rush passport – Page 2 – Rush Passport Services

U.S. Passport Book or Passport Card – Which Should You Get?

This is a question many travelers ask when applying. What is the difference between a passport card and a passport book? Which is best for you? The answer lies in your travel needs. Some travelers benefit from the card while the majority are better off with the book. You may choose to get both if you prefer. To understand which is best for you it is important to note what you can do with each one.

A new passport book and new passport card are valid for the same time. For an adult the validity is 10 years for both and for children under 16 the validity is 5 years. The cost of the new passport book is more expensive than the passport card. That is what makes the passport card more appealing. That said, there is a reason it is more expensive. The new passport book allows you to leave the U.S. by any means of travel while the passport card is only good for leaving the U.S. under certain means of travel.

A passport card is good for cruise or boat travel from the U.S. to places in the Caribbean and if you are driving into Canada or Mexico. That’s it. It doesn’t allow for much more and even for cruises or boating you do need to check with the cruise line as some areas do not accept the passport card and require you to have a passport book. It is NOT good for airline travel. If you are boarding a plane, the passport card will NOT get you on board and not having the passport book will be a problem.

A passport book is good for all types of travel. It can be used for the same purposes as that of a passport card and is good for all flight travel. Just be careful of the validity and know if a visa or entry payment is required on top of just the book.

That said, the passport card is a very good piece of identification. It is given to you by the Department of State and has all the markings of a government issued ID. While it may not be good to board the plane it is a valid proof of identification in the States and a valid proof of citizenship. Many travelers get the passport card IN ADDITION to the passport book just so that they can travel with both and keep the passport safe in the hotel while they explore with the passport card.

To get either one requires the same types of documentation. You must prove that you are a U.S. citizen by providing your birth certificate, older passport or a Naturalization Certificate along with a valid ID. You can choose to rush the passport card as well as the passport book if you so desire. The government fees apply to both but you only have to pay the expedite fee once rather than for each one if you decide to rush your passport request. Our Miami and Orlando offices can assist you with rush passports and rush passport cards. Visit our site at www.passportsvisasandmore.com or at 888-336-0683.

First Steps Needed To Begin A New Passport For U.S. Born Citizens

us passport Applying for a First Time or New Passport may seem like an exciting venture. We have found that having a new passport opens the doors to many different destinations and whole new aspect to travel. However, if you do not have the right materials to start you could be looking at a very frustrating process. Believe it or not, a naturalized citizen has an easier time getting a passport than someone born in the United States. That’s because the proof of citizenship they have is recent while a U.S. born citizen has to depend on presenting a birth certificate that was most likely kept by their parents in safe keeping away from you for years. Here are some tips to helping ensure that your new passport application gets off on the right track:

Make sure you have a valid birth certificate. Your birth certificate must have your parents’ names. The date of your birth, the county/city where the birth occurred and cannot say Abstract on it. Be careful of abstract birth certificates. These are birth certificates given by the county but do not show parentage and are not accepted for a new passport. The Passport Office requires a certified long form of the birth certificate which features your parentage. The link below will give you some tips to help with finding out if your birth certificate will be good for passport purposes: https://blog.vitalchek.com/birth-certificates/determine-birth-certificate-official/
Make sure your birth certificate is in good condition and is not a photo copy. The link in step #1 will help you to determine if the birth certificate is good or just a copy. Also keep in mind that if it is torn apart to the point where information is missing the passport office may deny it. If it is laminated it may also be rejected because by laminating the birth certificate you have tampered with it making it potentially unacceptable. If your birth certificate is severely damaged or laminated you may order a new one using the same link as above:

*For out of state birth certificates try this link: https://www.vitalchek.com/

*For travelers born in Orlando, Miami or other parts of Florida try this link: http://www.floridahealth.gov/certificates/certificates/index.html

Make sure your birth certificate does not have any errors. Such errors will be put on the passport and will make it harder to correct later on. You must contact your county where you were born for information on data correction of a birth certificate. Use this link as a guide to correct your passport: https://blog.vitalchek.com/birth-certificates/correct-change-birth-certificate/
Make sure you have a valid state identification either as a driver’s license or a learner’s permit. Here is a list of acceptable identification: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/requirements/identification.html
Your passport photo is extremely important. Please do not overlook this part and take it as seriously as possible. Be sure that you have recent and quality photos. The Passport Agency requires a photo taken less than 6 months ago. We recommend 3 months just to be sure. We do not know how the Passport Agency knows but they know when a passport photo is older than 6 months. Once they know it will cause a delay in your application which could cause you to miss your trip. For more information on that see: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/requirements/photos.html

While having these items helps get the process started it does not mean that the Passport Agency will accept your documentation. Your name and information still have to clear their systems. We can help you with a rush new passport if you have a need. We have offices in Orlando and Miami that would be happy to assist. We can be reached at 888-336-0683 or visit our site at www.passportsvisasandmore.com

Passport Validity And Why It Matters

A traveler gets to the airport with a valid passport in one hand and a valid ticket to their desired location in the other. It’s been a trip that has been planned for months, everything is set, the hotel, rental car, tour plan…all of it set and ready to go. Yet, when you get to the ticket counter they tell you that due to your passport not being valid for the specified amount of time you will not be allowed to board the plane. The only remedy is a rush passport renewal which means you are not only going to miss your flight but all your plans are shot. Not a good way to start a vacation but this is a reality we hear almost daily from travelers who had no idea about the need for a passport to be valid for specific amount of time.

It is a little known fact that many countries require your passport not only to be valid at the time you enter but also to be valid for a specific period of time after your entry. The main reason for this validity requirement is they do not want you stuck in their country without a valid passport which can pose a problem for the country you are visiting. Worse still is that many airlines will not allow you to board the plane for fear that you will get rejected at immigration. Airlines get hit with fines and have to put you on the next flight back if you get denied entry. For this reason, airlines will not even allow you to board the plane. It is cheaper for them to deny you boarding than it is to pay the fines.

It is important to note that passport validity not only applies to adults but to all U.S. citizens. That’s right…this rule even applies to children’s passports. Children’s passports are even more worrisome as they are only valid for 5 years not like an adult’s passport which is valid for 10. This is more common as many travelers mistakenly think that a child’s passport has the same validity of an adult’s passport.

How can you avoid this? It all boils down to being vigilant and knowing the year your passport and that of your children will expire. This is key and before you plan your trip make sure of the passport validity requirements for that country. A great site to find this out is the State Department’s website which details the required validity for each country. It is also recommended to call the airline to be sure they acknowledge the specified validity. The link for the State Department is: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html

A passport renewal can be applied before the passport expires. As long as you are willing to pay for it, the passport is in good condition and it falls in the category of a passport renewal. A frequent traveler should consider renewing their passport before it gets to within 6 months. That is where it many countries that require a visa such as China, India and Russia require your passport to be valid. As long as you keep your passport valid for more than 6 months you should not have to worry about watching your plane leave without you.

If you are interested in a rush passport renewal please call us at 888-336-0683 or visit our site at: http://www.passportsvisasandmore.com/