About Passports
Passports are documents issued to citizens of a country by its government. A passport is proof of citizenship, and is used when citizens travel internationally as proof of nationality and as a form of legal identification. For frequent travelers, a passport is a key part of personal documentation.
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Identification
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Passports contain a variety of information about the bearer. A United States passport, for example, contains the bearer's name, sex, birth date and place of birth. It also lists the type of passport, date of issue and date of expiration. To be considered a valid form of identification, U.S. passports also require the signature of the bearer.
Features
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In the front of the passport are informational pages about passports and international travel. This includes sections about precautions to take before and during international travel. Other sections offer advice about safety while in country, and directions for travelers who run into trouble in country. One of the following information pages present important information about passports and give directions in case of lost or stolen passports. There is a page for personal data and emergency contact information.
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Function
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The back sections of a passport are dedicated to pages for visas, entry stamps, and exit stamps. When a traveler enters a country, the customs officials at the border will generally stamp one of the blank areas in a passport with the date of entry and the name of the entrance point. When the traveler leaves the country, their passport will generally be stamped with an exit stamp. In the case that a visa is needed for travel, it will be stamped or glued into one of the visa pages at the back of the passport. A visa allows the traveler legal residence and/or travel in the country, and is generally valid for a specific amount of time.
Time Frame
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United States citizens wishing to apply for passports should visit their local courthouse or post office. They will be required to fill out a passport application form, present a birth certificate, and a photo identification. In addition, the passport applicant will be required to provide two identical photos for use in the passport. Passport processing generally takes between 3 and 6 weeks, and expedited service is available for an extra fee.
Considerations
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With new passport regulations, United States citizens will soon be required to carry passports for travel between the US and Canada. If you are planning to travel to any international location, be sure to apply for your passport well in advance to ensure that you receive it in time.
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