TSA: Make Sure The Name on Your Tickets Matches Your US Passport - Expedited Passports

If you’re planning on traveling in the near future, it would be a good idea to check and make sure that all of your travel documents, including your US passport,  are up-to-date. According to the Chicago Tribune, TSA has started to crack down on people whose travel documents don’t match their tickets.

If you are traveling on a US passport, you definitely need to make sure that the name on your passport is the name on your ticket. Period. It doesn’t matter how many supporting documents you bring with you-the names must match  exactly-including the middle name or middle initial.  According to the story in the Tribune, the requirement that your middle name/middle initial match is effective now for domestic flights and will be effective in December for international flights.

If your name has changed since you were last issued a US passport, you should get it changed as soon as possible. For details on how to accomplish this task, see Changing Your Name on Your US Passport Renewal.

Remember to apply to have your name changed on your US passport at least 6 weeks in advance if you use regular processing. The government’s expedited processing service takes at least 3 weeks. If you need the name on your passport changed sooner than that, a private passport expediting company is your best bet. An expediting company will hand-deliver your passport name change application to the US Department of State, resulting in processing times as short as 24 hours.

Don’t wait until the last minute-change your name on your US passport today!

International travel is a lot of fun, but it can also be dangerous. To help keep Americans safe, the Department of State issues travel warnings whenever travel to a particular country becomes dangerous. Here are the top 10 places not to take your US passport. You can find more travel warnings at the Department of State website.

1. Yemen-On the list for terrorist attacks that specifically target Americans.  In September of last year, the American Embassy was attacked, and the US government remains concerned about terrorist activities.
2. Sudan- The current situation in Sudan is a true human tragedy.  Americans are advised not to travel to the country at all, since there is a possibility of being caught up in protests or terrorist attacks that target Westerners.
3. Central African Republic-Armed rebel groups, bandits and poachers…not anyone’s idea of a good vacation.
4. Algeria-From the Department of State’s website: “Terrorist attacks including bombings, false roadblocks, kidnappings, ambushes, and assassinations occur regularly.” Enough said.
5. Iraq- The situation on the ground in most of Iraq is still dangerous for civilians, especially Western civilians. (more…)

According to the Telegraph, a British woman who legally changed her name to Mrs. Pudsey Bear to help raise money for charity was denied a passport by the British government.  The 37-year-old woman, born Eileen De Bont, changed her name to raise £4,000 for the BBC charity Children in Need. She has changed her name successfully on her bank account, credit cards and tax records, but the Identity & Passport Service refused to issue her a passport in the new name, saying they considered the name change “frivolous.”

Could this happen here? Can you get a US passport with a name like “Pudsey Bear,” or will the US Department of State turn you down?

Have no fear, Pudsey Bears of the United States! In the US, if you can convince a judge to change your name to Pudsey Bear, you can convince the US Passport Agency as well.

To request a name change on your passport, all you need to do is fill out the appropriate passport form (DS-5504 if your passport was issued less than 1 year ago, DS-82 if it was issued more than 1 year ago). Send the form in with a copy of the court order supporting your name change, passport photos and any applicable fees, and in a couple of months, you’ll get your new passport.

If you are traveling within the next couple of months, it’s a good idea to use a passport expediting service to speed up the process.  An expediting company will provide you with detailed guidance on how to fill out the paperwork, so you’ll know everything is in order. Then, they’ll deliver your passport name change application directly to the US Passport Agency for faster processing. With an expediting company, you could have a passport with your new name on it (however silly that name may be) on its way to you in as little as 24 hours!

Get your name changed on your US passport the easy way!

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!

With many airlines offering discounted fares overseas, now is a great time to take that international trip you’ve been dreaming about. Of course, the main reason airfare is so cheap because many people can’t afford to travel at the moment. Is there a way to make traveling internationally more affordable?

If you aren’t afraid of getting to know new people and you don’t mind sleeping on stranger’s couch, you can travel overseas without having to pay for accommodations. Not having to pay for hotel rooms can trim your traveling budget significantly.  How can you find an open couch in the country you want to visit? Couchsurfing.com offers a service that matches travelers with willing hosts.

Staying in a foreign country for free sounds awesome, but how can you be sure that your host isn’t Charles Manson? As Matthew Kepnes of MinutelyNews explains in this excellent guide to the service, Couchsurfing.com offers various verification procedures so that you can arrange your couchsurfing adventure with confidence.  Plus, hosts and travelers can review each other. That way, both of you have to guard your reputations to keep using the service.

Have you ever tried Couchsurfing.com? What do you think of the idea? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Of course, if you want to couchsurf your way around the world, you’ll need a US passport.  You should submit your US passport application at least 2 to 3 months in advance of your trip to make sure you have it in time.

Another option, one that will save you both time and stress,  is to apply for your passport using a private passport expediting company. An expediting company is an excellent investment because it gets your application to the US Passport Agency and through the application process with astonishing swiftness. Depending on the options you choose, you can even get your application processed in as little  as 24 hours.  Order your US passport today and you could be on the road next week!

Recently, the US Department of Stateissued a travel warning for American citizens regarding travel to Mexico. Our neighbor to the south has long been a popular vacation spot for Americans, but  some areas of the country have erupted into violence as drug cartels struggle for power over Mexican police forces and each other.

