Travels to the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, South America, Australia, the Orient, and other areas outside the United States can be the most rewarding vacations of your life. To assist you with your special documentation requirements to travel check out Passports and Visas

For help with obtaining your Birth Certificate go to VitalChek


ADVICE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT
Who Needs a Passport?

A U.S. citizen needs a passport to depart or enter the United States and to enter and depart most foreign countries. Exceptions include short-term travel between the United States and Mexico, Canada, and some countries in the Caribbean, where a U.S. birth certificate or other proof of U.S. citizenship may be accepted. However, new rules begin soon that eliminate even these exceptions. A Travel Center encourages all vacationers to get a PASSPORT*. Click HERE for complete details on what you will need to vacation this year. Information on entry requirements is available from the booklet Foreign Entry Requirements, for $1.00 from the Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, Colorado 81009; telephone 719-948-4000; Internet Federal Consumer Information Center The embassy or consulate of the country where you plan to travel can also advise you about its entry requirements.

Please Remember!

Even if you are not required to have a passport presently to visit a foreign country, U.S. Immigration requires you to prove your U.S. citizenship and identity to reenter the United States. Make certain that you take with you adequate documentation to pass through U.S. Immigration upon your return. A U.S. passport is the best proof of U.S. citizenship. Other documents to prove U.S. citizenship include an expired U.S. passport, a certified copy of your U.S. birth certificate, a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship, or a Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States. To prove your identity, either a valid driver's license or a government identification card that includes a photo or a physical description is adequate.

With the number of international child custody cases on the rise, several countries have instituted passport requirements to help prevent child abductions. For example, Mexico has a law that requires a child traveling alone, or with only one parent, or in someone else's custody, to carry written, notarized consent from the absent parent or parents. Build your own Child Travel Consent Form by clicking HERE.

Beware of a Passport That Is About to Expire!

Certain countries will not permit you to enter and will not place a visa in your passport, if the remaining validity is less than 6 months.

All U.S. Citizens Must Have Their Own Passport.

Since January 1981, family members are not permitted to be included in each other's passports. Even newborn babies need their own passports to travel.

When to Apply.

Every year, demand for passports becomes heavy in January and declines in August. You can help reduce U.S. Government expense and avoid delays by applying between September and December. However, even during those months, periods of high demand for passports can occur. Apply several months in advance of your planned departure, whenever possible. If you need visas, allow additional time - approximately two weeks per visa.

How to Apply for Your Passport in Person.

For your first passport, you must appear in person with a completed Form DSP-11, Passport Application, at one of the 13 U.S. passport agencies or at many Federal and state courts, probate courts, at some county/municipal offices, or at U.S. post offices authorized to accept passport applications. The addresses of passport acceptance facilities in your area are available on the Internet at US State Department or by calling 1-900-225-5674 (or 1-888-362-8668 with a credit card.)

Applicants who are age 16 and older must appear in person when applying for a passport, if they are applying for the first time. Minors who are ages 13, 14, and 15 years must also appear in person, and be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Applicants ages 16 and 17 years may apply on their own IF they have acceptable identification. The parent or legal guardian may be contacted by the Passport Agency to ensure that they are giving permission for issuance of the passport. If the applicant does not have identification, then the parent or legal guardian must accompany the applicant. For children under age 13, a parent or legal guardian may appear on their behalf. The children do not have to appear in person.

*Travelers must assume complete and full responsibility for obtaining the proper travel documents neccesary for their vacation. A Travel Center is released from verifying, authenticating, or checking any documents, passports, or visas the traveler may require for their vacation and/or entry into the destination.