All You Need To Know About US Passports

Any plans of traveling beyond the borders of the United States

? Before you hop on to the next flight to Rome, don't forget to secure yourself a valid passport if you want to travel abroad. Even a short trip to Mexico or Canada needs a passport to cross the border. Gone were the days when a copy of your original birth certificate is enough. Americans use the only universally accepted form of indentification, especially when travelling abroad - theUnited States passports.

Governments have used some form of passports for over a hundred years. Passports, letters of transit and similar documents were used to identify a traveler as a citizen or a national with a right to protection in foreign lands and a right to return to his home country. However, it wasn't until the 19th and 20th centuries when all countries have adopted the passport as the official form of identification for international travelers.

United States citizens apply a passort from the State Department and its 14 passport agencies in major cities, clerks of federal and certain state courts, certain designated post offices and US consular authorities abroad. The passport is needed for both departure and re-entry to the United States. For adults, it is valid for 10 years, while for children under 18, it is only valid for 5 since their appearances change more often.

New technologies are incorporated such as advanced printing technology, special inks and security thread in the paper to periodically update it the production of US passports; this avoids counterfeiters and forgers. In 2006, the e-passport or the RFID (radio frequency identification) passport was introduced. Your biographical information and a digital copy of your photograph are contained in a computer chip inserted at the back cover and is utilized with facial recognition technology.

Applying for a United States passport for the first time needs a physical appearance. Minor children must also appear in person. Follow these 2 steps to apply: (1) Fill in application Form DS-11, and (2) Present proof of US citizenship (previous US passport, certified birth certificate, consular report of birth abroad, naturalization certificate, or certificate of citizenship).

First time travellers experience the thrill of going overseas. Though it may take a little time and money, applying for a passport will give you the freedom to travel abroad; thus it's surely all worth it. Some foreign countries requirevisas for you to enter their country. Make sure you look into the foreign entry requirements ahead before your planned departure to give you time to process your visa. Basically, US passports are all that is needed for international travelling. And your plane ticket also!

All You Need To Know About US Passports

By: Dean Orbell

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