The Full Guide to Passports in the US
A passport is an important document that allows a person to travel internationally. It acts as a proof of identity and citizenship for the holder. If you’re planning to travel outside the US, getting a passport is a must. This guide will give you all the necessary information you need to know about passports in the US.
What is a US passport?
A passport is an official government document that identifies the holder as a citizen of a specific country and gives them permission to travel abroad. In the US, it is issued by the US Department of State. A US passport contains the following information of the holder:
– Photo
– Full name
– Date of birth
– Place of birth
– Passport number
– Issuing date
– Expiration date
– Signature
Types of US passports
The US Department of State issues four types of passports:
1. Regular Passport: This is the most common type of passport issued to US citizens for international travel. It is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors.
2. Official Passport: This passport is issued to US government officials and their dependents or those traveling abroad on official government business.
3. Diplomatic Passport: This passport is issued to US diplomats and their families who are traveling abroad on official government business.
4. Emergency Passport: If you need to travel abroad due to an emergency, such as a medical or family emergency, you can apply for an emergency passport. It is valid for one year.
How to Apply for a US Passport
To apply for a US passport, you need to follow these steps:
1. Fill out the DS-11 application form: You can download the form from the US Department of State website or get a copy at a local passport acceptance facility.
2. Provide proof of US citizenship: You need to submit an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship.
3. Provide a government-issued photo ID: You need to provide a copy of a valid driver’s license, military ID, or government employee ID.
4. Take a passport photo: You need to take a passport photo that meets the requirements set by the US Department of State. You can take the photo at a local passport acceptance facility or any other photo studio that offers passport photo services.
5. Pay the passport fee: The fee depends on the type of passport you’re applying for and your age. Adults over the age of 16 pay $145 for a regular passport, while minors pay $115. You can pay the fee by credit card, check, or money order.
6. Submit your application: You need to submit all the required documents and pay the fee at a local passport acceptance facility or a regional passport agency. You can find the nearest passport acceptance facility on the US Department of State website.
Passport Renewal
If your passport has expired or is expiring soon, you can renew it by following these steps:
1. Fill out form DS-82: You can download the form from the US Department of State website or pick up a copy at a local passport acceptance facility.
2. Submit your old passport: You need to submit your old passport along with your renewal application. If your old passport is lost or stolen, you need to fill out form DS-64, Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport.
3. Take a new passport photo: You need to take a new passport photo that meets the requirements set by the US Department of State.
4. Pay the renewal fee: The fee for renewing a regular passport is $110. Same as before, you can pay by check, credit card or money order.
5. Submit your application: You can submit your application at a local passport acceptance facility.
Passport Card
In addition to a regular passport, you can also apply for a passport card, which is a wallet-sized card that can be used for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. It cannot be used for international air travel. The fee for a passport card is $30 for adults and $15 for minors. You can apply for a passport card at a local passport acceptance facility.
Passport Expedited Services
If you need to get your passport quickly, you can use the expedited service. The expedited service costs an additional $60, and your passport should arrive in 2-3 weeks. If you need your passport sooner than that, you can make an appointment at a regional passport agency and pay an additional $60 fee.
Passport Application Acceptance Facilities
Passport application acceptance facilities are places where you can submit your passport application and supporting documents. You can find them at post offices, courthouses, libraries, and some municipal offices. You can use the passport acceptance facility locator on the US Department of State website to find the nearest facility.
Passport Application Processing Times
The processing time for a passport application varies depending on several factors, including the time of year, the location of the passport agency, and the volume of applications they are processing. Generally, a regular passport application takes 4-6 weeks to process, while expedited services take 2-3 weeks. However, it is recommended to apply for a passport at least 3 to 6 months before your planned trip.
Passport Security
US passports have several security features to prevent fraud and passport theft. The passport booklet is made of special paper that is difficult to reproduce or alter. It also has a chip built into it that contains the holder’s biometric information, such as their photo and fingerprints. These security features make it difficult for someone to use a fake passport or steal someone else’s passport.
In summary, obtaining a US passport is essential for international travel. The US Department of State issues four types of passports: regular, official, diplomatic, and emergency. To apply or renew a US passport, you need to follow the steps mentioned above. Keep in mind that you should apply for a passport at least 3-6 months before your planned trip. With the proper application, information, and fees, you’ll be able to obtain a US passport for your upcoming travels.
Passports are used as a form of legal documentation that proves both the identity and citizenship of the passport holder. Passports are required for Americans that cross any international border and also when they wish to gain reentry into the United States. When citizens first receive their passport, they should check it for errors and be sure to have an errors fixed immediately. Â Passports are important documents that should be safe guarded when traveling and also when stored at home.
Passport holders should also keep copies of the passport separately from the actual passport. In fact, when Americans travel internationally, they should also leave copies with someone in the United States, in case there should be an emergency. Applying for a passport is rather simple and includes the application itself, and the proper points of identification. New applicants must apply in person, while those that have a passport already, may generally renew their passport through the mail. renewals can not always be handled through the mail, but they can in most cases.
