Getting a U.S. passport for gap year travel

Americans planning to take a gap year abroad will almost certainly need a valid U.S. passport. If you’ve already got a passport…congratulations. Make sure it will be valid for the entirety of your adventures abroad. If you’ve never had a passport or your passport has expired, it’s time to shake a leg.

Below is a rundown of the steps you’ll need to take to get your passport for the first time. It’s intended to point you in the right direction, not as an exhaustive or authoritative guide. Make sure you visit the U.S. Department of State website for full details.

It generally takes 4 to 6 weeks for the government to process passport applications, but times vary. Plan ahead and avoid the drama of facing a fast approaching departure date with no passport in your hands.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

First time applicants must present the following documents in person at an Acceptance Facility or Passport Agency (see links below for locations). If you don’t have documents that fulfill the requirements listed below, consult the Department of State website for acceptable alternatives.

1) A completed Form DS-11: Application For A U.S. Passport – This form can be filled out  and printed from the U.S. Department of State website or obtained from a Passport Acceptance Facility or Regional Passport Agency

You’ll need to know your social security number for the form and you should wait to until the Acceptance Agent tells you to sign before gracing the form with your John Hancock.

2) Proof of U.S. citizenship – you’ll need one of the following documents:

• Previously issued, undamaged U.S. Passport
• Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
• Naturalization Certificate
• Certificate of Citizenship

3) Present Identification

Another form of ID in addition to your proof of citizenship. Can be one of the following:

• Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport
• Naturalization Certificate
• Valid Driver’s License
• Current Government ID (city, state or federal)
• Current Military ID (military and dependents)

If you’re submitting your documents at an Acceptance Facility outside of the state where your ID was issued (for instance, submitting a Virginia driver’s license at a Maryland facility)  you must present an additional ID document.

Consider bringing more forms of ID than you think you need, if you have them. Just in case.

4) Submit a Photocopy of the Identification Document presented (from the previous step)

You must provide a photocopy of both sides of the ID from the previous step. The photocopy must be on a single, plain white piece of 8 1/2 x 11″ paper. Again, the state department website for more details.

FEES

The cost varies over time — going up, no doubt — but at the time this was written, it cost $100 for anfirst-time  U.S. adult passport. Those who put off getting their passport and need it in a rush, can pay an extra fee (currently $60) to expedite the process.

The accepted forms of payment vary depending on whether you go to a Passport Agency or an Acceptance Facility. Passport agencies take credit cards, checks and money orders. Acceptance facilities take checks, money orders and, in some cases, cash for the applications fee and money orders. For details visit the payment section of the State Department website.

PASSPORT PHOTOS

The government has strict rules governing the photos used for passports. They must be identical, 2×2-inch portraits and follow a number of other guidelines.

Visit the Department of State website for more details, then find a photographer or passport photo service that knows what they’re doing. Photos taken in a photo booth may or may not work. You don’t want to get to have to make a repeat trip to the passport office because they rejected your photo.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For authoritative info, visit the U.S. Department of State passport site. To talk to a human being, call the the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778

If you lost your passport or it has expired, visit the State Department’s page on renewing passports for guidance.

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Tags: North America, Planning, United States

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 9th, 2010 at 11:05 am and is filed under Articles, Planning, United States. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.