According to the US Department of State, it usually takes about 6-8 weeks to process a passport application and issue a new passport. But what if you can't wait? There are lots of reasons you could need an expedited passport; anything from a sudden unexpected international trip to a passport that isn't where it was last time you checked. Philadelphia residents who are unable to wait 6 weeks for a new passport have 3 options. Travelers have options to get…
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Every child knows the stories of Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood. If you've already done Disney, you might consider getting a US passport renewal, grabbing your kids, and heading to Germany to drive down the Fairy Tale Road to take them to the scene of these enchanting stories. The New York Times just ran a feature on the Fairy Tale road, which connects the real, historical homes of the Brothers Grimm with sites that fit…
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If you're going on a cruise, you'll have a much better time if you have everything you need with you when you get on the boat. It can be tough to remember everything you need to pack. This packing list will help you get started: Clothes: Mostly light, summer stuff, but also include some comfortable warmer clothes as well. Additionally, most cruise ships don't allow jeans and T-shirts in the dining cabin for dinner, so bring appropriate clothing for that.…
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Can you imagine spending $5000 for a passport renewal? A New Zealand man recently did just that, after he discovered at the last minute that he would need his passport replaced to attend the World Cup in South Africa. According to the New Zealand Herald, Dave Barrett was about to board a plane to fly from Auckland to Johannesburg when officials noticed he didn't have any clean pages in the back of his passport book. So, they told him he…
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The government of Scotland is preparing to make a formal request to the British government: hand over William Wallace's passport. William Wallace, the Scottish hero who inspired the movie Braveheart, may have had the passport with him when he was arrested by the English. The English never gave it back, instead storing it in their National Archives. The Times Online quotes Scottish official Christine Grahame explaining why the passport should be returned: “This is a very significant historical document related…
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In some countries, getting a passport is almost second nature. Not here, though. According to this recent post on The Expeditioner.com, only 22% Americans have a passport. That's less than a quarter of the population! For a little perspective, compare that rate to our neighbors in Canada. According to Wikipedia, 56.2% of Canadians have a Canadian passport. Why is it so different here? The Expeditioner lays out a couple of possible reasons, both of which I basically agree with: Money:…
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In 2008, the US Department of State introduced a new passport option: the US passport card. The wallet-sized card was meant to make international travel to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean more convenient and less expensive. Passport cards are the same size and shape as a driver's license, and they cost much less-only $45 for a card compared to $100 for a passport book. Passport cards are gradually becoming more and more popular, but as Las Vegas' Fox 5 News…
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Soon, El Paso residents who wish to apply for a passport will no longer be able to use the El Paso county passport office. The office, which accepted applications for regular and expedited processing, is located inside the El Paso County District Clerk's office at 500 E. San Antonio. County District Clerk Gilbert Sanchez announced the planned closure on Monday. He blamed it on budget cuts and an "unsupportive" commissioner's court, though the office was making money and the commissioners'…