When passports are lost or stolen, citizens must report that event as soon as possible. If citizens are in a foreign country, they should call their closet U.S. consult or embassy so that they can receive assistance in getting a new passport. In addition, they should certainly report if they believe that the passport was stolen, rather than lost. In either case, citizens will not face penalties for the loss of their passport. Passport laws make several dictations as to the requirement to obtain a passport and for the right to continue utilizing that passport. Citizens that breach passport laws, or other criminal laws, may be subject to the demand that they turn over their passport.
Application Process
The application process for new passports first involves finding the appropriate forms. American citizens can find the appropriate forms online, at the post office or at their local passport agency. The forms will explain what other documentation is necessary for citizens to apply for a passport. First, applicants must be United States citizens and they must be able to prove that fact. That proof can include a valid and original Social Security card. In fact, every document that is utilized as a proof of fact, must be original, as no copies are accepted in order to be issued a passport based on the facts contained on the document.
Applicants can also utilize an original birth certificate with the raised seal of the county that issued the birth certificate. However, the birth certificate must have been written within a year of the birth of the child, in order to be utilized to get a passport. For minors, the necessary documents are similar except that there is a special form required. That form must be signed by any individual that has any custodial rights of the minor. For example, parents that have shared custody, must both sign the passport application before a passport will be issued.
The passport itself must be signed, but the minor should not sign for themselves. Parents should write the child’s name and sign beside it, while listing their relationship to the child in parenthesis. If passports are not expedited, they cost about one hundred dollars. If a passport needs to be expedited, the added fee is sixty dollars. Expedition is only necessary if the applicant needs their passport sooner than two months. The average processing time for new passports is four to six weeks.
The process involved with renewing a passport is more simple than the process involved with getting a first passport. In most cases, citizens can handle the entire renewal process through the mail. However, there are situations in which renewals cannot be handles through the mail. For example, citizens must be able to produce their original passport in order to renew through the mail.
If they cannot provide the expired passport, or if it was issued more than fifteen years prior, citizens must renew their passport in person. If citizens do have their original passport, it must not be damages and all information contained in the passport must be readable. The original passport must also have been issued when the individual was over the age of sixteen. Â If citizens do not meet the basic requirements for renewal through the mail, they can renew their passport in person,. However, many passport agencies require appointments in order for individuals to renew their passports. There are many laws that relate to passports and international travel ,
Lost or Stolen Passport
When Americans loss their passport, they must immediately report the loss. Americans will not face any legal penalties for lost passports. However, if it is found that a citizen sold their passport, or profited in any way, they will face criminal charges. If they are in the United States, they can report the loss at their local passport agency. They will need to pay the regular fee to have a new passport issued.
Increase national security makes it a requirement for lost American passports to be reported, in case anyone attempts to use them in a fraudulent manner. It is especially important to report a theft of passport, as criminal rings sometimes participate in such crimes to sell the passports. Stolen passports can be used to commit crimes, or gain illegal entry through certain border crossings. In order to avoid becoming implicated in such crimes, victims should immediately report their missing passport.
Correcting or Changing Information
When American citizens have found that there is an error on their passport, they must not attempt to travel with it, or to use it as identification. Errors on passports are serious and could result in being denied entry into any country. Take for example an American citizen that is turned away from entering the U.K. because of an error on their passport,. They would be put back on a flight to the United States. Upon arrival, they could very well find that border patrol denies them entry into the United States. For this reason, it is vital that errors on passports are addressed immediately.
The process for having errors fixed is relatively simple and free, unless the passport holder requires expedited service. Even if the passport holder is traveling soon after attempting to have the error fixed, they will likely receive their new passport in time, as the passport agency treats such cases as rushes. In order to have errors fixes, passport holders must simply send back their passport with new passport photos and proof of the corrected information. The photos are necessary because the passport agency no longer makes amendments to passports. Instead of amended passports, new passports are sent with the errors eliminated in order to protect security measures in place for border control.
In addition, international travelers must be sure that they have enough blank pages in their passport, in order to be granted plane boarding privileges and entry into the country they wish to visit. Generally, passports need at least four blank pages to allow international travel. Passport holders can have pages added to their passport by mailing the passport along with the proper form. There is no fee for this service.
Passport Laws:
Passport laws have become more stringent in the recent past. For example, in the past, citizens that found errors on their passport were able to simply have their passports amended. However, errors can no longer be corrected in that manner and citizens are instead issued a new passport whenever changes are necessary. The reason for the new requirement is to keep passports as tamper resistant as possible. In recent years, there has been an increase in fraudulent documents circulating the globe. There have also been changes in laws that previously allowed Americans to cross certain borders without having a valid United States passport.
For example, citizens used to be able to come home from Canada while simply showing a drivers license or other identification. That is no longer the case because of increased national security and vigilance, due to terrorists attacks and attempted terrorist attacks. Â Border entry laws vary in each country, but passports are required to cross borders around the globe. There are also passport laws that prevent minor children form being taken out of the country by non custodial parents, or those that have no rights at all regarding the child.
