Save Money And Grab A Passport Before You'll Demand One   by Ben Pate

in Travel / Travel Tips    (submitted 2011-05-10)

Regulations governing international travel have changed significantly in recent years. Passport booklets and cards are now required for all travel to other countries. Only cards are required for bordering countries but all other international travel requires a booklet. Many Americans are opting to get a pasport booklet and card now, before any travel is planned.

Obtaining travel documents can take a significant amount of time. The stated processing time is from four to six weeks. Any emergency travel or travel within two weeks requires an additional cost for expedited processing even for American passport lost. For business travelers who must submit an application in a very short time period, expediting companies can ensure they are processed in twenty-four hours.

While using a company to process your application may make sense for businesses, it is not the same story for families. The licensed companies take the applications to district offices for processing but are only allowed a certain number each day. Depending on when your application is submitted, it may take longer. An alternative is to use another company that may still have open slots. Costs for this service increase significantly as the deadline draws near. Since most international traveling done by families is planned well in advance, it is best to use the routine application process and save money.

Many Americans apply before they ever need a booklet or card. They are a convenient form of identification and are accepted everywhere. Obtaining all of the information required to submit an application can be time-consuming. Completing the process in a stress-free manner with the lowest price is a win-win situation.

When obtaining copies of birth certificates for yourself and your family, make sure they are certified. If they include a seal with raised letters, they are considered certified. Since April of 2011, a new requirement has been added regarding abbreviated birth certificates. That means they do not have the names of both parents included on the certificate. If this is the case, you will need secondary evidence to support the document. When requesting a certificate, confirm the names of both parents will be included on it.

Local agencies that can give you information and forms include post offices and libraries. Large cities have district offices that can process the application. You can also get information and the forms you will need online.

There are two forms of identification available and many people are choosing to get both. Passport booklets and cards are available. The cards are less expensive but can only be used for traveling to countries adjacent to the United States. Booklets can be used anywhere and are required for international travel. For those who travel frequently, the card is kept handy when the booklet is turned in at the border. Since you may not get it back until you leave, the card can act as identification while you are in-country.

About the Author

With so many changes to international travel, it is important that United States citizens get a United States passport. It is much less expensive when time is not of the essence for a US passport lost. It is also much less frustrating to deal with when you do not have a deadline.