Passport 101
One of the most important things to consider when planning an international trip: Do you have a passport? When does it expire? When do I need to send off for it?
Here are a few things to keep in mind if you don’t have a passport or need to renew one:
If you do not have a passport, please check the US State Department for more information on how to get one. You can find the proper form you need to apply for your passport. If this is your first passport, you will need to prove citizenship with an original birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or a certificate of citizenship. You will also need 2 passport photos that you can get taken at the local Walgreens or CVS.
If you have a passport, check the expiration date and how many pages you have left. Many countries require the passport to be valid for at least six months from the date you depart their country and at least blank pages.
If your passport expires within the next 6-8 months, go ahead and renew it now (if you don’t have any international trip planned. You will get your expired passport back. Make sure you don’t have international travel planned where you will need it. The turn around time is normally about 4-6 weeks. But currently it is about 8 to 11 weeks for routine service and about 5 to to 7 weeks for expedited service. Same day appointments are very difficult to get right now.
Book your travel using the full legal names exactly as they appear on your passport. I am talking to you newly married couples! Make sure you book your travel using your maiden name as your name will not be legally different until after your return from your honeymoon and change your documents.
When filling out the application shorten the “Travel Plans” date by a week if travel is soon. This will give you a little wiggle room in the turn around time and maybe increase your processing time.
Make copies of your passport and keep them in a safe area. I leave a copy at my home as well as carry an electronic copy saved on my laptop/phone.
Keep your passport safe. During your vacation, please make sure your passport is kept in the room’s safe.
If you have any questions or would like to start your travel planning, I’d love to hear from you.
