The everything guide to the US Passport application process

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Author: Scott Averbach

Avid Traveler and accomplished technology entrepreneur. Owner and Editor of this website and former owner of a passport expediting company. Want to read more about me? See: Who Owns This Website

The History of the US Passport – The Most Coveted Travel Document in the World

The very first American passports were issued during the American Revolution to a small number of citizens who were part of Benjamin Franklin’s mission to France. These first passports were modeled after those issued by the French Government and were no more than a small sheet of paper that had a printed description of the bearer on one side. These had to be renewed at least once every six months. As the nation became better organized, the Foreign Affairs Department was put in charge of issuing passports to all American citizens going abroad.In 1789, the department of Foreign Affairs became the State Department that we know today under the[…]

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Different Kinds of Passport Offices

One common misconception I hear about all the time is the confusion surrounding the phrase “Passport Office”. There is more than type of “passport office”, in fact passport offices can be grouped into two general categories and I will be explaining the differences between them. Local Passport Offices / Acceptance Agent Offices There are more than 8000 locally located government offices throughout the country that are what is commonly known as an acceptance agent. An acceptance agent is basically someone that the Department of State trusts and has authorized (typically postal workers, courthouse workers, etc..) to witness an applicant’s signature on a passport application form. Acceptance agents basically do[…]

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Expedited Customs & Border Protection Travel Programs – Summer 2014

If you have ever traveled internationally, you are familiar with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). All visitors are screened upon arrival from international departures, long lines happen and will continue to happen in the future. There are several programs intended to pre-screen travelers and ease lines. CBP is an agency that was formed in March of 2003, and it falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security. Having taken over some of the responsibilities of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Customs and Border Protection’s main mission is to manage the integrity of the borders of the United States and its entry ports. During the[…]

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How Does the US Passport Application Process Differ From Other Countries

A passport is an officially issued government document proving a person’s identity and citizenship of the issuing country. Its purpose is to permit a person’s travel outside their home country, and in most cases, to ensure certain protections within the foreign country. One could assume that the application process would be almost identical from country to country. In fact, there are a number of differences between the application process in the United States and other countries of the world. Where to Apply for a Passport Passports in the US are issued by the State Department. First time applicants must go in person to either a passport agency or passport[…]

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Rules for Passports and Middle Names – What to know for Travel Reservations and Security Regulations

Suppose that your passport has your full birth name, but you book a flight (or someone did on your behalf) without using your middle name – is this a problem? Can you just use the first initial instead? Airlines Rules for Exact Matched Names In general, airlines specifically state that you have to book your airline ticket in the exact manner such that it matches your passport exactly or government issued ID. Post 9-11, the Department of Homeland Security developed ‘Secure Flight’, and necessitates passengers or possibly their agents to provide the full details of their name, gender, and date of birth when they book their flight. This makes[…]

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Passport Expediting Slots – What they are and how they affect you

Slots are granted by the Department of State at the regional passport office level to companies that register as a hand carry courier at one those offices. There are no application fees but there is a long wait list to be approved. These authorized arrangements allow third party private companies a set number of passport submissions (slots) per day or per week. Most of the regional passport agencies issue less of the same-day slots than of the standard expediting slots. Each of the passport agency offices has a different number of registered passport hand-carry couriers that they work with and each passport agency decides how many and of what[…]

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