Expedited Passports

President Barack Obama is quite possibly the nation’s most technologically engaged president. Now, the US Department of State, the department in charge of the passport office, is following in his footsteps and using social media to forge a stronger connection with the public.

For example, according to Mashable.com, the State Department is working with Howcast to create a digitial “town hall” for the 5th Summit of the Americas. The Summit takes place April 17th through the 19th in Trinidad and Tobago.  If you drop in on the 5th Summit of the Americas Digital Town Hall, you can submit questions for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clinton will answer selected questions from the site during a special live broadcast from the Dominican Republic that will take place tomorrow, April 17th.

If you’d like to submit questions to the US passport office or the Department of State as a whole, you can create an account on Howcast or log in using your Facebook username and password.  But hurry…today is the last day to submit your questions!

You’ll also be able to view tomorrow’s broadcast on Facebook, MySpace, Ustream, Youtube and Twitter.  Additionally, the Department of State also has its own Twitter account. They mainly tweet about travel warnings for different countries.

Of course, the US Passport Office isn’t alone in using social media…follow RushMyPassport.com on Twitter for great travel tips as well as updates on changing US passport regulations!  You can also become a RushMyPassport fan on Facebook.

Naturalization can be a long, drawn-out process, but navigating it successfully provides many benefits to new citizens, including becoming eligible for US passports. Traveling with US passports allows y0u to get assistance from the US government if you are traveling overseas and you need help.

Depending on your specific situation, the requirements for naturalization can vary. Specific requirements for citizenship and more information about the process can be found here. However, here’s a brief rundown on how the process works for most people:

• You must live in the US as a permanent resident for at least 5 years.  If you are married to and live with a US citizen,  the requirement drops down to only 3 years.
• You must be physically present in the US for at least 30 months out of that 5 years, or for at least 18 months out of 3 years if you’re married to  a US citizen.
• You must live in a US state or USCIS district for at least 3 months before you apply for citizenship.
• You must pass an English test and a civics test.
• You must demonstrate “good moral character” by not committing certain crimes or engaging in certain behaviors.
• You must take the Oath of Allegiance, swearing loyalty to the US Constitution and the country as a whole in a public naturalization ceremony.

Once you take the Oath of Allegiance, you’re officially a US citizen. You’ll get a Certificate of Naturalization, which can be submitted as proof of citizenship for your passport application.

When applying for a passport, an expediting company like RushMyPassport.com can help make the process easier and get your passport to you quickly-sometimes in as little as 24 hours!

We offer a variety of different processing options to make sure you have your passport when you need it. Apply for your US passports today!

Yesterday,  President Obama announced a slight thaw in the strained relationship between Cuba and the United States.  For the first time in decades, Cuban-Americans with family in Cuba will be allowed to go back and visit as often as they like. They will also be able to send back as much money as they like to their Cuban relatives-as long as the relatives in question aren’t senior government officials or high-ranking members of the Communist Party.

Right now, unless you’re a Cuban American visiting family, you aren’t technically forbidden to travel to Cuba, but you are forbidden to spend any money there. Of course, it’s kind of hard to do one without the other.  Naturally, there is a good deal of speculation about whether or not President Obama will lift these restrictions, as well.

If you are a Cuban-American and you and your family would like to take advantage of the relaxed restrictions, the first thing you need to do is get passports if you don’t already have them. Before you book your flight, keep in mind that applications for passports can take months to be processed. If you want to leave for Cuba in the near future, you should consider using a private passport expediting company instead.

An expediting company will deliver your family’s passport applications directly to the US Department of State, resulting in remarkably fast processing times. In fact, with an expediter, you can have your passports processed in as little as 24 hours! Even better, you don’t have to spend a lot of time making appointments with a passport office, driving to the passport office or waiting in line at the passport office.  The expediting company does all of that for you!

Plus, you’ll have someone to help guide you through the process of applying for passports.  The best expediting companies, like RushMyPassport.com, also offer online order tracking for your peace of mind.

Order your US passports today, and get ready to travel!

If you’ve gotten married, it can take a long time to get everything changed over from your maiden name to your married name.  Some documents, inevitably, will get lost in the shuffle.  So, what happens when you book a vacation overseas, only to discover a few days before you’re scheduled to leave that your passport is in your old name?

There are a few different options available for rushing a passport name change, depending on how much time you have at your disposal.  The US Department of State offers an expedited processing option, but even using this option, it could still take 3 weeks or longer to get your passport back.

If you happen to live near one of the 15 US Regional Passport Agency offices, you can make an appointment to have the name changed on your passport. This can be difficult, since the offices require appointments and are only open when most people are at work.

