Provide information about what must be submitted in a passport application. Many governments provide online information about their individual passport application process. U.S. passport applications submitted to the U.S. Department of State require a filled-out DS-11 form "Application For A U.S. Passport," evidence of citizenship, identification, one photocopy of the identification document, application fee, and passport photo. Passport applications are available in the U.S. at some post offices and government offices.
Inform future or current passport holders of rules governing validity of passports. The majority of passports have an expiration date past which they are not valid. Travel or residence in some foreign countries requires the submission of a copy of a passport that is valid for more than six months. Make travelers aware that a passport that may expire soon may not conform to some of these restrictions.
Mention the distinction between passports and visas. Passports are an internationally accepted form of identification. Passports do not grant automatic access to all countries. Countries sometimes have reciprocal agreements allowing citizens to travel freely between the two nations. Countries without such agreements or treaties require a visa, which is essentially official permission to enter a country. A visa is a separate document with its own application procedure, forms and fees.
Include information about expediting passports. Waiting for the arrival of a passport after completing the application can, in some cases, last up to three months. Some travelers are unaware of this, in addition to not knowing the validity of their current passport. If a traveler does not have a valid passport as the travel departure approaches, certain companies and travel agencies provide passport expediting services which speed the passport application process up for a nominal fee. Fees vary from service to service and can also depend on how quickly the passport is required.
