Obtaining Your US Passport For The First Time Will Not Have To Be Gruesome

By U Learn It | March 19, 2010

Anyone who has travel on their calendar in the upcoming months is going to need to obtaining your new passport. Recent changes to travel laws mean that even travel to the Caribbean or places like Mexico or Canada require passport documents. This has resulted in many travelers getting a passport for the first time.

When getting a passport for the first time, there are some basic tips that will go a long way in making sure that the process only has to be gone through once and that it takes place as fast as possible. While there are forms and such that can be downloaded over the Internet, this is mostly an in-person process. Knowing where go and what to have is half the battle.

First, keep in mind that rules and laws can change in a moment’s notice. Because of that, it is recommended that before actually heading out to the passport office that the State Department’s website is checked for the materials that are needed and what types of travel require a passport. While we have a synopsis of it here, by the time you are reading it, it could very well be outdated.

The first thing that needs to be done is to get a passport photo. This can be done at a variety of places and some passport application centers also offer this service. The pictures are generally very cheap to get done and are usually returned on the spot in the right size to be submitted with the passport application.

Passport photos should be taken in the manner in which the person is going to travel. For instance, that McDonald’s uniform cannot be worn during the photo. Attire should be casual and the photo should depict the person as they will look when they are traveling. If a hearing aid is worn, make sure it is in when the picture is snapped.

Next, the applicant must have all of their documents in order. A valid, government issued ID is required. This would include a state non-drivers license, a driver’s license, and military ID. They will also need proof of citizenship in the United States. In most cases, this is proven with a birth certificate. It is also best to make a photocopy of all of these documents that are being used.

When all information is finally together, the trip to the application center can finally be made. The USPS is a common outlet for passport application centers, but not all post offices accept applications. It is best to go on their website and search under government services to see the post office that is located the closest that can perform this service.

Clearly, obtaining a passport for the first time can be a time consuming process. Because passports are so important to our own national security, and the national security of other nations, our government needs to make sure that new U S passport applicants are legitimate. The resulting process is time consuming, but necessary.