http://www.rushmypassport.com/blog Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:24:50 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en When I was kid, I loved animals, so much that I managed to bug my parents into getting me that "Illustrated Wildlife Treasury" set that they used to advertise on TV.  The set basically had a bunch of different cards with pictures of animals and facts about them.  One of ... http://www.rushmypassport.com/blog/2010/03/save-the-lemurs-get-a-passport-to-volunteer-in-madagascar/ Birth certificates don't usually come with an expiration date, but if you born in Puerto Rico, yours does: July 1st, 2010. After that date, all Puerto Rican birth certificates will be invalidated, per a law passed in Puerto Rico in January. The law was passed to address the fact that criminals ... http://www.rushmypassport.com/blog/2010/03/to-apply-for-a-new-passport-puerto-ricans-will-soon-need-new-birth-certificates/ Thinking of Tuscany, it's easy to get lost in a daydream of bright sunshine, fields of sunflowers, excellent wine and adorable quaint villages. However, if you visit Italy during the summer "high season,"  the reality is often quite different. Those adorable quaint village squares? Packed with tourists.  Museums and monuments? ... http://www.rushmypassport.com/blog/2010/03/get-a-fast-passport-to-see-tuscany-at-its-finest/ Your US passport is one of your most valuable possessions, and you are probably very careful with it. However, no matter how careful we try to be, accidents happen. When it comes to passports, the most common causes of accidental damage are pets, toddlers, washing machines and for frequent travelers, ... http://www.rushmypassport.com/blog/2010/03/what-to-do-if-your-us-passport-is-damaged/ The Department of State just announced that it will celebrating "Passport Day in the USA" later on this month, providing citizens with an opportunity to submit their passport applications during special Saturday hours  at regional passport agency offices and passport acceptance facilities around the country. This is the second year in ... http://www.rushmypassport.com/blog/2010/03/need-to-get-a-passport-passport-day-is-later-this-month/ The debate over the State Department's proposed fee hike for passport services continues, with lawmakers and State Department officials arguing back and forth about whether the new fees are justified, especially given the current state of the economy. The LA Times notes that if the increases happen, the passport application fee ... http://www.rushmypassport.com/blog/2010/02/debate-continues-over-increased-fees-for-passport-services/ It may still be cold and gloomy outside in many parts of the country, but make no mistake: spring is coming! That means it's time to start planning for Spring Break.  And if your Spring Break plans are taking you outside of the country, you may need to get a ... http://www.rushmypassport.com/blog/2010/02/do-you-need-to-get-a-passport-for-spring-break/ If you think it's expensive to get a passport now, just wait...earlier this month, the Department of State filed a proposal in the Federal Register to significantly increase passport fees to help pay for the services it provides. If you don't want to pay the increased costs, you'd better apply ... http://www.rushmypassport.com/blog/2010/02/get-a-passport-quick-before-the-price-goes-up/ Cruises have become an increasingly popular way to travel.  In fact, per Wikipedia, the American cruise industry has added nine cruise ships each year since 2001. In 2010, over $18 million American passengers are expected to spend $27 billion on cruising. One reason that cruises are so popular is that booking ... http://www.rushmypassport.com/blog/2010/02/do-you-need-a-passport-to-go-on-a-cruise/ A new passport office will open in Buffalo, New York later this year, according to ABC News. The Regional Passport Agency will be able to offer same-day passport service, making it easier for people living in western New York to deal with sudden trips across the border to Canada, which ... http://www.rushmypassport.com/blog/2010/02/passport-office-to-open-in-buffalo-ny-this-year/