When travelling outside of the United States, you need to present a valid US passport. It is necessary to have a US passport even if you are traveling to bordering countries such as Canada and Mexico. The process involved in assembling and submitting a US passport application can be daunting, but with attention to detail it is simple enough.

The first thing to do when you want to get your US passport is to visit a post office for the application form or download it online. If you choose to print the form you must use black ink on white matte paper. The dimensions of the paper must be 8 1/2 X 11 inches.

An essential part of the US passport application application is being able to provide proof of US citizenship. Documents that you can give for this include a certified US birth certificate, a citizenship or naturalization certificate. Along with your proof of citizenship you may also have to show other ID such as a valid driver’s license or old passport.

An important part of the application are the passport photos. These are one of the main reasons that passport applications are rejected, so be sure to have yours done correctly. The regulations regarding passport photos state that no headwear or eyewear can be worn in the photo, civilian clothes must be worn (no uniforms), you must be looking straight at the camera and there are specifications about the lighting and sizing of the photos. It is best to have the photos done at a store that specializes in this sort of thing.

If you are planning to travel, then it is best to apply for your passport as soon as possible. Due to a heavy workload, there are times when the issue of passports can be delayed. The issuing agent in the United States recommends applying for your passport around 12 weeks before you intend to travel. This will give you time to correct any potential errors in the passport application too. If you need to, you can pay extra to have the passport issued more rapidly than normal.

When you have sent off your passport application you can monitor its progress via the state department website. Before you send the application form, ensure that you have attached all necessary paperwork and that the forms are completely filled in and accurate. If there are items missing or you have made mistakes, then the application will be knocked back.

Costs involved with US passports are – adult passport $100, child passport $85. The additional fee to have the passport issued more quickly is $60. If you are applying for a US passport for the first time, then you will also need to fill in the DS-11 form with your application.

If you take the time to fill in the pass port application carefully and submit any required paper work with the forms, then you are likely to have your passport quickly and with no fuss. It is estimated that around 10 percent of applications have inaccuracies that cause delays, so ensure that yours is correct. Applying for and getting your passport does not have to be a complex process.

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