United States of America Passport.

On June 1, 2009, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative ended with all citizens crossing the borders of Canada and Mexico being required to have a passport. Travelers are now required to have a passport in order to travel to most countries outside of the United States. With only thirty percent of all United States citizens actually owning a passport, many new travelers have to register for their first passport. Here are a few steps that new travelers should follow in order to obtain their new passports:

1) Review the requirements for obtaining a new passport. At the time of this publishing, travelers who have never obtained a passport, travelers who are under sixteen or obtained their last passport when they were sixteen, or travelers whose passports were stolen or lost must apply for a new passport in person.

2) Acquire the necessary documentation in order to apply for a passport. This includes having a birth certificate—with the official engraved seal—or having proof of naturalization into the United States in order to meet the criteria for proof of citizenship. The applicant needs to provide valid government identification, a driver’s license or learner’s permit, or a naturalization certificate for proof of current residency.

3) Go to a professional photographer and have your passport photo taken. Passport services are very particular of photo quality and if the pictures do not meet the correct dimensions and requirements, then the passport request will automatically be rejected and it will take even longer to gain approval of the process and receive a passport.  Two identical copies of the photo are needed and the traveler should not be smiling in either picture.

4) Check the Department of State website for current fees relating to passport costs.

5) Go to a designated passport services location in order to fill out the appropriate forms. All children should have one or both parents/legal guardians present as they are filling out the forms and signing up for their passports.

6) Fill out the necessary information and make sure that a witness within the office certifies that the proper information was entered and that the applicant took the required oath.

7) Depending on whether the applicant applied for normal deliver or expedited services, delivery could take as long as three to six weeks.

Passports are part of the gateway to access the amazing world of travel and exploration. While some countries require visas for business or educational reasons, passports are wonderful for travelers who want to visit the beautiful landscape of Vancouver, explore the club scenes of Manchester, or enjoy the artistic atmosphere of Paris. The process may seem complicated at first, but these steps will lead any traveler down the road to his/her first passport.

For more info: 

U.S. Department of State Passport Services

Special Requirements for Children Under Age Sixteen