Passport Regulations and Services - Are You Fully Prepared

Many things are changing when it comes to air travel.To get a passport renewed, the fees are $67. So
Some of the changes come from the government.for an adult with his first passport, the cost ends up
We all know about the carry on luggage rules thatbeing $9.70 a year. Pretty cost effective, huh? Of
have changed frequently over the past few months.course, those fees don't include the price paid for
The next big scheduled change will be a change ingetting your passport photo or for the added fees if
the passport requirements to re-enter the Unitedyou want your application expedited.If you have
States.At the moment, if you are traveling to Mexico,never applied for a passport before, there are some
Canada, Bermuda, Panama or the Caribbean, athings you will want to know before applying. You
passport is not necessary. But that will be changingmust apply in person. There are over 7,000 facilities
soon. Due to The Intelligence Reform and Terrorismin the United States that can issue passports. To find
Prevention Act of 2004, on January 8, 2007, allthe one that is near you, you can go to and type in
travelers coming from or returning from theseyour zip code. The website will direct you to the
destinations will need a passport to enter the Unitedfacilities that are nearest to you. You will need proof
States.This January 8, 2007 date is for travelersthat you are a United States citizen or proof of your
entering the United States by air or by sea. Fornationality. For U.S. citizens born in the U.S. you will
travelers entering the United States across a landneed a certified copy of your birth certificate issued
border, they will be required to start providingby a government office (not a hospital). For U.S.
passports as identification on January 1, 2008. All ofcitizens born outside the U.S., you will need a
the new regulations are required for adults andCertificate of Naturalization or Citizenship. An expired
children alike.Currently, the regulation states that anyU.S. passport can also be used as proof. Have your
traveler wishing to enter or re-enter the Unitedpassport photos taken before applying. The type of
States from these destinations needs to have a validphotographs you need are very specific, but that is
driver's license and a birth certificate. Thoseto ensure that no one else can use your passport.
documents will not be enough once January hits.You must have two identical photographs that have
They will still be accepted if you are returning from abeen taken within the last six months. The size of
U.S. territory such as Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S.the photographs must be 2x2 inches. Your picture
Virgin Islands. Since they are U.S. territories, it is notwithin the photo must be between 1 and 1 3/8
considered leaving the United States when you visitinches. The photo must be on a white background.
there.If you are planning to travel outside of theYou must be facing forward, showing your full face
United States or its territories after the New Yearand not wearing a hat or dark glasses. You will need
and don't have a passport, now is the time to bea photo ID with your signature. This can be an
applying for one. The average time for processing aexpired U.S. passport, a Certificate of Naturalization or
passport is six weeks. The busy time for passportCitizenship, a valid government ID card, a valid military
applications tends to be between January and July.ID card, or a valid driver's license. Once you have all
You are likely to get your passport more quickly ifof your documents and photos in order, you can fill
you give in your application between August andout an application for a passport known as a DS-11.
December. So now is the time to do make yourDo not sign the application unless you are in the
application. If you need your passport more quickly,presence of the person who will be executing your
there is an expedited service for an extra fee.Youpassport. If you do sign it without the executor, your
may be wondering about the fees associated with aapplication will become invalid. You can download an
passport in general. Actually, they aren't so bad whenapplication and have it filled out before you visit the
you think about it. A passport is good for ten years,facility that will issue your passport. To download the
so when you divide the cost of the passport by theapplication, go to If you already have a passport, but
number of years it is valid, you're getting a prettyit has expired you can renew your passport by mail if
good bang for your buck. Much better than say theyou meet the following requirements. Your passport
$50 or so you probably have to pay every year tomust not be damaged. It must have been received
register a car in most states - even if none of yourwithin the past 15 years. You must have been at
personal information changes. So when you're thinkingleast 16 years old when it was issued. You still have
about the passport fees, try to put them inthe same name as the one in the passport (or a legal
perspective. You get ten years of world wide traveldocument proving your name change). If you do not
as an American Citizen. It's not so bad when youmeet the above requirements, you must apply in
think of it that way.So, what are the fees exactly?person for a new passport.This important message
For children under sixteen, a passport will cost $82.on passport services was brought to you by daily
For those sixteen and older, a passport will cost $97.travel air.