Expedited Passports

Adopting a child is a beautiful thing. Unfortunately, it can be a rather bureaucratic process even under the best of circumstances.  Compared to biological parents, adoptive parents often  have to deal with an extra layer of red tape,  especially if they adopted their child from overseas. If you need an expedited passport for your internationally adopted child, here’s what you need to know before you apply.

Make Sure Your Child is a Citizen

In order to get a US passport, your adopted child must have US citizenship. Per the The Child Citizenship Act of 2000, most children adopted by parents who are American citizens gain citizenship automatically once the adoption is “full and final.”

Usually, if your child came to the US on a IR-3 visa, that means that the adoption process was completed in the foreign country and the adoption is considered “full and final.” If your child came in on an IR-4 visa, you will need to have the adoption finalized in the US before you can apply for a passport.

Gather All Relevant Documents

To get an expedited passport for your internationally adopted child, you will need the following documents:

• The adoption decree
• Both adoptive parents’ US birth certificates OR the child’s Certificate of Citizenship.
• 2 passport photos.
• For children under the age of 16, both parents must appear with their child, bring proof of identification, and provide consent for the child to be issued a passport.
• If both parents are unable to appear at the acceptance agency to give consent, read this post on getting a child passport to learn about other options for meeting the parental consent requirements.
• Minors age 16 and 17 only need one parent to appear with them when they apply for an expedited passport. (more…)

Are you looking for a study abroad program? Depending on your academic interests and your budget, there could be many different study abroad programs for you to consider. Which one should you choose?

Rachel Pitt at CollegeJolt.com has an excellent post that compares the value of the popular Semester at Sea study abroad program to other study abroad programs.  Her conclusion was that Semester at Sea can be a great value for students who want to study abroad, aren’t prone to seasickness, and don’t mind only getting to spend small blocks of time each in port.

If you’re interested on joining a Semester at Sea voyage, you should be aware that the deadline to apply for financial aid is approaching quickly for the Fall 2009 voyage.  If you’d like to go on the Fall 2009 voyage and need financial aid, you have to have your financial aid application in by April 17th.

Passport regulations are the same for international c0llege-age students as they are for anyone else. You’ll need a passport to go on a Semester at Sea cruise, and you should also get your passport application in as soon as possible.  Most travel experts recommend sending your passport application in at least 2 months prior to your trip. That way, you have plenty of time to get it back in the mail from the US Passport Agency. Also, if you make a mistake on your passport application, you have plenty of time to correct it without having to worry about the ship sailing without you.  Study Abroad programs are expensive, and most have cancellation penalties, so it pays to make sure you have your passport in hand well before you are supposed to leave.

If you need to get your passport more quickly, the easiest method is to use a private passport expediting service. An expediting service will deliver your passport application directly to the US Passport Agency, so you’ll get super-fast processing without having to make an appointment or waiting in line.

For great customer service and fast, reliable passport processing, submit your passport application through RushMyPassport.com today!

If you need an emergency passport, nothing could be more frustrating than applying and being turned down.  Unfortunately, if there are any mistakes in your passport application,  that’s exactly what will happen, and you’ll have to apply again.

Before you turn in your passport application, you should check and make sure that you have all the correct information, including an original or certified copy of your birth certificate to serve as proof of citizenship. Without an original or certified copy, your passport application will be rejected.  If the birth certificate you have is not the original, how can you tell if the US Passport Agency will accept it?

Anatomy of a Certified Birth Certificate

Take a look at your birth certificate and make sure it has the following information:

• File name
• Your full name
• Date and Place of Birth
• Registrar’s signature
• Authorized seal, which may be raised, embossed, engraved or multicolored, depending on where you were born.
• If you live in Texas or California, you need to include the long form of your birth certificate with your emergency passport application, which measures 8 1/2″ by 11.”

If you don’t have a certified copy of your birth certificate,  order one from the Office of Vital Records for the place where you were born. Or, you can pay an additional $60 and request that the US Passport Agency do a file search by including a completed Request for File Search form with your emergency passport application.

