What Do You Need For a Passport? - Expedited Passports

What do you need for a passport? That’s a good question, and one that you need to have answered before you apply. The required documents will vary depending on whether you are applying for a new passport, applying for a passport renewal, or replacing a US passport that was lost or stolen.

For a New Passport

To get a new passport, you must apply in person at a passport acceptance office. These facilities are generally found in post offices, but acceptance services may also be available in libraries and municipal buildings. You can search for the most convenient location at the Department of State’s website.

You will need to bring the following documents with you:

• Proof of identity, such as a driver’s license or state ID card.
• Proof of citizenship, which could include a birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or certificate of citizenship.
• A photocopy of your ID.
• 1 passport photo
• A completed copy of passport application form DS-11. Please note that while it’s okay to fill out the form in advance, under no circumstances should you sign the form until the person taking your application instructs you to.
• An acceptable form of payment to pay the fees. Contact the acceptance office to see what they accept. For a new US passport book, you’ll need to shell out $135. (more…)

Alaska is vast and beautiful, rugged and wild. In recent years, cruises to Alaska have become increasingly popular. On an Alaskan cruise, you get to experience the decadent luxury of life aboard a cruise ship while still getting to experience the 49th state’s breathtaking wilderness vistas. Now, Alaska is part of the United States, so you should be able to get there and back without a passport, right?

Not necessarily. Starting June 1st, if your Alaskan cruise makes any stops in a Canadian port,  all passengers must show US passports to re-enter the US. Many Alaskan cruises leave from the continental United States, sailing out of ports in the Pacific Northwest. These cruises often stop in Canada along the way, so US passports are required for boarding.  The Seattle Times posted an article recently describing the great Alaskan cruises available in Seattle. In the article,  Holland America Line spokesman Erik Elvejord was asked what would happen if someone tried to board the cruise ship without passport after June 1. He replied, “If they don’t have a passport (or other approved ID), we’ll have to deny boarding.”

If your cruise leaves from US soil and doesn’t make any stops in Canada, US passports are not required. However, it’s an excellent idea to double-check before you leave! Also, if you are flying to Alaska, check and see if you’ll have to catch a connecting flight in Canada. If so, you need a passport. US citizens are required to have US passports to enter and return from Canada, even if they never step foot outside of the airport! However, if you have a direct flight from the US to Canada, a passport is not required.

If you need to get your US passport quickly, the most fool-proof way to do so is to go through a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com. Your application will be handled by trained passport specialists and delivered to the US Passport Agency by hand, so you can have it ready in as little as 24 hours!