While traveling abroad, there is no document of greater importance to a United States citizen then their passport. A US passport application forms is the first step in world travel as they are the fundamental documents produced by the government that allow citizens to leave and reenter the country. With the right set of documents, this application process can be completed in under an hour.
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.
The application process has many facets and requires a wealth of information before passports are given out. This can be a tedious process, but is extremely important in aiding the government in tracking the movements of its citizens and world travelers who enter and exit the country. To purchase a passport, first a citizen must go to a USA passport office and fill out the necessary paperwork.
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 drivers license, green card, birth certificate, social security card, or an old undamaged passport with them to the office.
All passports are made to have the picture of the applicant in two different places on the passport document itself. This makes it harder to forge the documents and also helps guard against criminals and terrorists from doctoring stolen passports. These pictures are taken at the offices during application and citizens are encouraged to wear normal attire for the photograph.
After all personal information is taken and both identity and citizenship are proven, a citizen now simply has to pay a nominal fee to the government to obtain their passport booklet. First time applicants will have to pay $95 dollars with an added $25 dollar execution fee for processing. Passports expire every ten years; so renewing a passport also costs a fee of $95 dollars. Minors passports cost slightly cheaper.
There is also a fee for misplacing or having a passport stolen. While traveling or at home, passports, especially United States ones, are worth their weight in gold. Criminals can sell a passport to someone who will try to illegally enter the United States. This can cause a serious breach in national security. If a passport is ever lost or stolen, it is paramount that the government be informed immediately.
A U.S. citizen who wishes to travel the world must first go through the passport application process. A citizen must prove their identity and citizenship along with filling out a United States passport form during their visit to a passport agency. All passports must also have a picture and after a payment can be expected to be mailed to ones home in six to ten weeks from the date of application.