If you need an emergency passport, a private passport expediting company is the fastest way to get one.  An expediting company can provide you with detailed instructions about how to submit your application so that everything goes smoothly the first time. Plus, you don’t have to make an appointment or wait in line.  Order an emergency passport today and your application can be processed in as little as 24 hours!

Are you looking for an environmentally friendly alternative to the normal spring break routine of beer and bikinis?  Treehugger has come to the rescue with a detailed list of the 7 Greenest Spring Break Destinations.  For example, you could spend your spring break hanging out in an eco-cabin in Ireland, insulated with hemp and warmed by a pellet stove and relaxing with some yoga and a nice massage.

Or, you could lounge around on the beach in Mozambique, staying in an eco-friendly “banda” and pumping some much-needed tourism dollars into the local economy. If organic farming is your passion, you can learn from organic farming masters all over the world through World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.  There are also plenty of opportunities for volunteer work.

However, the destination you choose is only part of booking a “green” spring break.  What Treehugger leaves out of its article is suggestions for “green” ways to get to all of these exotic places.  Ecosalon has a helpful article on their blog that describes ways to find eco-friendly flights and cars as well. For example,  you can score last-minute travel deals on Hotwire.com and then pay for a carbon offset for flight as you check out.

However, spring break is almost here, so if you want to go to any of these places, you’ll need to get an express passport if you don’t already have one.  At this point, your best bet for getting an express passport in time for spring break is to go through a private expediting company.

Expediting companies act as couriers, delivering your passport application by hand directly to the US Passport Agency.  This allows you to move to the front of the line and get your passport processed quickly, in as little as 24 hours.  Or, if you can wait just a few days longer, you can get express passport processing at a more affordable price.

Visit our homepage to see the different options that we offer and order the express passport package that best meets your needs!

Passport requirements for travel to the Caribbean have changed! Click here to see the most up-to-date information.

US travel regulations have been changing over the past few years, so you may need a passport to go to the Caribbean even if you were able to travel without one in the past. Here are the details you need to know to  plan your Caribbean adventure, including current requirements and upcoming changes.

Right now, whether or not you need a passport to go to the Caribbean depends in part on which Caribbean country you are traveling to. There are 17 Caribbean countries that are part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI):

• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Aruba
• Bahamas
• Bermuda
• British Virgin Islands (more…)

If you’re in the mood to travel but not sure where you want to go, NileGuidance has a great post up that lists the top-rated travel destinations as voted on by travel industry experts.

The top 10 travel icons include some exciting destinations: the Eiffel Tower in France, the Great Wall of China, Mt. Fuji in Japan, the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, Iguazu Falls on the border between Brazil and Argentina and Victoria Falls in South Africa.

If you want to visit any of these iconic destinations, don’t forget your passport! Travel experts recommend applying for a passport at least a couple of months before your trip. If you want to leave at the last minute, you’ll need to get a passport fast.

Fortunately, getting a fast passport is simple when you use a private passport expediting service like RushMyPassport.com.  Private passport expediting companies can offer fast passport processing because they deliver your application by hand to the US Passport Agency. They also offer instructions and assistance to simplify the passport application process.

RushMyPassport.com has a range of fast passport options designed to meet your travel needs and budget.  Order your passport today, and get ready to travel!

What are your favorite iconic destinations? Let us know in the comments!

UPDATE: US passport regulations for travel to Jamaica have changed! Please see this updated entry for the most current information.

With US travel regulations changing so frequently over the past few years, you may be wondering whether or not a passport is required to go to Jamaica. The answer depends on a few different factors.

First, are you sailing to Jamaica or are you flying in? All American citizens, even children, must have a US passport to re-enter the US if they are traveling to Jamaica by plane.

Next, when are you traveling? Currently, US citizens who sail to and from Jamaica can re-enter the country using proof of citizenship (a birth certificate or naturalization certificate) and government-issued photo ID (like a driver’s license or state ID card).  This only applies to tourists-if you are entering Jamaica on a business trip, you must have a US passport regardless of your method of travel.

