Photo from Flickr mexican_2000
International Must Do Mondays is kicking off today. Every week we will impart a bit of wisdom and provide you with an action item for the week to help bring you one step closer to your international dream. Plan of action this week – start filing the paperwork to get your passport. For those of you who already have a passport – no need to do so. This week, make sure that you know where it is and that you can easily access it for when you file any visas, apply to study abroad programs or when you are leaving the country.
For those of you who do not have one yet – no worries. Getting a passport is a relatively easy process. By spending less than a half an hour a day over a course of 5 days, you can finalize the process for a passport.
Day 1: Get a passport application (approximate time – 10 minutes)
Applications are available at a U.S. post office or you can download the passport application forms.
Day 2: Gather supplemental documents to your application (approximate time – 30 min)
Start gathering documents to prove your U.S. Citizenship and your identity. According to the U.S. Department of State examples of these documents include:
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Proof of Citizenship:
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Certified U.S. birth certificate issued by the city, county or state (not a copy – call the government of the state in which you were born to get an official version with a notary’s seal.
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Records of birth abroad
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Proof of Identity:
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1 Current & valid: Driver’s license; Government ID: city, state or federal; or Military ID: military and dependents
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Previous US passport (altered or damaged passports are not okay)
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Day 3: Get 2 pictures taken (approximate time – 20 min)
Most drugstores and post offices have the ability to produce passport photos. Your photo must reflect your everyday appearance – no hats allowed. This includes glasses (if you usually wear them) or anything that may alter your appearance.
Day 4: Fill out all the paperwork (approximate time – 30 min)
Follow the instructions on pages one and two. Make sure you have your social security number handy to fill in the number when appropriate. Be sure to include the execution fee that is required per the application.
Day 5: Hand in the paperwork (approximate time – 15 min)
Find the passport office location nearest you. If you have your departure date available, provide it to expedite the process. Expect to receive your US passport in two weeks to two months. The State Department allows you to track the status of your application as well.
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