Archive for June, 2010

« Older Entries

Rush Passport: The Ultimate US Passport Challenge (answers)

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
Rush Passport Challenge Answers

Answers to the Official Rush Ultimate US Passport Challenge

Did you check out yesterday’s Rush Passport™ blog?  If not, then maybe you should check it out before you read any further. 

Below are the answers to yesterday’s Ultimate US Passport Challenge! 

If you would like to see the questions, then stop reading now and visit yesterday’s Rush Passport™ blog .  If you want to see the answers, then keep reading as they are posted below…

Ultimate US Passport Challenge

Answers

  1. The Star Spangled Banner is quoted on the inside cover of the current US Passport.
  2. Abraham Lincoln is quoted on page 1 of the US Passport.
  3. There is a disclaimer on page 1 of the US Passport is written in English, French and Spanish.
  4. Expiration date is one day prior to the date of issue, ten years later.  If your date of issue is June 30, 2010, the expiration date is June 29, 2020.
  5. Your signature is required on page 3 a US Passport .
  6. Daniel Webster is quoted on pages 6 and 7 of the US Passport.
  7. Abraham Lincoln, Daniel Webster, George Washington, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, Anna Julia Cooper and Ellison S. Onizuka are all quoted in the US Passport.
  8. Mount Rushmore is depicted on pages 14 and 15 of the US Passport.
  9. There are 28 pages not including the cover in the US Passport.
  10. Outer space is depicted on the inside of the back cover of the US Passport.

It doesn’t matter how many of these questions you got right or wrong, if you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Agent.  (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Agency.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Passport Ponderings | No Comments »

Rush Passport: The Ultimate US Passport Challenge

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Rush Passport Challenge

Do you have what it takes to take the Rush Passport Challenge?

Do you have a US Passport?  Have you ever really looked inside of it?  Well, I just opened mine up and I found out some pretty interesting things.  I decided to create the Ultimate US Passport Challenge to see how much you know about your US Passport.

If you are not interested, then stop reading now.  But if you think you have what it takes or if you just want to learn something new about your US Passport, then read on…

Welcome to the Ultimate US Passport Challenge!

Questions

  1. What song is quoted on the inside cover of the current US Passport?
  2. Which former US President is quoted on page 1 of the US Passport?
  3. There is a disclaimer on page 1 of the US Passport.  It is written in 3 languages.  Which 3 languages is it written in?
  4. Page 2 contains your photo and personal information as well as your date of issue and expiration date.  On an adult US Passport, if your date of issue is June 30, 2010 when is your expiration date?
  5. On what page of a US Passport is your signature required?
  6. What leading American statesman is quoted on pages 6 and 7 of the US Passport?
  7. In all, in the US Passport there are 10 quotations attributed to famous people.  How many can you name?
  8. On what pages of the US Passport is Mount Rushmore depicted?
  9. Not including the cover, how many pages are there in the US Passport?
  10. What image is depicted on the inside of the back cover of the US Passport?

 To find the answers to the Ultimate US Passport Challenge, read tomorrow’s Rush Passport™ Blog…

It doesn’t matter how many of these questions you got right or wrong, if you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Agent.  (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Agency.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Passport Ponderings | No Comments »

Passport Expired – Golfer Pulls Out of Tournament.

Monday, June 28th, 2010
Golf Passport

Expired Passport Sidelines Golfer

New Jersey Native, Matt Davidson was recently enroute to Leon, Mexico for The Nationwide Professional Golf Tour.  Of course, he had his golf clubs, tees and Titleists along with him, but there is one thing he forgot – to get his passport renewed.

Davidson, 29 years old, was at the Raleigh-Durham Airport before he realized that his passport had expired.

Unfortunately, Davidson did not contact Rush Passport™ and did not receive assistance in time to make the tournament.  He spent a couple of hours trying to get his passport renewed, but the quickest time he was quoted was over 24 hours away. Unable to get his passport renewed, a disappointed Davidson had to pull out of the tour.

After winning a qualifying match, Davidson gained an invitation to the Mexico Open Bicentenary.  Over the past ten years he’s won other tournaments and used his passport numerous times, but this time he just let his expiration date slip by.

His next tournament is scheduled for July 8th at the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic in Clarksburg, Ontario.  Hopefully he will be able to get his passport in time for that trip which is just about 2 weeks away. 

If Davidson can finish in the Top 25 money earnings then he will qualify to receive his PGA Tour card.

Before qualifying for his PGA Tour Card, he better be sure to get something else – his priority should be getting his passport updated.

Whether or not you are trying to qualify for the PGA Tour Card, you can always contact Rush Passport™ for all of your passport needs.  If you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Agent.  (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Agency.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Latest Passport News | No Comments »

Passport to Turkey

Sunday, June 27th, 2010
Turkey Visa

Travel to Turkey will be quicker and more efficient thanks to the new passport readers.

