When traveling outside the United States, it helps to have a passport. Even if you don’t plan to travel anytime soon, having a passport can make your life much easier. In order to get your passport, you first have to fill out a USA passport form. There are two options, one for those applying for the first time and one for those just renewing.
Applications can be found at your local library or post office. Some post offices have set days or hours when they will take passport photos and help you process your application. Not all provide this service so it is best to call or check on-line to see where the nearest processing site is located.
If you are computer savvy, you can locate an application on-line. Search for U. S. Passport on your web search engine. Government sponsored sites allow you to download an application and instructions for free. There are also several non-government sites that will pop up. These will help you through the steps to obtain an application and passport but there will be an additional fee for downloading their guidelines with the application.
You must apply in person if you have never applied before or are under 16 years of age. Along with bringing the filled out application, you will need pictures and identification including a birth certificate. Review the instructions to find out the approved forms of identification to bring with you. If you are renewing a passport and it has not already expired or was issued within the last 15 years, you simply need to send in the application, your fee and the original passport.
Not planning to travel for several months? We suggest you submit your application through routine processing. It will take four to six weeks or, during busy summer travel season, up to 10 weeks. However, if you just found out about travel and need a passport super fast, there are ways to speed up your application. For those traveling in less than four weeks, there is an expedited process that includes overnight delivery to your home or office within two to three weeks. Are you traveling in less than 14 days? You will need to schedule an appointment to visit one of the passport agencies in person. Most major cities across the U.S. have a agencies for U.S. passports.
All applications, routine or expedited, first-time or renewal, require a fee. Once issued, your passport is valid for 10 years if you are over 16 and five years if younger. Traveling has become more and more complicated today and having a passport will make things much easier. Even crossing the border to Canada or Mexico, flying to Bermuda or the Caribbean, you need a passport.
There are additional costs involved in expediting your applications. These include sending it through an overnight, certified delivery service and fees for the processor to expedite the application. If you are traveling on official government or corporate business, your agency or administrative officer will walk you through or even complete the process for you. When you have to handle it yourself, any expenses paid personally should be reimbursed by your agency or company.
An additional plus to being able to travel outside the country whenever you want is that your passport often makes it easier when you are applying for jobs, or need to show identification to verify your citizenship. Since you need to produce a birth certificate and other forms of identification for the new passport form, having this kind of identification in your pocket is sometimes all you need. After all is said and done, for reasonable cost and a small amount of time, applying for a passport is a great idea.
