Which Is The Correct U S Passport Application For You?
March 8, 2010 12:41 pm EnglandSimply put, there is not a more powerful document when it comes to international travel then the passport. If anyone plans on crossing a border in or out of their own country, they must have this document or they will not be permitted across the border. Unfortunately for some, there are U.S. passport application forms that have to be filled out and unless they know what they are doing, it can get a little confusing at times.
For the regular business traveler this is going to be old hat. The challenges for getting a passport and making sure the right documents are in line usually comes from the casual traveler that is doing this for the first time. It is perfectly understandable how someone could get a little confused walking into a passport office with so many different forms available.
A passport application may be obtained from a variety of sources both local and online. The local sources are normally located at the nearest post office but not all provide passport services. The online sources range from government websites to private providers that assist in the application process.
The private providers have a list of the correct forms needed depending on the situation. If the applicant is a first timer, then it is one simple form and some proof of identification. There are applications also for under age and lost or stolen passports too. Any of these applications will need to have supporting documents sent along with them to assist in the approval process.
The websites will provide all of the necessary instructions for downloading and filling out the applications. Many of these websites assist not only in the application process but also the speed in which the entire process is carried out. Many provide an expediting service that will get the passport returned in a shorter period of time than if it is sent through normal governmental channels.
The turnaround time for the standard passport application is somewhere between 4 to 6 weeks for the average applicant. This being said, the private agencies may assist in speeding up this process as quickly as an overnight turnaround if necessary. This will aid greatly in assisting those that need a passport immediately for business or a family emergency that may need to be dealt with out of the country.
When all of the correct forms have been filled out, the last item that will be needed is the passport photo. It is very important that the photo meet the size requirements (2”x2”) and that it is of a high quality. In other words, you are going to have to spring for something a little better than the sit in photo booth. Many passport offices will actually provide this service for an extra fee.
The last and final step in the process of getting a USA passport is to ship everything off. First time applicants will have to do everything in person, but many of the other situations can be handled via the mail. The only extra that we suggest here would be to make sure that a reputable overnight service is used to ensure safe delivery of your passport application and corresponding documentation. Basically, your entire life is in that package and trusting it to the regular mail would just not be an intelligent thing to do.