Passports are needed to visit a different country and to re-enter the U.S. Use the U.S. Department of State website to determine the requirements for the country you are visiting. For example, most countries in the European Union require a passport for any visits under 90 days. For most countries, the only requirement is that the passport is valid until 90 days past your arrival.
If your travel requires a visa, you must apply through the embassy of the country you are visiting. This visa will allow you stay in the country for a designated period of time and then will expire. You must renew a visa at the country's embassy if you plan to stay longer. Different visa are required for different types of travel, such as business, leisure or extended stays.
When traveling or within the U.S. you can use your passport as a valid form of identification. This means when you are purchasing alcohol or using a credit card you can use this as a photo identification. The passport is not a valid if it is expired.
When applying for a passport you must have specific documents (see Resources). This includes valid photo identification, proof of citizenship (such as birth certificate or green card), two passport-sized photos and the completed application. You will need to pay a fee and wait up to eight weeks to receive the document. Passports are applied for at a variety of places, including the post office or the local passport agency.
