When traveling to Italy there are several things you must have. The
least of these are a passport and maybe even a visa. If this is your
first time traveling out of the US, you will need to apply for a
passport. You may also need to apply for a passport if your old one has
expired, is damaged or lost.
Applying for a passport is a fairly simple
process which may be as simple as a trip to the post office, but be sure
to start early so you can be ready. There are stories of people who
have had to cancel vacations because their passport was not ready.
The US Department of State
asks that you allow six months for them to process your passport
application, however some travelers have found it only took a few weeks.
You can apply online, however first time applicants must apply in
person. The main supporting document that is required is a valid
original US birth certificate. Passport applicants are sometimes
surprised to find that their original birth certificate needs to be
submitted to the Department of State with a promise of it being mailed
back. Many people tend to be leery of this especially because they have
found how difficult it is to get a replacement birth certificate.
However, most report that within a short period of receiving their new
passports, their birth certificates arrive in the mail safe and sound.
For all the details on where the 9000 passport application accepting
facilities are, and how to apply for a passport for your Italy vacation
you can go to www.travel.state.gov/passport
If
you are a US citizen, you will not need a visa to travel to Italy.
However, you must show that your airline ticket includes a return back
to the US. If you are planning to travel to Italy for reasons other than
a vacation, the requirements are different and usually stricter. When
on vacation in Italy, you can stay for a maximum of 3 months at a time,
but remember that this is a combined period to include any time spent in
several other European countries. Italy has an embassy in Washington DC
that can process visas for non-US citizens. They must go to the embassy
for personal interviews. If you are going to Italy for a vacation the
prime concern of the Italian government is that you plan to return to
your country. Therefore they always ask for proof that you have a
full-time job especially if you are a non-US citizen.The Department of
State recommends that during your Italy vacation you register your
presence there with the US embassy. This is important in case someone
needs to contact you for an emergency, or in case of a disaster abroad
so your whereabouts can be confirmed.
Author;
Tim Roseland
