| It's been hard to avoid all the changes, | | | | If you currently do not have a passport, and |
| confusion, and drama that has surrounded | | | | somewhere in the back of your mind you are |
| passports needed for travelers who have | | | | thinking about traveling to a foreign country |
| booked international luxury vacations. With | | | | on a luxury travel vacation, then just bite |
| the continuing changing standards and rules, | | | | the bullet and get one! The earlier you put |
| it is important to check and double check | | | | in for one the better. You won't have to pay |
| before you finalize any plans. With that in | | | | for expiated services if you put in now. And |
| mind, here are a few helpful passport hints | | | | passports are good for ten years, so even if |
| to making your international travel painless. | | | | you end up not using it immediately, you |
| Important to Gather the Necessary Items for | | | | might in the next ten years. For more help on |
| Your Luxury Travel Vacation Before you show | | | | planning your luxury travel vacation visit |
| up at a government agency to begin your | | | | Follow Up Everyone has probably heard one of |
| passport process, be sure you have all the | | | | the lost application stories. Agencies claim |
| necessary items. The first thing you should | | | | to never have received it, the application |
| do is go to the passport website at There | | | | being lost in the mail, or bring denied a |
| you can fill out the basic application form | | | | week before they leave. Again, applying early |
| and print it out. If you are unable to do | | | | will solve a lot of these problems, but if |
| this, go to your local travel agent who | | | | that is not an option to you, then follow up. |
| specializes in luxury vacations. They might | | | | If you apply in person, keep your receipt and |
| have one. If not, try your local post office, | | | | your paper work that says you have applied. |
| library or passport office. If you go in with | | | | You can also check to see if your passport is |
| this paper work filled out, you save yourself | | | | being processed on the website. To do so, you |
| and the passport clerks lots of time. In | | | | must have the application number that can be |
| addition, you will need to provide your own | | | | found on your paperwork. If you mail your |
| passport photos. These cannot be just any | | | | application, send it with signature required, |
| photos. There are very specific parameters, | | | | and ask for received documentation. If you |
| and must be taken by licensed passport photo | | | | are having problems, call the agency |
| operators. To find the one nearest to you | | | | immediately to follow up. From luxury world |
| look in your phone book under passport | | | | cruises to a weekend in Mexico, passports are |
| photos, or ask your local post office | | | | now required for any Americans traveling |
| passport center. You will also need proof of | | | | outside of the United States. It can be a |
| citizenship. This is either a birth | | | | hassle, but if you do your part, it can also |
| certificate, a naturalization paperwork or a | | | | be painless. Make sure you gather all your |
| previous passport, all of which MUST be | | | | paperwork and documentation. Apply as soon as |
| official copies. You must also have a state | | | | possible. If you travel often, you should |
| issued photo ID. If you do not have some or | | | | have a passport anyways. And make sure you |
| any of these items, refer to the website for | | | | follow up on your application. Now that you |
| specific circumstances. Apply in a Timely | | | | are armed with information, go forth and get |
| Manner You have probably heard that passports | | | | your passport! |
| are recently hard to come by. It is true that | | | | |
| the average time was once six weeks for | | | | Virginia Morgan wrote this article for AMT |
| regular service and one or two weeks for | | | | American Express Travel . Virginia has been a |
| expatiated. These time estimates have now | | | | travel writer for over five years. AMT |
| doubled to 12 weeks for regular and 3 to 4 | | | | American Express Travel is a popular Internet |
| for expedited. This is disturbing to some, | | | | source for American Express Vacations. |
| but not if you submit your application early. | | | | |