Over 270 countries offer travel visas, or a stamp or sticker in the passport authorizing the bearer to be in the country for a specific amount of time. There are thousands of different kinds of visas, depending on the country and the length and type of visit. Given postage and handling time, a visa can take several weeks to obtain on your own. However, visa expediting services are available for the time-crunched.
A U.S. Passport Card is a viable alternative to a passport book for traveling into another country via land or sea. However, it cannot be used for international travel by air.
To apply for a passport, you must first fill out Form DS-11 (see Resource 1) online or by hand and turn it into a passport agency in person. You must sign the form in the presence of a passport agent and submit it with a proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate or a naturalization certificate. Valid identification (such as a driver's license) is also required. You must also bring photocopies of these documents (front and back), as well as two passport photos and money to pay the processing fee.
