Getting a United States passport is your first step in becoming a world traveler. Passports are needed to enter and leave most foreign countries. Applying for a passport involves several steps but it is not complicated. It usually takes six weeks to obtain your passport.

Appear in Person

To apply for a passport for the first time, or to replace a stolen or expired passport, an applicant must appear in person, with the required documentation and pay the non-refundable fees. For 2005, the current fee for a routine passport is $97 for persons age 16 and older (valid for 10 years); $82 for those under 16 (valid for 5 years).

Application Process

First, you need to pick up an application at a designated location - local post offices, passport agencies, and even some courthouses. A list of locations is available in most local phone books and at the U.S. Department of State’s website; online applications may be printed from the website.

Information needed to complete the application includes residence, previous names used, social security number, it also asks father’s and mother’s names and birthplaces, so it is advised to fill out the form at home where information is more readily obtained. The application needs to be signed in front of the person receiving it, so applicants are cautioned not to sign it ahead of time. The application is four pages in length. There are three pages of instructions for the one-page fill-in-the-box form. Proof of citizenship (a certified birth certificate) and proof of identity (valid driver’s license with picture) will need to be furnished in person when the application is submitted.

The applicant will also need to provide two passport photos. Many one-hour photo shops offer passport photos, as do some postal facilities. The photos must be identical, two inches by two inches in size. The latest application from the US State Department says the photos must be in color, although in previous years, black and white photos were also acceptable.

For a frequent traveler abroad, extra pages in the passport may be requested at no additional charge. A signed request for a 48-page passport will need to be attached to the application.

Expedited service is available for travelers who need a passport sooner than the routine service of six weeks. To receive the passport in two weeks, the applicant will need to pay an additional fee (currently $60) plus two-way overnight delivery charges. Anyone can request the expedited service, as long as the fees are paid.

Some countries require that a passport be valid for at least six months beyond the travel dates. It is advisable to check with the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the countries to be visited to obtain the necessary travel information.

For a renewal passport, the application may be mailed IF the passport is still valid and, if necessary, documentation can be provided for any name changes. The previous passport must not be damaged or altered in any way.

All persons of all ages, even newborns, are required to have a passport for exiting and re-entering the United States. A recent change in the law concerns re-entering the US from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean – a passport is now required for re-entry. Most airlines usually request a passport when traveling anywhere outside the US.

Minors

Children under 14 require special parental documentation to obtain a passport. Both parents must appear together and sign the application in person, or a variety of certified documentation or court orders need to be furnished proving custody or sole authority of the child. Other requirements are the same: proof of citizenship, identification and two passport photos.

For the child’s protection, if a parent is afraid the child may be taken out of the United States without their permission, the child’s name may be placed in the U.S. passport name check system. The parent will then be notified if a passport application is made in the child’s name.

Receipt and Use

Once the passport is received, it needs to be checked for accuracy, then signed in ink. Travelers should not be surprised when passports are not always stamped upon entry in foreign countries. Due to the computer age, many passports are now just scanned and returned to the passport holder so stamping is no longer required. Travelers should also check passport requirements in foreign countries – there are some countries which require that passports be kept in your hotel’s safe during your stay, or be held by the local police until your departure.

E-passport

A new “e-passport” is now under consideration. This new passport would include a computer chip on the back of the photo, providing the same information as printed within the passport, along with a digital photo. With this new style passport, less fraud should occur.

Passport Renewal

Passports may be renewed by mail, as long as the passport has not been damaged or altered or has not expired. If a name change has occurred, passports can still be renewed by mail, as long as legal documentation is sent with the renewal. The legal documentation can be a marriage or adoption certificate, court order or divorce decree. If there is another reason for the name change, the application must be made in person.

More Travel Information

Learn about the countries to which you will be traveling. Study their culture, politics and customs to enhance your travel experience.

Visit the State Department’s website to check for travel warnings and public announcements. These warnings and announcements are issued when the government feels there is a danger to U.S. citizens traveling in that location and to provide information concerning terrorism.

Immunizations are required in certain countries; recently some countries even began HIV/AIDS testing of long-term visitors. It is advisable to check with the State Department, the Embassy or Consulate of the country you plan to visit or the Centers for Disease Control to obtain more information on requirements for individual countries.

Go ahead – get that passport and become a world traveler!