Prevent Passport Problems: 16 Practical Tips
Carelessness is the number one reason for a passport application
being rejected or delayed or for a passport being lost, stolen,
or damaged.
What steps are necessary to prevent these things from happening?
How can you take care of your passport? Below are 16 practical
tips you can follow to acquire your passport, keep it in your
possession, and preserve it in good condition.
Before You Leave On Your Trip
1. Check to see if you even need a passport.
Countries can, and often do, change foreign entry requirements.
If you arrive at the airport without the required documents,
you'll be denied boarding privileges. And, of course, this isn't
covered by travel insurance.
Currently, more than 80% of the world's countries require a
valid passport for entrance. It's important to verify the
foreign entry requirements for the country you plan to visit as
early as possible.
2. Apply for your passport early.
You should apply for a new passport at least 90 days before your
departure date. For a renewal, begin the process 8 to 11 months
before your passport expires. Why so early? Many countries
require that your passport have six to eight months of validity
remaining before they will issue a visa.
3. Fill out the correct form correctly.
Each type of passport service has specific criteria that must be
met. Make sure you get the right application form, and then fill
it in carefully. Double-check each entry. Ask a friend or
relative to verify it as well. Errors made on the application
form can lead to delays or, even, rejection of your passport
request.
4. Follow the specifications for the required documents exactly.
When applying for a new passport, the most frequently used
documents are a certified birth certificate for proof of
citizenship along with a valid driver's license for proof of
identity.
Your birth certificate must be a certified copy with a
registrar's raised, embossed, impressed, or multicolored seal,
registrar's signature, and the date the certificate was filed
with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your
birth. No photocopies are accepted. Your driver's license must
be more than six months old.
For a passport renewal, your previous passport serves as both
proof of citizenship and proof of identity. To be valid, it
cannot be mutilated, altered, or damaged in any way.
You must send two identical passport photos taken within the
last 6 months. These passport photos must be 2"x2" with a plain
white or off-white background. They have to be a full-face view
with the head being from 1 to 1 3/8 inches from the chin to the
top of the head. Black and white photos are no longer accepted.
5. Sign both the passport application form and your check.
If you are applying for a new passport, you need to sign the
application in the presence of an acceptance agent.
Surprisingly, many people forget to sign their check to Passport
Services. Once again, check everything twice, or even three
times.
6. Request additional pages.
Are you a frequent flyer? Request a 48-page passport (at no
additional cost). It will allow you to travel more before having
to replace it.
7. Sign your passport and fill out the emergency information.
When your passport arrives, check to see that all the
information contained in it is correct. If it is, sign it and
fill in your current address and the name of a person to contact
in case of emergency. If not, return it to the State Department
for correction.
8. Make two copies of your passport and photos.
Give one copy of your passport to a friend or relative who can
be easily contacted in case of an emergency. Take the other copy
and the extra photos with you on your trip. If you use an online
document storage service, you can scan your passport and upload
a copy. That way, you can access it from almost anywhere in the
world.
While You're Away
9. Always keep your passport in a safe place!
Never leave your passport in your baggage, backpack, purse, car,
hotel room, or anywhere else! When you must carry your passport,
keep it in a money belt or inside coat pocket. Upon arrival at
the hotel, put your passport in the hotel safe.
10. Never lay your passport down anywhere.
Passports placed on a counter, phone booth or table can be
easily forgotten or stolen. Practice the habit of immediately
putting your passport away after using it.
11. If you travel as a family or as part of a group, don't let
one person carry all the passports.
The odds are much greater for one person carrying all the
passports to lose them or have them stolen than for all the
passports to be stolen or lost if each individual owner carries
his or her own.
12. Never let anyone leave your presence with your passport.
When checking in at the airport, passing through customs,
exchanging currency, or doing anything else that requires you to
show your passport, never allow the person examining your
passport to leave your presence. If the person starts to leave,
call their attention and request to accompany them.
Law enforcement records show that U.S. passports are sometimes
used for unlawful entry into the United States or by criminals
abroad seeking to establish another identity. You would be
pretty embarrassed if your name were associated with illegal
activities.
13. Immediately report the loss of your passport.
If you are careful and follow the tips above, you shouldn't have
any problem with the loss of your passport. If it does occur
though, immediately notify the local police and then proceed to
the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Take the copy of your
passport and extra photos with you. You will be issued a
temporary passport that you can replace upon returning to the
United States.
After You Return
14. Schedule your passport renewal.
Check the expiration date and make a reminder to renew your
passport at the proper time. Remember, you should begin the
process 8 to 11 months prior to the expiration date. Put the
reminder somewhere where it won't be forgotten.
15. Check the number of blank pages remaining.
Some countries require a blank page for their visa. If you plan
a future trip on which you will visit various countries, you
might need the same number of pages as countries to be visited.
If you do not have an adequate number of pages but your passport
is not due for renewal, you can request additional pages.
16. Store your passport in a safe place.
If you have a safe in your home, keep your passport there. If
not, consider acquiring a fire-proof safe for all your important
documents.
Follow the practical tips above and you can easily avoid
passport problems and more fully enjoy your international
travels.