The U.S. Department of State has set different requirements based on age, whether you are applying for the first time or renewing your passport. An adult U.S. passport (age 16 and older) is valid for 10 years from when it is issued.
The State Deprtment processes a passport application up to six weeks after someone has applied. That means you could wait almost two months before a passport reaches your mailbox. So get it done early. If you are unsure of when the passport was issued, the issue date is printed on page 2 (where your mug shot appears) of your U.S. passport.
When your child is applying for a passport, you are required to be with her. A Briggs, a company that specializes in passport and visa assistance, addresses this concern. They say that if a child is 16 or 17 years old, one parent or guardian must co-sign the passport application in person. If the child is younger, both parents must co-sign in person.
The State Department also says that if you (or your children) are 15 years old or younger when the passport is issued, it must be renewed in five years. If you are 16 years old or older, you must renew it within a decade.
When checking in for international flights, all U.S. airlines require a passport. Even if a passenger is younger than 18, he still needs to present one.
Airlines were the last venue to adopt The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Airlines will only accept passports as valid forms of identification for people flying to and from other countries. Boat and land travel have the same requirements.
A Briggs recommends that a traveler renew her passport before leaving the country if it expires within nine months, especially she plans to leave the United States for an extended period. Many countries will not allow you entry if your passport expires within six months, according to their international travel requirements. Considering the processing time, renew your passport as early as possible.
To keep your passport secure, pack it in your carry-on bag. Don't rely on it being in your checked luggage, because we all know the untimely nightmare. Plus if you fly to another country you will be required to present your passport at customs before you get to luggage claim.
Here are some other safety tips to keep in mind while traveling: put all things in pockets in your front pockets; keep carry-on luggage light; have travel documents (passport, boarding ticket, driver's license) readily accessible while approaching security checkpoints and check in for flights/cruises/trains as early as you can.