The easiest way to rush a passport name change is to use a private passport expediting company. An expediting company will take your application to the US Passport Agency for you and deliver it by hand, ensuring faster processing. There’s no appointments, no waiting, and  no stress! With an expediting company, your passport name change could be processed in as little as 24 hours!

No matter how you choose to rush your passport name change, you’ll need the following documents:

• Your current US passport
• The appropriate passport application form: Form DS-5504 if your passport was issued less than 1 year ago, DS-82 if you’ve had your passport for longer than a year.
• 2 passport photos
• A copy of your marriage certificate. If you can’t find a copy, go to the county clerk where you were married or order one online at the CDC website.
• Government Fees: If your passport is less a year old, getting your name changed is free, but you’ll have to pay $60.00 for the government’s expedited service.  If it’s more than a year old, you’ll pay the $75.00 renewal fee plus $60.00 to have it expedited.

RushMyPassport is one of the nation’s leading passport expediting companies. We make it easy for you to get your passport on time. Rush your passport name change with us today!

If you’re planning on traveling outside the US with an expired passport, you’re out of luck.  A valid US passport is required for international travel. The only exception to this rule is if you’re traveling by land or sea to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. In that case, you’ll be able to get by with your photo ID and a birth certificate until June 1st.  After that, the rules change, and you’ll need a valid passport. For more information, see “Do I Need a Passport to Go to Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean?”

If you’re traveling outside the country and you are going anywhere other than Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean, you need to have a passport and it needs to be valid. In fact, many countries require you to have at least 6 months left before the expiration date on your passport.

If you try to travel with an expired passport, you probably won’t be allowed on the plane.  Even if the airline doesn’t catch that your passport is expired, you’ll certainly run into problems when you try to get your passport stamped after you land.

So, don’t risk turning your vacation into a bureaucratic nightmare. Check the expiration date on your passport before you book your trip! Ordinarily, it takes at least a couple of months to get your passport renewed in the mail. However, if you have a trip coming up in the near future and you notice that your passport is expired, don’t panic. You can get an emergency passport!

The easiest way to get an emergency passport is to use a private passport expediting company. You don’t have to make an appointment or wait in line. All you have to do is fill out the paperwork for your passport renewal, send it to the expediting company along with all the necessary supporting documents, and the expediting company will hand-deliver it to the US Department of State for faster processing. Your new passport can be on its way back to you in as little as 24 hours!

Don’t risk trying to travel on an expired passport. Renew your passport with us today!

One of the least fun parts of applying for a passport is filling out the passport application form.  Paperwork is never fun, and the procedure for filling out the application form can be a little bit confusing. To minimize the frustration,  here’s a handy, step-by-step guide for filling out Passport Application Form DS-11, an application for a new passport.

Step 1- Read Pages 1,2 and 4. These pages have important information about the documents you’ll need to apply for a passport, information about fees, and other handy information. For example, did you know that the estimated “paperwork burden”  for filling out a passport application form is 85 minutes?

Step 2- Fill out page 3 of the passport application form.  You can do this in advance, but DO NOT SIGN it until the nice passport acceptance agent tells you to do so. If you sign it too soon, you get to start all over again.

Step 3- If you need a new passport, you must apply in person. Find a local passport acceptance facility and take your passport application in with the required documents and photos.

Step 4- Sign Form DS-11 when requested to do so.  (more…)

According to the New York Times, the unemployment rate in the US is up to 8.5%, and 663,000 jobs were lost in March. That’s bad news. The good news that if you are among that number, now would be a great time to take that vacation you’ve been putting off.

I know, taking a vacation after losing your job…that’s crazy-talk, right? Maybe…it depends on your circumstances.  For many of the newly unemployed, travel won’t be an option. However, if you have extra money in savings or you were able to snag a decent severance package from your former employer, now is an excellent time to hit the road.

Resorts and hotels around the world are offering “recession packages” to tempt people out of the comfort of their homes. Travel Musings points out that Wyndam Hotels in the Caribbean are offering “stimulus packages,” so you can stay for 2 nights and get 2 nights free. SuperClubs is also offering massive discounts on spring travel to its Caribbean resorts.

Also, Travel and Leisure just published a list of the “Top 10 Holidays for the Unemployed.” This list has a lot of awesome ideas for international travel on the cheap. For example, if you like to garden, why not volunteer to “farm around the world?” Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms lets you volunteer part-time at an organic farm in exchange for food and a place to stay. Or, do a house swap to snag a free place to stay overseas. You can also gain new skills, like stone-working or carpentry, by volunteering for places like the Peace Village Center for handicapped kids in Venezuela. (more…)

Not sure where to go for your next vacation? There are so many possibilities, especially with many airlines and hotels offering rock-bottom prices on international travel.  If your new passport is burning a hole in your pocket and you’re having trouble choosing a destination, you might want to try out Joobili.com.

