What is a Passport?
A passport is an official
government document that certifies one's identity and citizenship and
permit's a citizen to travel abroad and the case of a United States
passport to enter back into the United States.
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When do I need a Passport?
The answer depends upon which
country you planning to visit. A passport is required by many
countries upon entry to their country. Also, a document
indicating proof of citizenship is always required to re-enter the
United States. In some instances (Mexico, Canada, etc.), a valid
driver's license and a birth certificate will suffice as the proof of
citizenship; however, as indicated many countries require a passport
to gain entry to their country and the United States State Department
"recommends" a passport as evidence of citizenship in ALL
cases.
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What is the
difference between a passport and a visa?
A passport is an official
government document that certifies one's identity and citizenship.
The passport serves two purposes: to regain entry to the country of
citizenship (i.e. the United States) and is a requirement by many
countries to gain entry to the country you are visiting.
A visa is an official government
document that temporarily authorizes you to be in the country you are
visiting. Many countries require a visa to gain entry. The
visa usually is in the form of a stamp IN the passport and is obtained from the
country you are visiting.
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Do I need to use Passports
and Visas.com?
The State Department can take over 6
weeks to process your passport.
Even the government's
"expediting service" can take over 4 weeks.
Passports and Visas.com assists
travelers who are traveling within these timeframes and our service is
guaranteed!
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Why does the government take so long to
process my passport application?
The United States Passport Service,
which is part of the State Department processes over seven million
passports each year. This number has been increasing at an
annual rate of over 10% per
annum. There are fifteen national offices around the country
which process the seven million passport applications. Sheer
volume alone does not allow the Passport Service to process the
applications quickly, let alone within a week or so - which many of
our customers demand.
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The Passport Acceptance Agent told
me they could get it done, why?
Unfortunately, the Department of
State website indicates that "regular" passport applications
are processed in 25 days. The website also indicates that
expedited orders are returned within a week.
Unfortunately, this misinformation is
often quoted by the Acceptance Agents. Most likely the reason
for this problem is the Acceptance Agents are
involved in the beginning of the process and are simply
"Acceptance Agents", as their name implies. They
never receive feedback from those who miss their trips because
they did not get their passports in time.
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How
does Passports and Visas.com help me?
Passports and Visas.com is a
passport-expediting service registered with Passport Agency to act as
an agent on behalf of US Citizens in need of an expedited
passport.
Our
service is:
-
Our
web site easily guides you through the complicated process of
applying for a passport step by step. If you encounter a problem or have a
question, you can contact us via an 800 number or via
email.
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Once
we receive your application, we hand-carry your application through
the passport agency. If we encounter a problem we have
relationships with the Passport agency to overcome special issues as swiftly as possible.
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Once
we receive your passport, we can send it back to you via FedEx.
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All
of this can be done within 24 hours, not six weeks.
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And,
you can check the status of your order every step of the way with us
real-time via the web.
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Does
a child require a passport ?
Yes. Anyone
traveling to a country that requires a passport must have their own
passport no matter what age. If your child needs a passport, we
can help you. The process is laid out step by step on our web
site, click for complete instructions.
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How do I renew my passport?
The
process is laid out step by step on our web site, click
for complete renewal instructions.
Once you send us your completed documents and expired passport, we'll
process the passport and return the new and old passports to
you. It is a good idea to keep the expired passport as it's
considered proof of citizenship.
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I have never had a U.S.
passport / My passport was lost or stolen. How do I get a new one?
In
brief, you'll need to fill out an application, gather documentation
and present these items in person to a passport acceptance
clerk. The process is laid out step by step on our web site :
Click
here if you have never had a U.S. passport.
Click
here if your passport was lost or stolen.
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My child who is
under 16 needs a passport. How do I get one?
The
process is laid out step by step on our web site, click
for
instructions.
Once you send us the
child's
completed documents, we'll process the passport and return the new
passports to you.
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I was
recently married/divorced. How do I change the name on my passport?
The
process is laid out step by step on our web site, click
for
instructions.
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My child is too young to sign his/her own passport. How do I sign my
child's passport?
In the space provided
for the signature, the mother or father must print the child's name and sign their own
name. Then, in parenthesis by the parent's name, write the word (mother) or (father) so we
know who signed for the child.
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How long is a passport
valid?
|
Age |
Validity |
|
16 and older |
10 years |
|
15 and younger |
5 years |
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