Adopting a child is an incredibly stressful process, especially if you choose to adopt from another country. Though the reward of giving a child a family is immeasurable, international adoption often requires an intense commitment in the form of time, energy and money. You’ll also need to pay extra-special attention to your new child’s citizenship […]
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It was the travel story of the week: a 33-year-old Canadian man named Martin Reisch left on a road trip for the US without his passport, but managed to convince Customs to let him across the border by showing them a scanned copy of the document on his iPad. As Mr. Reisch told the Montreal Gazette, the US border guard wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the situation, but after taking his iPad off to another location temporarily, the official waved him…
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When it comes to planning a trip, it's better to be safe than sorry. So, when do you need a passport? Most trips outside of the United States will require one, unless your itinerary fits into one of the following exceptions: Closed-loop cruises, cruises that begin and end at the same US port. For these cruises, a birth certificate and driver's license will suffice, though it's better to have a passport in case you need to fly back home for…
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San Francisco is an amazing place to live, but it's also an excellent jumping-off point for international travel. In fact, San Francisco International Airport is the 10th busiest airport in the US. Flights leave every day for destinations all over the world, though the city's West Coast location means that many of the most frequented destinations are Asian. In 2008, the airport was voted the Best International Airport in North America in the World Airports Survey. So, if you live…
Government paperwork is not always written in the most user-friendly manner, and passport renewal forms are no exception. Unfortunately, if you make a mistake filling it out or you don't send in the required documentation, your new passport could be delayed. Here's what you need to know to keep the gears of bureaucracy turning smoothly when you apply: Passport Renewal Eligibility Not everyone is eligible to renew their passport by mail. Read through the checklist on the first page of…
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For an entire decade, your passport has been one of your closest companions, accompanying you all across the world. However, all good things must come to an end one day. Passports issued after the bearer reaches the age of 16 will remain valid for ten years, though you will probably need to renew yours sooner than that. Many countries will not allow you past immigration unless your passport has at least 6 months left before it expires. To avoid potential…
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Do children need passports to travel outside the US? That's a reasonable question. In fact, in the 19th century, the Department of State issued what were called "family passports" allowing the entire family to travel on the same passport. However, this is not the case any more. Each US citizen needs his or her own passport to travel, even newborns. So yes, in most circumstances, a child of any age will need a separate passport to travel outside of the…
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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. 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…
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In 2009, new passport laws went into effect that changed the documents required for travel between the US, Mexico and Canada. Called the Western Travel Initiative (WHTI), the regulations required most US citizens to have either a passport or a passport card for land and sea travel to either country, with a passport book being required for air travel. Local businesses on both sides of the border have been ruing that day ever since, blaming the requirements for slowing down…
