Simple Steps to Make International Travel Easier
You cannot travel from one country to another or board a flight if you do not have a passport. You will require this important while travelling to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean. Everyone is required to have a passport and this includes children who are travelling with you. All passengers should have only one potentially valid or valid passport of the same kind.
You should apply for your passport in person at regional passport agencies or at other facilities such as post offices and courthouses. When applying for a passport for the purposes of international travel, you should remember to carry with you proof of nationality or citizenship. Proof in this regards can be in the form of a birth certificate for those born in the country or a certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization. An expired passport is acceptable as well. You will also need proof of identity, a photo ID bearing your signature. This can be in the form of a previous passport, valid driver's license or Naturalization certificate. A military or government identification card is acceptable as well.
You will also need to provide an 8 112 x 11 inch photocopy the document on both the back and the front parts. The passport will also entail your photo and it should have been taken within the past six months. It should be 2x2 inches with the head between 1 and 1 318 inches. The photo should be front view, full face in street attire with glasses or a hat.
You will be required to fill the DS-11 form that contains all the information needed except the signature which you will do later in the presence of the executing official. The forms are valuable online.
Passport Fees
Passport fees for an initial 10-year passport are $135 if you are 16 years of age or over, and $105 for a five-year passport if under 16. Passport renewal fees are $110. Some facilities accept payment via credit and debit cards; call ahead to be sure.
When to Apply
In some countries, you can apply for a passport anytime you want but in the US you are supposed to look on the website of the State Department to know the current passport processing times. You should expect your passport to be ready within six or four weeks. Due to workloads in passport agencies, it is advisable to apply a minimum of two months before international travel.
Passports for Children
Getting passports for children is slightly different than that of adults. First, both parents need to accompany the child at the time of application, with one of them carrying a notarized statement of consent that authorizes the state to give the child a passport. Each parent should provide proof of their relationship with the child such as birth certificate. They should also bring proof of their identities such as driver's licenses or birth certificate. Single parents can apply alone with proof of sole custody
Passport Renewals
Applicants with previous passports issued in the last fifteen years and 16 years or older can get a new passport through their emails. They should just submit their last passport as long as they have not changed their names.
Expedited Passports
Expedited passports take two or three weeks and will cost you $60 as well as delivery costs
How to get a Visa
Visa is another important document and some countries may require you to get Visa before you travel, while others may require you to get them on arrival. lt is not always easy to get a visa because the process has many paper requirements, obtuse rules, red tape that could end up confusing you.
Start with the Government Website
The first step should be to go to the government website of the country you are travelling to or the state website of your own country. The websites have a wealth of information of the process you need to follow to get the visa, information for scheduling your appointment, the various types of visas and so on. Some visa applications may require you to include other documents such as flight numbers, lodging addresses as well as your itinerary.
You should also start early because the waiting periods can run to weeks or two months. You will also spend some time without your passport because they consulate will need it to process your visa Safety Caution during International Travel Once you have your passport with you, it is time to board your flight.
Before boarding the flight you should take precaution in case there are any travel advisories against the country you are travelling. This will help you postpone the journey until things stabilize in that country. While in the country, you should dress to blend in with the natives of the country. You should also consider the religious beliefs, social customs and attitudes.
This will prevent you from being an unnecessary victim to the people who adhere to the customs or attracting thieves who will steal from you. To be safe, you should wear long skirts and pants with shawls being constantly in your bag.
You should also avoid wearing flashy, expensive jewelry when abroad because they can attract thieves to steal from you. it is also good to avoid dressing with military or religious symbols, national flags, swear words during international travel. You do not want to get involved in emotional debates that might land you in trouble. It is always a good idea to carry a backpack because it is practical as compared to rollaboard suitcases which you can hardly jump with onto trains or travel between different destinations.
This, does not however, mean that you cannot bring a secondary bag such as a tote bag that you can wear across the chest for walking around every day. You should be careful when carrying the tote bags because in most countries people associate them with tourists. When in another country, you should also look like you know where you are going and what you are doing. Looking confused screams tourist and you could attract the wrong people. Now that you know what to carry you can go on and enjoy your travels.