US Passport Application: Card, Book, New, Renew?

Today's post is aimed at United States citizens with an eye to travel abroad. Not everyone is aware of the restrictions and rules that come with leaving the Land of the Free, so here are a few basics to get you started.

Americans can't scale the Great Wall without a passport

It's all about the passport. You can't get into Canada without a passport. In fact, U.S. citizens can't leave the United States at all without a valid passport. That means anyone taking a Bahamas or Caribbean cruise needs a passport, as does anyone heading to Mexico for spring break. Those rules are new; citizens flying abroad have always needed a passport to do so.

If you've never had to get a passport before, the process can seem daunting. Do you want a card or a book? (Answer: the card is for land and sea access only to neighbors like Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean; the book passport is needed for any international air travel) Where do you get your picture taken? (Your local post office or warehouse store can do the trick) First time applicants must submit their passport request in person; the closest "Acceptance Facility" is usually a post office. You can do a search at the Department of State's website.

You'll need to prove your citizenship (an original or certified copy of your birth certificate is best), along with photo ID (such as your driver's license). Full requirements and fee schedules are found at the government's travel.state.gov website.

Make sure you take care of getting your passport well in advance of your travels. What if you can't locate a certified birth certificate? It can take weeks to get a new one. Getting your passport is one thing you can't procrastinate with when it comes to trip planning.