The violence has prompted the Department of State to warn US citizens to use caution while traveling in Mexico. Here’s an excerpt from the travel warning (for the full text of current warnings, go to the Department of State’s website):

It is imperative that travelers understand the risks of travel to Mexico, how best to avoid dangerous situations, and whom to contact if one becomes a crime victim.  Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.

So, should you avoid going to Mexico altogether? Not necessarily. As the Art of Backpacking points out, most of the violence is occurring away from the major tourist towns.  However, travelers should be cautious when traveling anywhere in Mexico, as the Department of State has advised.  The lawless northern border towns such as Cuidad Juarez and Tijuana are best avoided altogether until the drug-related violence cools down.

According to the Art of Backpacking post, some tour operators are canceling excursions to areas like Mayan ruins that are off the beaten path and away from main roads, so  check before you go to make sure that you’ll be able to do everything you want to do on your trip.

Flying into Mexico is a great way to avoid the border altogether, but you will need a US passport to get back into the US if you’re traveling by plane.  Also, passport laws are changing on June 1st. After that date, Americans crossing the border by land will also need a US passport. The rule change is already causing delays in some regional passport agencies close to the border.

If you need to get a passport quickly, a private passport expediting company can offer personalized customer service and processing times that can be as low as 24 hours, depending on your needs.

Before traveling to Mexico, plan your trip with safety in mind and make sure you have all the appropriate documents before you go. Apply for a US passport today!

What do you think about the travel warning? Will it affect your plans for visiting Mexico?

Updated information as of June 1, 2009:

Passports are required for all air travel to and from Mexico. For travel by land or sea, adults should have a passport, passport card, enhanced driver’s license or a trusted traveler card like NEXUS, FAST or SENTRI. Children under the age of 16 may travel with only a birth certificate, as may children under the age of 19 who are traveling with an organized group like a school, church or sports group. However, keep in mind that Mexican regulations typically require US citizens to have a passport if they travel beyond the “border zone” into the interior of the country.

Instead of a passport, passengers on closed-loop cruises, which begin and end in the US,  may cruise with a state-issued photo ID and birth certificate or naturalization certificate.

Right now,  whether or not you need a passport to go to Mexico  depends on two factors: how you’re getting there and when you’re planning to go. Passports are already required for travel to Mexico if you are traveling by plane.  However, currently land and sea travelers can cross the border with state-issued ID (like a driver’s license) and proof of American citizenship  (like a birth certificate).

On June 1st, the rules will change as the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative becomes effective. After June 1st, everyone will need a passport to go to Mexico, whether you’re flying, sailing or walking across the border. The only groups of people who will still be able to cross the border using birth certificates after this date will be children under 16 traveling with family and children under 18 if they are on an organized trip with a school, church or sport group.

These exceptions only apply for children traveling by land or sea. Everyone flying to or from Mexico will still need a passport, regardless of age. As a safety precaution, it’s best  that all travelers to Mexico have a passport in case they need to fly home unexpectedly.

If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, it’s important to apply for a passport at least 6 weeks and preferably several months in advance.  Since the rules are about to change, the wait time for a US passport may get longer as the deadline approaches.

If you need a passport to Mexico in a hurry, you should consider using a private passport expediting service to submit your passport application. With an expediting company, your application will be processed more quickly, bypassing the normal wait times. With RushMyPassport.com, you can have your passport processed in as little as 24 hours!

Click here to view our passport processing options, and order your passport to Mexico the easy way!

Study abroad programs are becoming more and more popular among US college students, and for good reason.  College is the perfect time to try living overseas!

Think about it…by studying abroad, you get to experience another country and another culture firsthand while you earn college credits.  After you graduate, you’ll probably be short on both money and time, at least for a few years. That’s why college is the best time to travel.

Also, studies have shown that listening to native speakers helps you learn a second language more quickly, So, studying abroad can also help you master a foreign language, which will make you more employable after graduation.

If you’re interested in studying abroad but not sure if it’s right for you, try to talk to as many people who have done so as possible. If you don’t know anyone, you can also look online to find blogs and personal accounts from international students.

If you go, one item needs to be at the top if your packing list: a US passport.  Make sure to allow at least 6 weeks for your new US passport to be delivered if you order it with regular processing.

If you need your US passport more quickly than that, a private passport expediting service can move your application to the “top of the stack,” getting it processed in as little as 24 hours.  Order your US passport today to make sure it’s ready when you need it!

Have you ever studied abroad? Share your experiences in the comments!

Before you go in to have passport photos taken, it’s a good idea to be aware of the US Passport Agency’s requirements for passport photos. If your photos don’t measure up, your passport application could be rejected. To make sure you get your passport in a timely manner, review the rules below before you strike a pose for the camera: (more…)

Are you looking for a new job?  Tourism Queensland in Queensland, Australia, is currently offering one lucky person the best job ever: Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef! So, what does the caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef do for a living? NileGuidance has a great post up that gives details about the position. Apparently, job duties include enjoying the islands and engaging in such difficult and stressful activities as snorkeling, scuba diving, perhaps even lounging on the beach. Then, you would publicize the islands and their charms by taking pictures, videos and blogging about your experiences. Sure, that’s a heavy workload, but you would be well-compensated. The salary comes out to approximately $100,000 dollars a year, and you get free housing, gear and airfare. (more…)