Got your passport?  If so, you may consider a trip to Turkey.  Right now is a great time to visit because the US dollar is strong.  Not only will you get the most of your money, but thanks to the latest optical passport readers, you’ll have even more time to enjoy your visit. 

A total of 120 optical readers are due to be installed at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul.  The optical passport readers will help to ensure that passport procedures get completed more quickly and more reliably.

Ever since Turkey added computer chips to their passports on June 1, 2010, there became a need for optical passport readers to expedite the process.  The new passport readers come at a great time as the number of passengers expected to come through the Ataturk International Airport increased significantly with the arrival of the summer season.

Here are some things to keep in mind for US passport holders planning to visit Turkey:

Your passport must be valid for at least six months from date of arrival in Turkey.

Tourists and business visitors do require visas and can obtain a sticker-type entry visa at the point of entry for a fee (not to exceed 90 day stay).

While you are in Turkey, be sure to visit the many wonderful and exciting destinations.  While, Istanbul is the #1 attraction, there are plenty of other places to enjoy! 

If you are interested in traveling to Turkey or anywhere else in the world and you will need a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Agent.  (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Agency.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Services, Visa | No Comments »

Passport Saturday in Las Vegas

Saturday, June 26th, 2010
Vegas Passport

Passport Saturday may be a big hit in Las Vegas today!

Even though the majority of vacationers have already obtained passports for the 2010 summer travel season, the city of Las Vegas is providing help to those who are off to a late start.

The Las Vegas City Clerk’s Office will hold a “Passport Saturday” event, today June 26th, opening the passport office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Passport and photo services will be made available, just as long as potential passport holders bring checks or money orders for payments.

Do you dream of seeing Big Ben in person?  Once you get your passport, you will be able to take flights directly from Las Vegas to London.

In addition to visiting the UK, passport holders will also be able to travel direct from Las Vegas to many other cities all over the globe including Mexico, Korea, Canada and France.

By opening the passport office in Las Vegas on a Saturday, the Clerk’s Office hopes to increase the number of passport applicants in Nevada.

If this “Passport Saturday” event catches on, we can bet that we will see more and more of them popping up all over the country.  Who knows – maybe we’ll even see “Visa Sunday”!

Whether or not you live in Las Vegas, Nevada if you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Agent.  (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Agency.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Ponderings, Visa | No Comments »

Passport Application Denied for Being Too Yellow

Friday, June 25th, 2010

A Chinese-American man recently had his passport application rejected. The May 26 rejection letter from the National Passport Center at New Hampshire to a Mr Li stated that his passport application had been denied due to the fact that it was “too yellow”.   When referring to Asian people, the term ‘yellow’ can be interpreted as offensive.  Critics felt that the government failed to show tact in the wording of the letter.  Some even felt that the letter was racist.

The US Department of State maintains that they did not mean to offend and the comments were intended to address the color hue of the photograph itself, and not the applicant’s skin tone.  Why would the State Department want to insult the man?  It is ridiculous to imagine that they were doing anything other than commenting on the quality of the passport photo.

Yellow Passport

What color is the passport applicant's skin?

If you look at the photograph to the right, it is easy to see that it appears badly over-exposed and the subject’s skin is an unnaturally bright yellow.  Nevertheless, in an effort towards political correctness, the State Department recognized that it should not have used the term “yellow” because it could be misconstrued as a pejorative term used to denigrate Chinese and East Asians.

What is even more ridiculous is that the State Department had to offer an apology for their commitment to the integrity of the passport process and their efforts to print the most accurate likeness of an individual in their passport book or card.

You can bet that the State Department has since removed the wording of that rejection letter so that future passport applicants will not have to deal with the mental anguish of having their passports denied for being ‘too yellow’. 

It doesn’t matter whether you are too yellow, orange or purple. Rush Passport is an equal opportunity US Passport Agency.  If you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Agent.  (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Agency.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Latest Passport News | No Comments »

Passport Integrity Defended by GPO

Thursday, June 24th, 2010
Outsourced Passport

Should U.S. Passport Production Be Outsourced?

Yesterday’s Rush Passport™ Blog entry raised concern over the security of US Passports due to outsourcing.  However, the Government Printing Office (GPO) maintains that the reports aren’t entirely accurate.

A spokesman at the GPO, in defending passport security, maintains that the US Passport is a very secure travel document that is actually manufactured right here in the United States by government workers in government facilities under government supervision.

This comes after a report by ABC News and the Center for Public Integrity raised concerns that key components for e-Passports are made in Thailand.  This was said to pose a potential long-term risk to United States Passport security interest.

Currently, 80% of the passport components are assembled in Minnesota and by the summer of 2010, that figure will increase to 100%. 

In addition, the GPO maintains that they are not ‘outsourcing’ the production of U.S. passports.  They maintain that the United States passport is printed, assembled, manufactured, and shipped in the United States at two secured government facilities, one in Washington, D.C. and the other in Mississippi. In addition, they state that only Americans, federal workers with proper security and background investigations are permitted to come in contact with passports during their final assembly and integrity check.

