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Passport Editorial

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Get a Passport to Stay in the Godfather’s House
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Fans of the "Godfather" series of books and movies now have a new reason to get a passport: Naples has repossessed the properties of  mafia leaders and is turning them into retreats for tourists, according to the New York Times. For example, a 17th-century farmhouse owned by Bernardo Brusca, former capo of one of Sicily's more notorious crime families, is now a luxurious bed and breakfast.  In the Times article, Emiliano Rocchi, the head chef of the bed and breakfast,…

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Passport Fees Going Up July 13th
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*The passport fees have recently changed. As of April 2nd, 2018, the passport acceptance fee has gone up from $25 to $35.   Are you considering getting a passport?  You'll save a significant amount of money of money if you get your application in before July 13. That's the day that the US Department of State's proposed passport fee increases will go into effect.  The new fee structure will increase fees for getting a passport and for passport renewals, as…

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Expedited Passports in Philadelphia
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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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US Passport Renewal to Travel Along Germany’s Fairy Tale Road
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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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Taking a Cruise this Summer? Pack Your US Passport
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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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A $5000 Passport Renewal
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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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Scotland Wants William Wallace’s Passport Back
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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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Why Do So Few Americans Bother Getting a Passport?
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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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