August 29, 2003 -- It's a big world out there. To see it, you'll need a passport. Throughout the 1990s, more and more Americans applied for passports: nearly 7.3 million were issued in 2000, the largest number ever, and we've issued around 7 million per year since. Joining the passported crowd isn't difficult. Show up at a post office, file some documents, pay the fee, and you're good for ten years of unlimited foreign travel!
Most of the information in this column is available at travel.state.gov/passport_services.html, the official State Department passport Web page. Using links on this page, you can print out all the forms you need and find the addresses and phone numbers of passport facilities near you.
Getting a passport -- just like dealing with any government agency -- can be confusing. Fortunately, as of August 19, you can call a toll-free number to get all of your passport questions answered: 877/487-2778. That's the National Passport Information Center's new hotline, and it's available Monday-Friday from 8am-8pm Eastern time.
If you don't feel like staying on hold, you can also send your questions to www.npic@state.gov, where passport experts pledge to answer your queries within 24 hours on business days.
Passports vs. Visas
A passport is a small blue book identifying you as a US citizen for the purposes of travel. You'll need a passport to travel anywhere outside North America, or to Cuba. A visa is a permission granted by a foreign country for you to enter. Americans don't need visas for many popular destinations (such as western Europe). If you do need a visa, that's controlled by the consulate of your foreign destination in the US, not by the US government. The US State Department can't do anything to help you get visas, but they can tell you when you'll need them and who to ask for them. To find out, go to travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html#a and scroll down to the name of the country you're going to. Click on the country name. Under "Entry Requirements," you'll find out whether you need a visa, and who to ask for one.
Getting Your First Passport
Ideally, you should apply for your passport at least six weeks before you intend to travel. Go in person to the nearest passport facility (http://iafdb.travel.state.gov) -- these include a lot of post offices and government buildings, and there's probably one near you. You don't need to make an appointment. Bring two passport-sized photos, your birth certificate, citizenship or naturalization certificate, and a driver's license or state non-driver's ID. (If you don't have any of these things, you can still get a passport; see travel.state.gov/passport_obtain.html for documents you can use to prove your identity.) Your new passport will cost $85, and be good for ten years.
If you're in a bit of a hurry, you can request expedited service and get your passport within two weeks. The best way to do this is to apply at a post office. Buy two Express Mail overnight delivery stamps for $13.65 each. Include them in your passport application along with a $60 speedy-delivery fee. Yes, this means your passport will cost $87 more than if you had six weeks to wait, but that's the price of haste.
If you're really in a hurry, you'll need to go to one of the 15 passport agencies (travel.state.gov/agencies_list.html) scattered around the country. Call the agency in advance, make an appointment, and block off a few hours to wait in line after your allotted appointment time. If the agency accepts your reason for needing a passport quickly ("I'm lazy" probably won't work, but "my passport was stolen" probably will), you'll pay your $145 fee and might even get your passport that same day.
Renewing or Expanding Your Passport
Like all good things, passports come to an end. Most passports issued nowadays last 10 years. At the end of your 10 years, you'll need to renew your passport. As long as you have your old passport, you were at least 16 when it was issued and the old passport is less than 15 years old, you can probably get your passport renewed by mail. Just submit your old passport, $55 and two passport-sized photos to the address on this form: travel.state.gov/DS-0082.pdf. (Fair warning: You'll need to download Adobe Acrobat to view and use this form. Don't worry though; it's safe and easy.) If you changed your name since you got your first passport, you'll need to submit an original marriage certificate or court order showing the name change. (You'll get your documents back, with your new passport.) Renewals typically take two weeks -- if you want speedy, three-day service, send in $115 instead of $55 and ask for "expedited service."
If you can't renew your passport by mail, you have to apply in person, using the same techniques and forms as if you were applying for your first passport.
I'm a travel junkie, so I used up all 24 pages in my original passport. If you expect to travel a lot, get a 48-page passport (it doesn't cost extra) when you acquire or renew your passport. Otherwise, you can get 24 pages added for free by mailing in the form linked on this page (travel.state.gov/extra_pages.html) along with your existing passport.
Passports For the Kids
To prevent kidnappings, there are special rules for kids under 14 to get passports. Even tiny infants need passports. The child doesn't need to show up in person, but as a parent, you'll need to submit proof of your relationship to your child, your child's birth certificate, and -- this is the tricky part -- either the second parent must show up in person, submit a special document, or you must show a custody order when applying for the passport. For full details, see (travel.state.gov/specialreq.html).
Oh No! I Lost My Passport!
If your passport is lost, stolen or accidentally sent through the washing machine while you're in the US, call the State Department immediately at 202/955-0430 and leave a message that you lost your passport. You'll then have to reapply for a new passport from scratch, marking on your application form that your previous passport was lost or stolen. You'll pay the same as a first-time applicant.
If your passport is lost or stolen abroad, contact the nearest US consulate and make an appointment. Given documentation of your US citizenship (a photocopy of the front page of your old passport will do), they can issue you a new, temporary passport within 24 hours that will get you home. Once you're home, you'll probably have to apply for a passport renewal.
