How to Get a U.S Passport

To travel anywhere out of the U.S. a passport is required to do so. If you do not own a passport yet and you are planning a foreign trip soon you should apply for a U.S. passport at least eight weeks before your trip. This allows time for processing and any possible complications with your passport. To begin the process of getting a passport you should head down to your local post office, library or court and apply for a passport there. If you can't find an application or you can't make it to one of your local locations to apply for a passport then go to www.travel.state.gov and download a U.S. passport application from the website.

After you have completely filled out your application for a passport, head down to a local photography shop and get two passport pictures taken for a $10 fee. You must make sure that the photo matches the dimensions of the diagram on your form. Black and white pictures and color pictures are both acceptable, but the picture must have a white background. Once the photos are taken, attach them to the application where noted. Take the completed application to the location where you picked up the application at, take your birth certificate or other citizenship papers with you as well. Your birth certificate must be the original, not a copy. If you're renewing a passport that has been issued in the last 10-15 years, then you can apply by mail.

If you will need your passport in less than 8 weeks then you should ask the passport officer for expedited service. If you ask for expedited service it will cost you an additional $60 fee and it will require additional documentation as well. If you do not request expedited service then you can expect to wait six to eight weeks for your passport. While you're picking up an application, make sure to pick up more then one application just in case you make a mistake. It is a good idea to carry around a photocopy of your passport in a safe place, a photocopied passport comes in handy if you happen to lose your passport and you need it replaced quickly. Some foreign countries don't require a passport to enter into the country so it would be a good idea to check with your passport office or the embassy of the country that you plan to visit. If you have a passport that is more than ten years old then you will need a new one. A child under the age of sixteen needs to renew his/her passport every five years.