Convinced?  Well, I’m not… The GPO in its claim that there is no outsourcing fails to mention that US Passport chips have been manufactured overseas since their inception in 2004 because at that time there were no U.S. firms that were able to produce the 14443 ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) required passport chip technology.

In summary, the ABC News report not only raises concerns about US Passport security risks, but also raises concerns about U.S. government outsourcing.  Whether or not the current passport system is compromised, many Americans would be more comfortable knowing that the government took every precaution to ensure that US Passports were as secure as possible.

If you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Agent.  (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Agency.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Latest Passport News, Passport Ponderings | No Comments »

Passport Security Concerns Over Computer Chip Production

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
e-passport chips

Passport chips, according to the GPO, will all be made in the US by July 2010.

Did you know that a key piece of the nation’s new sophisticated E-Passport is assembled in a factory in Thailand?  Since 2006, when the production of the new passports began, members of Congress have complained that the component, a chip and antenna that stores information about the passport owner, are being manufactured overseas.  The Government Printing Office (GPO) stated that the component was outsourced because no U.S. company could make the chip.

According to Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), there are “more than 25 companies in the United States and at least five companies in New York who possess the capability and knowledge to manufacture the chips that are currently being manufactured elsewhere and assembled in Thailand.”

Schumer demands that the GPO stop overseas production of the electronic chips used in American passports immediately.

Many people feel that a component as important to the passport as this should be produced only in the United States, under the most rigorous security standards.

The new E-Passport is supposed to be impenetrable to counterfeiters as it stores data on an embedded computer chip within the passport cover.

Currently, US passports go through a manufacturing process that spans the globe and goes through 60 individual suppliers.  This raises concerns as blank E-Passports can find their way into the hands of terrorists, spies, and counterfeiters.

According to the GPO, only one in every five chips is assembled in Thailand and by July 2010 they plan on being completely out of Thailand and into a newer facility in Minnesota.

If you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Agent.  (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Agency.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Latest Passport News | No Comments »

Passport Office Issues Warnings for Hurricane Season

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
Passport Cayman Islands

Passport Holders Beware of Hurricane Season!

Cayman Island Passport Office authorities highly suggest that passports and all other vital documents including birth and marriage certificates, naturalization papers, and Caymanian residence papers be copied and then kept in waterproof containers. 

In addition, the original documents and the copies should be stored securely, but in separate locations. This advice applies especially during hurricane season.

The Passport Office also suggests the need to check that passports and other travel documents are valid and are not expired.  Holders of Cayman Islands passports should submit only copies of those passports, along with applications for United Kingdom passports. Actual passports should not be sent.

Holders of UK passports that are due to expire within the next 6 months should not send them away for renewal.

During emergency situations, in particular approaching hurricanes / tropical storms, vital documents should be kept on hand, secured in waterproof containers in the event of evacuation.

This warning also includes travelers to the United States, either immediately before or after a hurricane, must ensure that their passports are in order.

Holders of Cayman Island passports without a US visitor’s visa must first obtain US visa waivers from the passport office to make them eligible for travel to the US.  Visa waivers can only be placed in machine-readable Cayman Island passports.

Holders of Cayman Island passports must ensure that the passports are valid for at least six months after the estimated date of departure from the US.  Travelers to other destinations should know and comply with the travel requirements of respective countries.

Travelers should also keep in mind that travel documents cannot be issued when weather conditions facilitate the closure of government offices, including passport offices.

If you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Agent.  (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Agency.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Latest Passport News | No Comments »

Passport Revisions for Transgender Applicants

Monday, June 21st, 2010
Transgender Passport

Passport Rules Change for Transgender People.

The US Department of State has updated its policy regarding the changing of passports for transgender people.

Previously, the Department of State had required that a person undergo sexual reassignment surgery prior to making revisions to the passport.

The new passport policy for transgender passport holders, states that a doctor must attest that the person is in the process of undergoing clinical treatment for gender transition.

To put it simply, sexual reassignment surgery is no longer a prerequisite for passport issuance.  As long as the passport applicant presents a certification from the attending medical physician stating that the applicant has undergone clinical treatment for gender transition, the revised passport will indeed reflect the new gender.

 In addition, “limited-validity passports” will be made available to passport applicants in the process of gender transition.

The policy is based on standards and recommendations made by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and recognized by the authority in the field, the American Medical Association.

The State Department also maintained that passport officials are instructed to ask appropriate questions that pertain to obtaining information needed to determine citizenship and identity.

The change is considered a victory for gay rights groups seeking changes to federal policy. Meanwhile, congress is considering a repeal of the current military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that bans gays and lesbians from openly serving in uniform.

Whether or not you are considering sexual reassignment surgery, Rush Passport™ can help you get your passport.  If you are interested in getting a US Passport or US Passport Card, visit the passport professionals at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Agent.  (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Agency.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Latest Passport News | No Comments »

« Older Entries