However, on June 1st, 2009, the rules will change. June 1st is when the final stage of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative becomes effective. After that date, all travelers to and from Jamaica will need to have US passports to re-enter the United States. There are a few exceptions to this requirement, including:

• Passengers on closed-loop cruises that begin and end at the same port in the United States can continue to use photo IDs and birth certificates.
• Children under the age of 16 can use their birth certificates.
• Children aged 18 and under can use their birth certificates if they are traveling in an organized, chaperoned school group, church group or sports team.

If you need to get a passport for a trip to Jamaica, experts recommend that you apply a few months in advance to make sure you have your passport in time.  If you are leaving within the next month or two and need a passport, submitting your passport application through a private passport expediting service will ensure you have your passport in plenty of time for your trip.

Expediting companies work with the US Passport Agency, hand-delivering your application to them for faster processing. Expediting companies also offer personal service and instructions to make the expediting process easier.

With an expediting company, you can have your passport application processed in as little as 24 hours, or choose a more affordable option and wait just a few days more.  Visit RushMyPassport.com and see how easy it is to get an expedited passport for your trip to Jamaica!

Usually, travel experts recommend that you allow at least 10 weeks before an international trip for your passport to arrive, just to be on the safe side.

If you don’t have enough time before your international trip to apply for a passport normally, you can order a rush passport.  There are three different ways to  rush a passport. Here is a brief description of the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Expedited Service

If you have more than 2 weeks to go before your departure date, you can simply pay an additional $60.00 fee and request expedited service from the US Passport Agency. Make sure you write “Expedited” on the envelope containing your application so that they know to rush your passport. The US Passport Agency also recommends that you pay for overnight shipping to and from the processing center.

• Pros- This is the cheapest way to rush your passport.
• Cons- It takes at least 2 weeks door-to-door IF you spring for overnight delivery both ways.  If you don’t, it could take longer, especially if the passport office is busy.  (more…)

UPDATE: Effective June 1st, 2009, the requirements to travel to the Bahamas have changed. Please see this entry for the most up-to-date information.

Changing travel regulations have left many people scratching their heads, wondering whether or not you need a passport to go the Bahamas.

Actually, it depends. Right now, if you’re traveling to or from the Bahamas by sea, all you need is government-issued photo identification and proof of citizenship, such as your birth certificate.  However, if you’re flying, you have to have a US passport to re-enter the US from the Bahamas.

On June 1st, 2009, the rules are changing again. After that date, almost everybody who is traveling to the Bahamas will need a passport to re-enter the US, whether they are traveling by land or by sea.  There are only a few  exceptions: (more…)

Spring is here, and that means it’s a great time to plan your next ski trip. Although most people think of skiing as a “winter sport,” there  are several advantages to skiing in the spring. For example, ski resorts tend to be less crowded, so you’ll spend less time waiting in the line for the ski lifts and more time on the slopes. Prices go down, too, so you’ll get a better deal. Plus, the days are longer, sunnier and generally more pleasant than they are in the dead of winter.

However, if you’re planning a late-season ski trip,  there are a few considerations you should keep in mind. First,  high elevations stay snowier longer, so look for a resort at least a mile and a half high. Popular late season resorts include Val Thorens in France, Riksgransen and Are in Sweden, Livigno in Italy, Zermatt and Saas Fee in Switzerland and Whistler-Blackcomb in Canada.

Also, remember that ski season ends at most resorts in April, so if you’re going to go, you need to leave soon.  Many of the best late-season resorts are in other countries, so order expedited passports if you don’t already have them.

Getting expedited passports is easiest if you use a private passport expediting company.  An expediting service will deliver your passport application to the Passport Agency by hand, so it goes to the top of the stack and is processed more quickly. With an expediting service, you can have your expedited passports processed in as little as 24 hours!

RushMyPassport.com has several different options available for ordering expedited passports.  Expedite your passport with us today and you’ll be on the slopes in no time!