What is Joobili? As this post on the  Joobili blog points out, the service is different from most travel websites because it caters to people who know when they want to travel but don’t have a destination in mind.  To use Joobili, all you have to do is select the dates for your vacation, and the website comes up with a list of events and cool things to do around the world during that time period.

For example, if you select April 10th through the 19th, you’ll get a list of events including the following:

• Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film: An international film festival that showcases science fiction, fantasy and horror films. Held in Brussels, the festival also includes a Zombie Parade!
  
• The Snowbombing Festival in Mayrhofen, Austria: An enormous music and dance festival in an ice village. Festival highlights include bands, DJs, costume parties and dancing on igloos.

• The Prague Easter Markets in the Czech Republic: Shopping, intricate hand-painted Easter Eggs, lots of delicious local food and Pilsner beer. Fun for the whole family!  (more…)

According to statistics from the US State Department published in the Washington Post, as of 2007 only 27% of Americans had a valid passport.  That’s not very many people, but passport applications have increased in recent years as passports become necessary for more and more people. Do you need a US passport?  Here are some reasons why you might:

Travel

If you are traveling outside of the US, you probably need a passport. This is even true if you are traveling to Canada or Mexico,  where passports were not required until recently. For more on travel regulations to our nearest neighbors, see this post on passport requirements in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Also, travel sites across the Internet feature last-minute international travel deals.  If you have the flexibility to leave at the spur of the moment, you can often travel quite cheaply.  Having a US passport on hand gives you that flexibility.

A passport is not required for direct travel to other US states or territories. However, if you are traveling to a US state or territory and your travel itinerary requires you to go through another country to get there, then you may need a passport. For example, if you travel through Canada to get to Alaska, you’ll need to follow the rules for travel to Canada.

Business

In today’s global economy, international business trips have become increasingly common. Although express passports are available for business travelers, having a passport on hand makes traveling overseas for business much easier.

Family

If you or your spouse have family overseas, the US Department of State recommends that you keep your US passport current so that you can fly out to be with them in an emergency.

Generally, you should apply for a US passport at least 2 months in advance to make sure that you have it in time for your trip. However, if you need to travel unexpectedly, RushMyPassport.com offers a convenient expediting option that makes it easy to get a passport in a hurry.

Be prepared: Expedite your US passport today!

If your child’s passport is expired, you should be aware that the procedures for passport renewal are different for children than they are for adults.  In many cases, adults have the option to renew their passports by mail. That is not the case for children.

Children who need passport renewal services must apply for a new passport again in person.  If your child is under 16 and needs to renew his or her passport, here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Fill out  Passport Application Form DS-11 at a Passport Acceptance Facility.
• Bring proof of citizenship for the child.
• Bring evidence of your relationship to the child. This could include: birth certificate with both parents’ names, a Report of Birth Abroad with both parents’ names, adoption decree with both parents’ names, or a court order establishing custody or guardianship.
• Proof of identity for both parents.
• Both parents must appear in person to provide consent for the child’s passport to be renewed.
• If both parents cannot be present, you’ll need one of the following documents: A notarized statement of consent from the absent parent, or evidence that the parent who brought the child in has sole custody (see Passport Services for Children for a list of what the US Passport Agency will accept).
• If neither parent can bring the child, a third party can bring the child in to apply for passport renewal with a notarized statement of consent from both parents or a notarized statement from one parent with evidence that the parent has sole custody of the child.
• When you bring your child in to apply, you will need two acceptable passport photos, the $60.00 application fee, the $25.00 execution fee and a $60.00 expedite fee if you need expedited service.

If Your Child is 16-17

• He or she still needs to appear in person to apply for a passport renewal and fill out form DS-11.
• Bring proof of citizenship for the child.
• If the child does not have his or her own proof of identity, the parent’s proof of  identity can be used instead.
• Only one parent has to accompany the child.
• Bring 2 passport photos, the application fee of $75.00, the execution fee of $25.00 and an additional $60.00 fee if expedited service is required.

If you need to get your child’s passport renewed quickly, a private passport expediting company offers a convenient option for faster service.  When you renew your child’s passport with an expediting company, his or her passport application can be processed in as little as 24 hours.  Renew your child’s passport with RushMyPassport.com today!