,
it may be possible to do that through the mail. Even if you are doing
it by mail, the process can still take 6 weeks or more. So, you must
still remember to plan ahead so you make certain to have your passport
in time for your trip.
Before you head out to one of the passport
acceptance facilities, it is smart to call ahead and check on their
procedures. For some offices, you need to make a scheduled appointment.
Calling before you go can save time and hassles.
It is an absolute necessity to have a passport when you travel to foreign lands. Having knowledge about where to get a passport will make the process quicker and hassle free. Begin the passport application procedure long before your scheduled trip to make certain you have your passport in your hand before you go!
