Filing for a Passport - What You Need to Know

When my family decided to book a cruise for this summer I was dreading filing for a passport. I have heard horror stories about this process and I didn't want any part of it. Unfortunately know everyone needs a passport unless you are only traveling within the United States. Since our cruise is traveling to Canada our travel agent recommended we apply for passports. My husband, myself and my two year old son were going to need them. So against my wishes I went on line and downloaded the applications.

If you go to the United States Postal Service website www.USPS.com you can find all of the information you need. Of course it takes a few minutes to realize which forms you will be needing. The number of the form is the DS-11. You can use this form for adults as well as children. When you do fill out this form you are going to need your personal information, social security number, your parent's information (even if you are of age), birthplaces, birth dates, etc... You can also go to the http://travel.state.gov.com website. This will also let you print out the passport forms. Be careful though because the forms have changed. As of February 1, 2008 you will be needing new forms. If you have the old forms they will not accept them.

The fees have changed as well. For adult they are now $75. For children the fee is $60. You will need to write a check for each application separately. We made the mistake of putting it in all one check. No good. Another fee that was confusing is called the executing fee. This fee through the post office is $25 for each application. Do not include this with the other fee, again we made that mistake. This fee is charged separately to the post office. So for an adult application you will pay $75 to the Department of State (must be a check of money order) and $25 to the post office (can be charge, cash, etc...) For a child you will pay $60 for the application and $25 to the post office. This is very confusing so the best idea would to bring your checkbook just in case the fees change again when you apply. When I first called a month ago the fees were less. I was so relieved i had my checkbook with me or else we would have had to come back.

You will also need pictures for the passports. I took my son and we went to CVS. They only charged us $7.99 for the pictures. They were developed within 15 minutes. The pictures have to be very specific. They have to be 2X2 on a white backdrop. Your head can only be so high and your chin only so low. You can' even smile. Your hands have to be at your side too. They have to see your eyes and ears clearly. My husband had his picture done at Sears Portrait Studio. They did a great job but were more expensive. It cost him $15 to have them taken. The post office also charges $15 to take the pictures but my post office's camera was broken. Make sure you have the pictures done prior because they won't accept your application without the picture. You don't want to wait until you get to the post office just in case their camera is broken too.

Don't forget you will need your original birth certificates too. I am not that comfortable with this but you don't have a choice. They take your original birth certificate and then send it back to you once your passport is ready. I am still extremely nervous about handing over our originals.

If you are traveling within 4 - 6 weeks of applying for your passport then you will need to pay extra for expediting the process. I am not sure of this fee but I am sure it is over $50. Call ahead to make sure and get the method of acceptable payments. You don't want to get down there and not have enough money. If you aren't traveling for a few months then you should have enough time to get your passport without expediting the process. I should have started the process earlier because then I would have paid the cheaper fees, oh well.

I hope this information helps you. I know that I wish I understood things a little clearer when I applied. I would have done things very differently.