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DO YOU HAVE A PASSPORT?

“We do not get that many Americans around here.”

“When we are traveling, we do not meet many Americans.”

Every continent that I have been to, I constantly always have conversations with locals and other travelers about how Americans do not travel internationally. However, I do agree, it is so rare sometimes meeting another American throughout my travels. Most of the time, we are always both surprised to find that we are both Americans. Only 46% of Americans have a valid passport. Many factors play into why more than half of the country does not. For instant, the cost could be a bit expensive to some, fear to leave America, ignorance, and Americans do not have enough vacation time.

  • Cost

    • Passport book $110

    • Agency fee $35

    • Passport photo $7-15

    • Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck, so the last thing on their mind is applying for a passport, which could be quite expensive.

  • Fear

    • We live in a nation of fear. People are always terrified when I tell them that I am traveling abroad.

    • “BUT WHAT ABOUT…" or “I SEEN IN THE MEDIA THAT….” or “DID YOU HEAR…” or “ISN’T THAT A COMMUNIST COUNTRY….”

    • The media tends to instill fear into the minds of the American people daily.

    • Do not believe everything that you see on TV!

  • Ignorance

    • Some Americans think that the USA is the center of the world and that it is pointless to travel.

    • “America is the best country in the world"-  a statement so many Americans believe. These individuals believe that there is absolutely no point in traveling outside of the USA.

  • Vacation

    • On average most Americans receive two weeks of paid vacation.

    • Many Americans do not have enough vacation time to go abroad. 

These factors all need to change, especially the amount of vacation that hard-working Americans receive. I think a month of PAID vacation would be awesome. People would be happier both life-wise and work-wise. I understand that when a lot of Americans were growing up, the idea of traveling abroad was not instilled in them by parents or other individuals in their lives. A lot of people see traveling abroad as a luxury, but there are so many airlines out there that have cheap flights. Sometimes it is cheaper to leave America than it is to travel from one coast to the other.

Passports could be a bit expensive, but it is worth it. Try to ask your family and friends for a Passport on your next birthday. I promise it will be worth it. Once you get a passport, you will be more motivated to look up flights and plan that next trip abroad. I received my Passport on April 11, 2013, and less than four years, I received Passport number 2. I am now addicted to travel!!! I have been to a total of 46 countries now.

QUICK STEPS:

  1. Gather required documents *16 years or older

    • Completed Passport Application DS-11 (do not sign)

    • Submit Proof of Citizenship

    • Proof of Identity

    • Photocopy of ID

  • One passport photo

      • Obtain this at CVS or Walgreen

      • Obtain this at the Post Office

      • Google passport photo and you will find the nearest location

    • DO NOT TRY TO TAKE YOUR OWN PHOTO #NoSelfies

    • The correct size of a passport photo is: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)

    • More info here

  1. Visit a passport agency

    • Visit your local passport acceptance agency in your area

  2. Pick a Passport Processing Option

  • Cheaper Option

      • Longer processing time

      • Processed in 10-12 week

      • More info here on the processing time due to COVID-19

    • No additional fees

  • Expensive Option (Traveling sooner than four weeks)

    • Bring proof of itinerary

  • Process in 4-6 week

    • Extra $60

  • Emergency Passport

  • Processed in 8 business days or less based on need

    • Extra $60 or even more

NOTE: Additional $35 for agency fee

In total, your passport could cost you $155 to $205 (including the passport photo)

Once you do get your passport and start traveling abroad, REMEMBER to:

  • Make sure that your passport is signed in the indicated areas

  • Make color copies of the info page in your passport

  • Always have a copy on you and one at the place that you will be staying and make sure that you give a copy to a person that you can trust, such as someone in your traveling party.

For more information, please visit here: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/apply.html

This is the official site & it will give you a lot more information. It will give you the locations to the closest Passport facility.

Thank you so much for reading my article on how to obtain a US Passport. I hope that you found the given information helpful. Please get your passport today. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me.

-Hulda Destin, Founder

Hulda Destin