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How do I apply for a Passport - Get Passport Application?It takes about 4 to 6 weeks to actually get your passport once you have applied for it so give yourself time if you have an upcoming cruise or vacation that will require a passport. If you have never obtained a passport before, you need to get proof of citizenship like a birth certificate or naturalization certificate. Next, have 2 passport pictures taken by a passport photographer. Download a passport application from the State Deparment website HERE and print a copy of the application in Adobe format. Complete the application as accurately and neatly as possible and take with your payment (check or credit card) to the nearest passport office. The cost of getting a passport is $97 (Age 16 and older), $82 (Under age 16), $67 for a renewal and an additional $60 for expedited service. Use overnight delivery for both sending the application and receiving your passport to help speed up the process. Passports are generally good for 10 years.
Passport Renewal Services:You never want to have to rush to get a passport, but sometimes you can't avoid it. There are passport services out there that help expedite the process and some can return a passport to you in 24 hours. Yes, it does cost more money than the traditional route, but considering what you get, it's worth the premium. The internet has made this process even easier when looking for a US Passport renewal service. We found some good sites, one was AllAmericanPassports.com with passport and visa processing services for as low as $60. Get rush passports, emergency passports, US passport renewals and travel visas. Talk with a customer service representative. Their passport services include new passports, passport renewal, child passports, name changes, lost or stolen passports, and passport forms. They offer travel visas for US citizens traveling to foreign countries (Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Jordan, South Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam). Another passport expeding service comes from a website at NationalPassport.com where you can get urgent same day passports for $125 (plus goverment fees) or express 3-5 business day service for $99 (plus governement fees). Again, when in a bind, using these companies can save time and the hassle of doing it yourself. If you have time to do it yourself, we recommend going to the State Deparment website HERE for complete step by step instructions on how to get your renewal passport (cost is $67).Passport versus Travel Visa - Which do I need?To travel abroad everyone needs a valid passport, but some countries require more than a passport to enter. "A visa is a form of permission for a non-citizen to travel to, enter, transit or remain in a particular country". Travel visas essential determine your lenght of stay and for what purposes you are there. Many business travelers need a travel visa stating they will only be staying 2 weeks (as an example) in a particular country. It's an additional way for countries to track non-immigrants who could potentially be looking to stay longer. Each country is different so check with the State Deparment website for details on what countries require travel visas before heading out on your travels.Finding a passport office that will handle applications and renewals:Need to renew your passport, apply for a new passport, or get passport information, then go to the US Department of State travel website for passport office locations HERE. Just type in your ZIP code and it will display all the local offices (many post offices handle passport applications these days) where you can take care of passport renewals and applications. As noted above, there are private companies that speed up the process in acquiring a passport or travel visa, so if you need a passport ASAP, we suggest using a company like PassportandVisas.com. They will guide you through the process and take care of all the paperwork and get you a passport within days (instead of the 4 to 6 weeks through the traditional process).
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