Passports
A. If you’ve ever traveled outside the United States, one of the most important tasks you had to complete before your trip was applying for a passport. A copy of your original birth certificate may suffice for short trips to Mexico or the Caribbean, say on a cruise. But, generally speaking, if you want to see the world, you have to have a passport—the only universally accepted form of identification.
B. What exactly is a passport and how long has it been around Passports have been around in some form for hundreds of years. Governments learned long ago that an official document or certification—one that identified a traveler as a citizen or national with a right to protection while abroad and a right to return to the country of his citizenship—is a necessity. Passports, letters of transit and similar documents were used for centuries to allow individuals to travel safely in foreign lands, but the adoption of the passport by all nations is a development of the 19th and 20th centuries. According to State Department historians, except for brief periods during wartime, passports were not generally required for travel abroad and few obstacles were presented by foreign states’ passport requirements until after 1914. An executive order made on Dec. 15, 1915, required every person entering or leaving the United States to have a valid passport.
C. I’m just a kid—do I need a passport Every citizen who leaves the country must have a valid passport—even babies. If you’re 12 or under, you don’t have to go with your parent to apply in person, but you’ll still have to have your photo taken for your passport. You can find passport applications at any regional passport agency or at designated post offices or clerk of court offices. (Check out the State Department’s page on Passport Agencies, or check your local telephone directory—look for Passport Services under the Department of State listing in the federal government blue pages of the directory.) Today, you can, even download and print your own passport applications. However, you still have to go in person to apply for your first passport.
D. You should apply for your passport several months in advance of your planned departure, making sure you fill in the dates of your upcoming trip in the appropriate place on the application. If you’ll need visas from foreign embassies (find out by checking foreign entry requirements for the country you’ll visit), allow more time. It’s very important to check those requirements. Imagine how disappointed you’d be if you were turned back on the day of your departure because your passport expires in three months and the country you’re visiting requires it to be valid at least six months after you return home! Also check on immunization requirements—you may need to be inoculated(接种) before you can enter a country!
E. As a rule, it takes about 25 business days to process your passport application and get the document sent to you. Something to think about: Lines are longest at passport agencies from January to July, resulting in longer waiting times for applicants. You might want to avoid the crowds by applying through a nearby clerk of court or post office that accepts passport applications. There are over 3,500 of these located throughout the United States—you can search for an acceptance agency near you.
F. What happens to my passport application after I submit it If you apply at a passport acceptance facility, like the post office, the same day that you apply, your application will be sent to Passport Services for processing, and you will receive your passport by first class mail within six weeks, If you apply at a passport agency, you will receive your passport within five weeks (25 business days) by first class mail. Your passport will be sent to the mailing address you provided on your application.
G. How much will my passport cost When you consider its importance and how long it lasts, a passport is a pretty good deal. For routine services (using Form DSP-11), passports for adults 16 and older cost $60 ($45 for the passport and $15 for execution). Those age 15 and younger pay a total of $40. (None of these fees includes the cost of overnight mail!) If you were bom outside the United States and your citizenship has not yet been determined or if the passport agent considers your case "complex", getting a passport will cost more. As we discussed earlier, expediting an application will also cost more.
H. How much does passport renewal cost and how does it work It will cost $40 if you can use Form DSP-82 to renew your passport by mail. You can use this form if either of these applies: You possess and can submit your most recent passport; Your previous passport was issued on or after your 16th birthday and within the past 12 years. To apply for passport renewal by mail, complete Form DSP-82, sign it and date it: Your packet should also include your current (or most recent) passport, two identical passport photos and the $40fee (plus $35 if you want expedited service). If your name has changed since your last passport was issued, you’ll need to submit a certified copy (NOT a photocopy) of the court order, adoption decree (判决), marriage certificate or divorce decree. Send it all to the National Passport Center. (Note: If your passport has been damaged or altered in any way, you must apply in person and bring IDs and proofs of citizenship! You can also render your passport invalid if you damage it severely and can even be prosecuted for the act!)
I. If you’re a U. S. citizen living abroad, you should renew your passport at the nearest U. S. Embassy Or U.S. Consulate. Passports renewed by mail can only be forwarded to U. S. addresses. Most people view their passports as important memorabilia (得纪念之物) and are eager to get them back. That’s why your previous passport, marked "canceled", will be returned to you with your new one.
Most people would like to get their old passports back, because they think their passports help to keep their past memories alive.