How well do you know the passport rules and regulations? Are yo
u a minor under 16? You’ve got specific rules to follow to get your passport. How about 16 – 17? Yes, once again, there are special rules for you as well. If you’re an adult first time applicant, the rules are different for you than if you’re an adult who has a currently valid passport, and both of these are different from an adult who last had a passport 15 years ago.
The fact that these regulations keep changing makes it difficult for anyone to be sure of what they need to get a passport. Now luckily, if you’re good with details, you can usually navigate the process and manage to get all the passports you’re going to need for that special trip to Europe you have coming up this year: a passport for your wife, whose name has changed since she last got a passport 16 years ago, your 15 year-old son who will turn 16 the day after you apply for his passport (do you follow the rules for children under 16 or 16 – 17?), your naturalized citizen mother, who was born in Italy but doesn’t have her original birth certificate or a driver’s license, and don’t forget one for yourself. But you’re the easy one. Maybe. Your passport is still valid for another 6 months, but there’s water damage from the time you went to the beach in Portugal and forgot to take off your moneybelt with the passport inside. According to the US Passport website, citizens with damaged passports need to apply in person. How damaged does it need to be to require you to show up in person?
I’m not sure what my point is here, except that there are an awful lot of problems that can come up when applying for a passport, and that’s only the beginning of the problem if you’re going to a country that also requires a visa. That’s another can of bureaucratic worms, so just make sure you start early, keep a calm head, and remember that it will all be worth it when you’re finally there hugging and chatting and sitting in the living room of the relatives you knew only from pictures and letters for all those years all those miles and customs stations away.
If you would like more information about 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.
