Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Most attribute the creation of passports, or at least their predecessors, to Henry V of England. They originally were designed to serve as vouchers of good conduct for a citizen of England visiting another country. During the French Revolution and the emigration that followed, they were required to leave a country and re-enter upon return without incident. After World War I, they became more widely used for identification purposes, yet still served as required documentation for international travel. In those times, very few people actually had passports at that time. But as the years went on and international travel became more common, passports became more common, as well.
Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), effective June 1, 2009, all U.S. citizens are required to present a passport or passport card when leaving and re-entering the country. They must also present the passport when entering and leaving another country. Before the WHTI, a person could travel to several countries, including Mexico and the Bahamas, without a passport. This is no longer true. A U.S. citizen must now present a passport in those countries as well.
It is very important that a person applying for a passport precisely follow the rules and regulations. Failure to do so could result in a delay or even a denial, meaning a person would be unable to travel as planned. The best way to insure proper application is to order a copy of the passport application guide, which is available online and via mail. In order to obtain a passport, the applicant can apply in person at a designated passport agency or by mail.
If applying in person at a passport application agency, which includes most post offices and some clerks of court offices, the person may fill out the application beforehand but should not sign it until instructed to do so by the passport agent.
Along with the application, the applicant must submit proof of citizenship in the form of a birth certificate, a naturalization certificate, a previously-issued passport or a certificate of citizenship. The applicant must also present a photo ID in the form of a driver's license, military ID or state-issued identification card.
If applying by mail, the applicant must include a photo copy of proof of citizenship and photo ID. The photocopies must be on plain white 8.5x11-inch paper. Both sides of the documents should be photocopied, but only one image per sheet of paper. The back side of the documents must be photocopied on separate sheets. An applicant can enlarge the size of his photo ID but cannot decrease the size.
An applicant may submit a photograph to serve as a passport photo, but it must meet very specific requirements. The applicant should present two identical, color photos, 2x2 inches in size. The photo must show the applicant's full face, between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, and must have been taken within the past six months. The applicant must be in street clothes in the photo, not in any type of uniform.
The fee for adult applicants who apply in person is $75 for the passport plus a $25 processing fee which goes to the application facility. The fee for application by mail is $75. The routine time frame for receipt of a passport is four to six weeks from the date of application. Those who wish to expedite the passport process and receive their passport in 10 to 14 days must pay an extra $60 fee and include payment for special mail delivery, which typically runs about $15. To expedite the passport process for a traveler 16 or younger, the total cost is $145 plus mailing costs. Credit cards, bank debit cards, checks, money orders and bank drafts are all acceptable forms of payment. Checks should be made out to the U.S. State Department.