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Most people are aware that you need a passport to go to Europe, Africa and Asia. But what if you’re staying closer to home? A decade ago, getting into Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean was as easy as saying “I’m an American citizen,” but not anymore. After 9-11, The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was enacted making it much harder to get in and out of the US without a passport. Don’t get caught off-guard if you’re heading to one of these…
Without a doubt, Niagara Falls is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world. The sheer amount of water surging around you is simply sublime. In fact, when Austrian composer Gustave Mahler first encountered the falls, he is said to have exclaimed, “At last, fortissimo!” Over 28 million tourists visit the falls every year. If you'd like to be one of them, first make sure you have the travel documents you need for your desired itinerary. Do you need…
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Most travel experts tell you to apply for a passport at least a couple of months before you plan to leave the country, and that's definitely the safest way to go. However, depending on how much time and energy you're willing to put into the endeavor, you may be able to acquire one much more quickly than that. Regular Processing If you apply for your passport by mail or at the post office and don't request any sort of special…
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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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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…
