Any plans of traveling beyond the borders of the United States?
If you do, then don't forget to procure yourself a valid passport prior
to booking that next flight to Rome. Even if Mexico or Canada is just a
border away, you still need a passport to cross the other side. Gone
were the days when a copy of your original birth certificate will
suffice. Americans use the only universally accepted form of
identification, especially when travelling abroad - a United States
Passport.
Governments have used some form of passports for over a
hundred years. A traveler can be recognized as a citizen or a national
with a right to protection in foreign lands and a right to go back to
his home country through documents like passports, letters of transit
and others. Although passports were not adopted as the official form of
identification for international travelers before the 19th and 20th
centuries, they were utilized since then.
In the United States, US
citizens apply a passport from the State Department and its 14 passport
agencies in major cities, clerks of federal and certain state courts,
certain designated post offices and US consular authorities abroad. The
passport is required for both departure and re-entry to the United
States. For adults, it is valid for 10 years, while for children under
18, it is only valid for 5 since their appearances change more often.
To
prevent counterfeiters and forgers, US passports are periodically
upgraded to incorporate new technologies in its production such as
advanced printing technology, special inks and security thread in the
paper. A new passport was introduced in 2006 known as the e-passport or
the RFID (radio frequency identification) passport. It has a computer
chip embedded in the back cover that contains your biographical
information and a digital copy of your photograph, which is used with
facial recognition technology.
Applying for a United States
passport for the first time needs a physical appearance. A physical
appearance is also required for minor children. There are 2 steps to
apply: (1) Complete application Form DS-11, and (2) Present proof of US
citizenship (previous US passport, certified birth certificate, consular
report of birth abroad, naturalization certificate, or certificate of
citizenship).
First time travellers experience the excitement of
going overseas. It may take a little time and money to apply for a
passport, but the freedom you'll get to travel abroad is all worth it.
Travel Document Systems, Inc. is the leading travel agency for visas and US passports.
For nearly 30 years we have served travel professionals, tour
operators, cruise lines, as well as corporate and individual
international travelers. TDS specializes in travel that involves visas
for more than one country.
Dean N. Orbell
Travel Document Systems, Inc
Dean N. Orbell
Travel Document Systems, Inc
