A passport is a primary source of identification for a citizen
while at home or abroad. To obtain this document, a citizen must fill
out a passport application form and produce the required documentation
to the government. Without a passport, world travel is impossible, as
all customs officials from every corner of the globe require them to be
produced before a citizen can pass into the country.
It must be
remembered that obtaining a passport is a privilege, not a right. In all
cases, the government has the final say in whether a person can or
cannot leave or enter the country. These documents are necessary forms
of identification that give holders certain rights and privileges. While
abroad, a United States passport can give citizens access to an embassy
in times of trouble.
Because of their high level of importance, a
prospective recipient of a passport must fill out all necessary
paperwork. This paper trail aids the government in following movements
of citizens and visitors alike to promote the interests of national
security. Locating a passport agency, such as a county store, is where
one goes to begin this process.
People who wish to acquire a
passport must do so in person at one of these passport offices. To
purchase a passport, a citizen must be able to prove to government
officials both their identity and citizenship. To do this, prospective
travelers must bring documents such as a valid driver's license, green
card, birth certificate, social security card, or an old undamaged
passport with them to the office.
Photographs on the passport are
also a major step in the application process. Most offices will take the
picture of a citizen on the date of the application, but a picture
taken in the last six months can also be substituted. These pictures
must be up to date and show the citizen in their normal clothes to guard
against cases of mistaken identity. To guard against forgery, passports
contain two pictures and a seal.
Once the picture is taken and
citizenship and identity are proven to government officials, the final
step in gaining a passport is payment. Payment for this document can be
made by cash, debit or credit card, or by check at the government
office. Two fees totaling $120 is the cost of a new passport while
renewing one only costs $95. Passports for minors, also, cost less money
than adults.
After a passport is sent to a citizen, it is their
responsibility to keep it from falling into the wrong hands.
International criminals and other nefarious people would love nothing
more to obtain a U.S. passport so if one is stolen or lost, the
government should be notified immediately. Because of their importance,
penalties and fines for replacing lost or stolen passports have been put
into place.
Traveling the world gives insight and knowledge to citizens who choose to go abroad. The passport application
process is the first fundamental step in acquiring a document that
allows the freedom to see the world. These documents are important to
governments and citizens alike and should be guarded carefully. Visit a passport agency to get your application process under way.
