Oct 142011
 

There are a few things that you must be aware of when you decide that you are going to travel outside of the country you reside in. No matter what place you go to, you are going to need some proof of citizenship. Going through a passport application process can be very easy and stress free if you know what you need before you begin.

Birth Certificate

To be able to get documents that will allow you to travel, you must produce something that proves your citizenship. Most times, a birth certificate will fit the bill nicely as long as it has a raised seal on it and it is not a photocopy of the original. Often times this will be enough to prove that you were born in the country that you live in.

You can get a certified copy of your birth certificate from the city you were born in. It usually costs a little bit of money and you can get it fairly quickly. Getting your birth certificate is only one of the things that you will have to produce in order to get passports.

If the name on your birth certificate is not the same as the name on your picture I. D., you will have to show the reasons why it is different from what is listed there. This can be done in a number of ways that will be accepted. Presenting a marriage certificate or divorce decree will usually suffice as long as all the names you have been known as are on the documentation. This is to further prove your identity.

Photo ID

In addition to these things, you will need to show some sort of picture identification. Most times a valid license to drive a vehicle in your state is enough. As long as it has your picture, date of birth, and current address on it, you should have no problem with using it.

Passport Photo

You will need to go out and get pictures that will go into the passport itself. These need to be done by someone who knows the requirements for this type of photography. They need to be a certain dimension and also need to have a white background. You cannot wear hats or have anything covering your face for these pictures.

Application Forms

Once you have collected all of the items that prove your citizenship, it is time to fill out the forms. It is very important that you are completely truthful in everything that you write down on this. You can be denied the proper travel documents if you omit or add things that are not true.

Once you have the applications filled out and you have the applicable fee in hand, you can continue with the pass port application process. The amount you will have to pay is outlined on the instructions for filling out the forms. You can either mail it or bring it in person to the nearest application center. When you are applying for the new U.S. passport, the process is easy and clearly broken down for simple understanding.

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