US citizens need a passport to travel abroad. The process involves filling out a form, providing identification documents and photographs, and paying a fee. Passports are valid for 15 years and can be renewed by mail. The State Department website has more information.
All US citizens traveling out of the country will need a passport. This is a legal document proving citizenship in a particular country. Most include the bearer’s photograph, demographic statistics, and several blank pages for stamps from countries that allow entry. It is usually not difficult to obtain a passport, but a process is required.
The first thing a person needs to do is make sure they have a driver’s license and birth certificate on hand. The US State Department website has a form available online that the person must fill out in advance, but this should not be signed until an agent approves the application. All first-time applicants must apply in person, and this can usually be done at a post office or the District Court Clerk’s Office in the County Courthouse.
Applicants must also bring two 2 x 2 inch (5.08 x 5.08 cm) color photographs. These can be made by a professional photographer or where passport photos are made. The applicant will show the agent all identification documents, photographs and the completed application. When the application is approved, the agent and applicant will sign the form and the applicant will pay a fee. The application will be filed and the applicant will receive their passport by post within six weeks to six months.
Those who need a passport more urgently can pay a higher fee to speed up the process, but it’s always best to apply as soon as you know one is leaving the country. An applicant may also contact their local U.S. Congressional representative if the process appears to be taking an unusually long time. This can also speed up the process.
Passports are valid for 15 years and can be renewed by mail. In this case, the applicant must complete another form, attach it, the fee, two more recent photographs and the old passport, and send the package to the processing center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The State Department website has a wealth of information regarding the application process, what to do if you are a naturalized citizen, have no birth certificate, or other contingencies.
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