There was a time when traveling to places like Canada or Mexico was as simple as hopping in the car and going, but those days are long gone. Now, anyone crossing a border is looking at obtaining your United States passport for the first time in their lives. Anyone who has never had to do this should know right off the bat that it is not something that can usually be handled in a few minutes.
Getting a passport for the first time requires the applicant to follow some specific steps. First time applicants must apply in person at a government sponsored application center. However, certain things must be taken care of prior to the in-person application.
First, keep in mind that rules and laws can change in a moment’s notice. Because of that, it is recommended that before actually heading out to the passport office that the State Department’s website is checked for the materials that are needed and what types of travel require a passport. While we have a synopsis of it here, by the time you are reading it, it could very well be outdated.
The first step in getting a new passport is getting passport photos. These must be taken prior to the trip to the application center. Pharmacies with photo labs are the best place to get passport pictures taken because they will crop the pictures to the proper specifications. These pictures are often relatively inexpensive.
Passport photos must be taken in street attire. The applicant should not smile in the photograph. Applicants that typically wear eyeglasses, a hearing device, a wig, or any other unique device that is worn daily should be sure to wear this item in the photograph. Passport photos should not be taken in any sort of uniform.
Next, it is important to acquire all of the relevant documentation. The applicant must bring one ID card to the application center. The following are valid forms of ID: a driver’s license, a military card, or any other government issued ID card. The applicant must also bring a copy of this ID card. Next, the applicant must provide a certificate of citizenship. This is normally a valid birth certificate or a certificate of naturalization. The applicant must also bring a photocopy of this document.
When all information is finally together, the trip to the application center can finally be made. The USPS is a common outlet for passport application centers, but not all post offices accept applications. It is best to go on their website and search under government services to see the post office that is located the closest that can perform this service.
Clearly, obtaining a U.S. passport for the first time can be a time consuming process. Because passports are so important to our own national security, and the national security of other nations, our government needs to make sure that new pass port applicants are legitimate. The resulting process is time consuming, but necessary.
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