Travel Documents You May Need
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U.S. passport—If you are a first-time applicant, you must apply in person at a passport agency, authorized clerk of court, or post office to fill out an application (Form DSP-11). At this time, you will be charged $60 for a 10-year adult passport. Children under 16 receive a 5-year passport and are charged $40. You will need the following documents: |
| 1. | Proof of U.S. citizenship, e.g., a certified copy of your birth certificate (original with raised seal), or a certificate of naturalization or citizenship |
| 2. | Two identical, recent 2" x 2" black-and-white or color photographs |
| 3. | Proof of identity, such as a valid driver’s license with photo |
Passport renewal—If you have a passport issued within the past 12 years (and after your 16th birthday), you can apply by mail. Pick up Form DSP-82, available from passport agencies, many post offices, clerks of court, county/municipal of-fices, and travel agencies, or by calling the National Passport Information Center at 1-900-225-5674. Passport forms can also be downloaded from the Internet (http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html ). Send your old passport, two new passport photos, the $40 application fee, and all the application forms to National Passport Center, Box 371971, Pittsburgh, PA 15250. NOTE: Some countries re-quire that passports be valid for at least 6 months after entry, so start the renewal process at least 8 months before the expiration date on your current passport.
Renewals by mail take about three weeks in the slow season and four weeks in the travel season. Holders of youth passports cannot renew them when the five years run out but must start at the beginning again.
National Passport Information Center—For inquiries about the passport application process, the status of your application, or an emergency passport, call 1-900-225-5674.
Passport information on the Internet—U.S. Passport Agency Web site (http:/ /travel.state.gov/passport_services.html ) provides information about applying for or renewing a passport, as well as a listing of passport agencies nationwide.
What if I need a passport in a hurry?—If you are leaving on an emergency trip, apply in person at the nearest passport agency and present your tickets or itinerary, as well as the other required items. (Be sure to call ahead to make an appointment.) Or, apply at a courthouse, county or municipal office, or post office and have the application sent to the passport agency through an overnight delivery service of your choice (include a self-addressed, prepaid envelope for the overnight return of the passport). Be sure to include dates of departure and travel plans on your application and all fees (there is an extra $35 fee to expedite the application). Your application will be processed in three business days.
Passport and visa services—A travel service company can also do the legwork to obtain your passport and/or visa(s) if you provide them with the necessary documents. A service company can obtain your passport in 1–4 working days. Contact: Passport Plus, 677 Fifth Avenue, 5th floor, New York, NY 10022, 212-759- 5540 or 800-367-1818; Travisa, 2122 P Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 10037, 202-463-6166 or 800-222-2589; or Passport & Visa Expeditors, Washington, D.C., 800-237-3270.
Lost passport overseas—Go to the nearest American consulate and bring the following:
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A police report that documents the loss or theft |
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Four (4) passport-size photos (must be 2" x 2" size) |
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$65 in U.S. currency, traveler’s checks, or local currency. Bring the exact amount of currency. |
If you have a photocopy of the lost passport showing the passport number and the date and place of issue, it will expedite the process. With the right informa-tion, a replacement passport can often be obtained in 20 minutes. Otherwise, you might wait up to two days.
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Visas—Many countries require a visa, an official authorization stamped within the passport that permits travel within a country for a specified pur-pose (tourism, business, or immigration) and for a limited time. The best source to obtain up-to-date visa and passport requirement information is through the Internet Home Page of the Bureau of Consular Affairs (http://travel.state.gov/ ). Country visa requirements can also be quickly checked in the World Medical Guide section of this book. After verifying the need for a visa, contact the embassy or consulate of the country or countries of your destination to verify information regarding the documents you will need and the processing time required. |
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Extra photos—Get at least eight (8) additional 2" x 2" photos when applying for your passport or visa(s). These extra photos will come in handy if you need additional visas or an international driver’s permit or if you need to re-place a lost passport or other document. |
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Personal health records—Consider carrying photocopies of your health and hospital records, cardiograms, laboratory test results, list of current medica-tions, allergies, etc. Or, you may wish to subscribe to a service that can as-semble all of your pertinent medical records, store them in a computer, and fax them anywhere in the world within minutes. Companies that provide this service include Global Med-Net (800-650-0434), Life-Fax (800-487-0329), and Global Emergency Medical Services (404-992-4427). |
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Travel health insurance—See Chapters 14 and 15. If you don’t buy separate travel health insurance, check your existing health insurance policy to see what benefits are provided in case of illness overseas. Medicare does not pay for out-of- country illnesses or accidents. If you are over 65, you should purchase medi-gap coverage or a travel health insurance policy. |
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Doctors and hospitals abroad—The International Association for Assis-tance to Travelers (IAMAT) publishes a booklet listing hospitals and English-speaking physicians overseas. 417 Center Street, Lewiston, NY 14092; 716-754- 4883. Personal Physicians Worldwide in Washington, DC, will identify and personally call physicians overseas to ensure their availability during your trip. Travelers get a wallet card with the names and numbers of selected phy-sicians who are on the staff of the preferred hospitals at your destination. Tel: 888-657-8114. Internet: www.personalphysicians.com |
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Medic Alert bracelet—If you have a serious or chronic medical condition, a history of severe drug allergy, etc., you should consider wearing a Medic Alert bracelet. Call 1-800-ID-ALERT to order. |
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Prescription drugs abroad—Worldwide emergency delivery of noncontrolled drugs via Federal Express or DHL. Contact: International Pharmacy Organization, 85 Station Road, Edgware, London, England; tel: (44) 181-381-1911; fax: (44) 181-952-2063; email: ipo@aapi.co.uk |
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Divers Alert Network (DAN)—For non-emergency medical questions and general information, scuba divers can call (919) 684-2948 for DAN’S Dive Safety and Medical Information Line. (Web site: www.diversalertnetwork.org). For scuba diving emergencies, DAN’S Diving Emergency Hotline is (919) 684-4DAN (4326) or (919) 684-8111. These lines are open to all divers. |
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Telephone number of your doctor, clinic, or HMO in the USA. |
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Foreign language telephone assistance—When dealing with medical prob-lems long distance, there may be language barriers. Call AT&T’s Language Line at 800-628-8486 for assistance. The service costs $4.15 to $7.25 per minute, depending on the language being interpreted. |
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Traveler’s checks—Make a photocopy of the numbers. Leave the photocopy at home but carry the list of numbers with you that you get with the checks. |
Preparation Checklists
Use the following checklists as general guidelines and modify them according to your itinerary and specific travel and health needs.
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