For years, the American passport was a small book with an official cover. It was used like a library card, presented and stamped each time you entered another country. It was at once a momento, a souvenir, a status symbol of how many countries the traveler has seen.
Since October 2006, new and renewed passports come with a noticeably thicker cover, which houses an identity chip containing all the passport information and a digital map of the owner’s photograph, which shows up on the customs agent screen when the passport is swiped.
Blame it on security and the fact the U.S. Department of State issues more than 15 million passports per year.
On July 13, 2010, U.S. passport fees will increase by 35 percent, from $100 for adults to $135, and from $85 to $105 for minors. Renewals will jump the same $35, from $75 to $110 for adults.
The standard passport comes with 24 pages. An additional 28 visa pages can be ordered with new passports and those with less than 2-4 visa pages left blank without cost.
As a note, skilled workers who must disassemble the passport and reconstruct it add the extra pages by hand.
Expedited delivery goes from $60 to $85.
An international symbol adorns the cover to alert border personnel that it is a digital passport.
A new passport must be requested if the passport was lost, issued more than 15 years ago, or issued when the holder was under 16 years of age.
A less expensive alternative exists for those who only travel from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at sea ports-of-call or land crossings. Passport cards are issued for $55 for adults and $40 for children.
The U.S. Passport Book and U.S. Passport Card for adults are valid for ten years. Passports for minors under age 16 are valid for five years.
The U.S. Passport is not just used for travel anymore. It serves as proof of U.S. citizenship and identity for important purposes such as work authorization and eligibility for many Federal benefits.
Applying for a passport or passport card requires passport photos in usual street dress, with undarkened glasses if the requestor normally wears glasses; primary proof of citizenship (certified originals required, which are returned), primary identification when applying in person as well as a photocopy of both sides of the identification, the DS-11 form, and of course, the fee.
Particulars can be found on this web site: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
Many U.S. Post Offices have passport windows to accept passport applications.
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