Wouldn’t it be awesome to be able to work from anywhere? Imagine being able to travel the world, constantly, without leaving your paycheck behind! That may sound like an impossible dream for someone who’s not independently wealthy, but it’s not. If the thought of traveling the world as a “digital nomad” entices you, Christine Gilbert at Almost Fearless can show you how to make it happen. She describes several options for making your job portable, including becoming a consultant, freelancing, working remotely, and starting your own business. Of course, becoming a digital nomad isn’t all fun and games….as this post points out, you do still have to work, and wrestling with unreliable foreign internet connections can be time-consuming and frustrating. Working on a tropical island is still work, but at least the scenery is an improvement over the view from a cubicle!

If you’re thinking of following in Christine Gilbert’s footsteps and becoming a digital nomad, one of the first steps you take should be obtaining a passport if you don’t already have one. Until you go through the process of obtaining a passport, you won’t be able to take advantage of any opportunities for international travel.  Here’s how to get a shiny new passport so you can start your new life as a digital nomad:

  1. Apply in person at a US Passport Agency Office or Acceptance Facility and fill out passport application form DS-11. Make sure to bring proof of identity and proof of citizenship.
  2. Do NOT sign the application until the acceptance agent asks you to. If you jump the gun, you’ll have to start all over.
  3. Submit your application, 2 passport photos, your proof of citizenship, and the appropriate fees.
  4. Wait for your new passport and your proof of citizenship to be returned in the mail. Obtaining a passport takes about 3 weeks for regular processing and 2 weeks for the governments’ expedited service.
  5. If you need your passport sooner than that, a private passport expediting company is the most convenient method of obtaining a passport.