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Carelessness is the number one
reason for a passport application being rejected or
delayed or for a passport being lost, stolen, or damaged.
What steps are necessary to
prevent these things from happening? How can you take care
of your passport? Below are 16 practical tips you can
follow to acquire your passport, keep it in your
possession, and preserve it in good condition.
Before You Leave On Your
Trip
1. Check to see if you even
need a passport.
Countries can, and often
do, change foreign entry requirements. If you arrive at
the airport without the required documents, you'll be
denied boarding privileges. And, of course, This isn't
covered by travel insurance.
Currently, more than 80% of
the world's countries require a valid passport for
entrance. It's important to verify the foreign entry
requirements for the country you plan to visit as early as
possible.
2. Apply for your passport
early.
You should apply for a new
passport at least 90 days before your departure date. For
a renewal, begin the process 8 to 11 months before your
passport expires. Why so early? Many countries require
that your passport have six to eight months of validity
remaining before they will issue a visa.
3. Fill out the correct
form correctly.
Each type of passport
service has specific criteria that must be met. Make sure
you get the right application form, and then fill it in
carefully. Double-check each entry. Ask a friend or
relative to verify it as well. Errors made on the
application form can lead to delays, or even rejection of
your passport request.
4. Follow the
specifications for the required documents exactly.
When applying for a new
passport, the most frequently used documents are a
certified birth certificate for proof of citizenship along
with a valid driver's license for proof of your identity.
Your birth certificate must
be a certified copy with a registrar's raised, embossed,
impressed, or multicolored seal, registrar's signature,
and the date the certificate was filed with the
registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your
birth. No photocopies are accepted. Your driver's license
must be more than six months old.
For a passport renewal,
your previous passport serves as both proof of citizenship
and proof of identity. To be valid, it cannot be
mutilated, altered, or damaged in any way.
You must send two identical
passport photos taken within the last 6 months. These
passport photos must be 2 x2 with a plain white or
off-white background. They have to be a full-face view
with the head being from 1 to 1 3/8 inches from the chin
to the top of the head. The photos can be either color or
black and white.
5. Sign both the passport
application form and your check.
Surprisingly, many people
forget to sign either the passport application form or
their check to Passport Services. Once again, check
everything twice, or even three times.
6. Request additional
pages.
Are you a frequent flyer?
Request a 48-page passport (at no additional cost). It
will allow you to travel longer before having to replace
it.
7. Sign your passport and
fill out the emergency information.
When your passport arrives,
check to see that all the information contained in it is
correct. If it is, sign it and fill in your current
address and the name of a person to contact in case of
emergency. If not, return it to the State Department for
correction.
8. Make two copies of your
passport and photos.
Give one copy of your
passport to a friend or relative who can be easily
contacted in case of an emergency. Take the other copy and
the extra photos with you on your trip. If you use an
online document storage service, you can scan your
passport and upload a copy. That way, you can access it
from almost anywhere in the world.
While You're Away
9. Always keep your
passport in a safe place!
Never leave your passport
in your baggage, backpack, purse, car, hotel room, or
anywhere else! When you must carry your passport, keep it
in a money belt or inside coat pocket. Upon arrival at the
hotel, put your passport in the hotel safe.
10. Never lay your passport
down anywhere.
Passports placed on a
counter, phone booth or table can be easily forgotten or
stolen. Practice the habit of immediately putting your
passport away after using it.
11. If you travel as a
family or as part of a group, don't let one person carry
all the passports.
The odds are much greater
for one person carrying all the passports to lose them or
have them stolen than for all the passports to be stolen
or lost if each individual owner carries them.
12. Never let anyone leave
your presence with your passport.
When you're checking in at
the airport, passing through customs, exchanging currency,
or doing anything else that requires you to show your
passport, never allow the person examining your passport
to leave your presence. If the person starts to leave,
call their attention and request to accompany them.
Law enforcement records
show that U.S. passports are sometimes used for unlawful
entry into the United States or by criminals abroad
seeking to establish another identity. You would be pretty
embarrassed if your name were associated with illegal
activities.
13. Immediately report the
loss of your passport.
If you are careful and
follow the tips above, you shouldn't have any problem with
the loss of your passport.
If it does occur though,
immediately notify the local police and then proceed to
the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Take the copy of
your passport and extra photos with you. You will be
issued a temporary passport that you can replace upon
returning to the United States.
After You Return
14. Schedule your passport
renewal.
Check the expiration date
and make a reminder to renew your passport at the proper
time. Remember, you should begin the process 8 to 11
months prior to the expiration date. Put the reminder
somewhere where it won't be forgotten.
15. Check the number of
blank pages remaining.
Some countries require a
blank page for their visa. If you plan a future trip on
which you will visit various countries, you might need the
same number of pages as countries to be visited.
If you do not have an
adequate number of pages but your passport is not due for
renewal, you can request additional pages.
16. Store your passport in
a safe place.
If you have a safe in your
home, keep your passport there. If not, consider a safety
deposit box at your local bank.
Follow the practical tips
above and you can easily avoid passport problems and more
fully enjoy your international travels.
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About
The Author
William
Manor is the owner of U.S. Passport
Service Guide, a very useful and com
prehensive resource for U.S. citizens who
travel internationally.
http://www.us-passport-service-guide.com |
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