Tag: Passports

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Helpful Passport Information

Helpful Passport Info

In 1996, the U.S. Department of State issued 5.5 million passports. Fast forward to 2019 and that number has since been trending upward, reaching just under 21 million in 2019.  

Need to send in your old passport to get a new one? The Department of State recommends that applicants use a trackable shipping method, such as Priority Mail Express, to keep tabs on their application and know when it arrives safely at its destination.

Think you have plenty of time to renew? Don’t take your passport’s expiration date at face value. Some countries have a six-month or three-month passport validity rule that requires your passport to be valid for a certain amount of time after your date of entry.

If your passport was issued after August 2007, you’ve got what is called an e-passport. This has a small integrated chip in the back cover that stores your passport information and a biometric identifier based on your photograph. To protect passport holders from unknowingly falling victim to high-tech identity theft, there are metallic elements in the cover of the passport, making it impossible for the passport to be digitally “read” until it’s physically open.

Has your appearance changed significantly? You probably need to apply for a new passport. This is in case you’ve lost or gained a lot of weight, so much so that you look different than you do in your passport photo. It also applies if you have undergone significant facial surgery, trauma, or if you’ve added or removed large facial tattoos or piercings.

Your photo must also reflect your current appearance. Face the camera and keep your expression neutral. Don’t wear a uniform with any writing on it.

What if you travel a lot and you run out of pages? The standard issue passport is 28 pages long. You can request one that is 52 pages at no extra cost. If you fill that up, you will need a new one.

You will also need a new one if yours is damaged more than just wear and tear. If it went swimming and is damaged by water, or if your kids drew all over it with their favorite crayons, or if there are tears on the book cover or the page with your personal info…you will definitely need a new one.

Did you know most countries want you to have at least one blank page for stamps? Some countries require to have up to three blank pages in your passport for visa and immigration stamps. Be sure to check before you travel.

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Don’t Lose Your Identity

Do you worry about identity theft when traveling? Here are a few suggestions which might ease your mind.

I make two copies of everything I am taking…credit cards, passport, ID, everything. I leave one copy at home. I give the copies of my info to my husband to pack securely away and I take his copies. These do not get put in checked luggage, however.

I also travel with two credit cards or less and my husband uses two different credit cards.

I have extra passport photos along when traveling out of the US.

Typically, we do not use the hotel safe. We both have safe spots where we carry our info.

My purse and wallet are RFID protected. This radio-frequency identification protects my sensitive information from being stolen by someone using a specific device and just walking by.

My luggage tags do not have a bunch of personal info on them. I use an email and a cell phone number. No home address.

What do you do?

 

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Smile…or Not!

Again…is your passport up to date?

First, know when your passport expires. Some countries require the expiration date to be more than six months from that date.

Next, the State Department tells us you are responsible for looking like your passport photo. Have you added or removed facial tattoos or birthmarks? Have you lost a significant amount weight, especially in your facial area?

If so, you may need a new photo.

Speaking of photos, here are some rules that may be new since the last time you had yours taken.

Remove your glasses.

Make sure the background is the correct color.

Don’t smile too much. Yet, look natural…if you can! I was told not to smile at all and my photo looks like I belong in the post office for most wanted!

Next, pay the correct fee if submitting for a renewal by mail. No sense getting the renewal rejected.

Make sure you take or send any supporting documents with you.

Check for online renewal. Not sure if it’s coming soon or not.

Last, check with the State Department for more rules and clarifications. https://www.state.gov/

 

 

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How’s Your Passport?

Is your passport about to expire? You don’t know?

It’s time to take it out and look at it. Check the expiration date. Then, think about when you will be traveling.

You may need to apply for a new one. Check out this new information from the Department of State.

 

Effective April 2, 2018, the passport execution fee will increase from $25 to $35.  The $10 execution fee increase only applies to U.S. passport applicants using the DS-11 form, such as first-time applicants over 16, children under 16, and applicants who re-apply after reporting their previous passport lost or stolen.

The $10 fee increase does not apply to adults eligible to renew their passport by mail using the DS-82 form.  Renewal customers can mail their application and supporting documentation to the Department of State and should not apply at a passport acceptance facility or pay an execution fee.

Customers applying with the DS-11 form pay two separate fees: an application fee to the U.S. Department of State and the execution fee to the passport acceptance facility. Passport acceptance facilities such as post offices, clerks of court, or public libraries are designated to accept passport applications on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.  With more than 7,600 acceptance facility locations, customers applying for the first time can find a convenient location to apply for their passport. Some acceptance facilities are open nights and weekends and take passport photos on-site.

The Department of State generally sets consular fees at an amount calculated to achieve recovery of the costs to the U.S. government of providing the consular service. The latest Cost of Service Model showed that the costs associated with passport execution were higher than the current fee of $25.

The proposed fee change was published in the Federal Register as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and public comments were accepted until November 18, 2016, 60 days after the Notice’s publication. The Final Rule, implementing the change, includes the Department’s response to relevant comments received.

For more information, you can go to the State Department’s website, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/passports/execution-fee-increases.html.

 

 

Other than the price increase, you shouldn’t wait to apply beyond April, because the time it takes to process a passport will be longer due to increased demand.

One more important note: for frequent travelers, when you apply for your passport, make sure you ask for the extended number of pages—about 50 instead of the usual 24.

Why? Because once you fill up that passport with country entry and departure stamps, the U.S. State Department will no longer add pages to your passport.

You’ll be forced to get a new one.