Where to Apply for a Passport in the United States?

A US passport is the most important document that is required if you want to make frequent international trips. The first and the most important thing that you should do as soon as you become a US citizen is to apply for passport. This is because only US citizens have the privilege of holding US passports.

All you need to do is complete the passport application, attach all the needed documentation for proof and submit it at the any Passport Acceptance Facility. You have the choice of getting your passport through routine or expedited service based on your travel plans.

Apply for passport in an easy way

Information regarding as to where to apply for passport is provided by the US Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Passport Services/Customer Service. This has designated many post offices, clerks of court, public libraries and other state, county, township, and municipal government offices with the authority to receive passport applications on its own behalf. Since there are many Passport Acceptance facilities in the US, you need to find the one that is nearest to your place of residence. Just follow these steps and you will be able find out the nearest location within a short time. 1. Log on to the US Department of State's Passport Acceptance Facility Search Page, 2, Search using your zip code, state or city, 3 once you enter your search option, you will be directed to a page that has a list of all the facilities that are in your area along with details like whether it accessible for handicapped people, it has photo on-site or nearby, you can select the one that is nearest you by clicking on that specific facility's name.

For Expedited requirements

In case you have to travel within a short notice, say, within 14 days you need a passport to get a foreign visa; then you are eligible to make an appointment with any Passport Agency and request an expedited service. You may be required to furnish proof of your travel along with the itinerary at some passport agencies. The following Regional Passport Agencies do not require you to provide them with your travel plans when you apply for passport - Arkansas, Buffalo, Colorado, Detroit, El Paso, Honolulu, Minneapolis, San Diego, Seattle and Vermont.

For Emergencies - For life threatening situations or life/death emergencies that require you to travel immediately, a special service called the Will call service can be used.

The above mentioned details are applicable only if you are planning to apply for passport when you are in the US. In case you are outside the US, you need to go to the respective US Embassy or Consulate and act according to their instructions. This is because the process may vary from Embassy to Embassy. Now that you have found out the nearest location to apply for passport, completing the application process is the next step.

Passport Day of 2012 in the US

March 10, 2012 has been marked as the Passport Day in the US for this year. You may wonder as to what is so special about this day. You can apply for passport without having made a prior appointment. Just go to a Regional Passport Agency in the US on this day, which falls on a Saturday, and file in your application. You can opt for the standard routine service or go for the expedited processing on this day. So if you are still without a US passport, this is your day!

If you are interested in learning more about How to Renew Green Card, Green Card Application, Permanent Resident Card, Passport Application, US Passport Renewal, Naturalization Application, Tourist Visa and other type of US Visas, visit U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Direct Services at http://www.ImmigrationDirect.com.

By Al Anthony Gablinez

What To Do If You Lose Your Passport Overseas

There are few things that can ruin your international vacation quicker than losing your passport while overseas. Knowing the right procedures will help hasten the retrieval of a new passport. If you lose your passport while traveling, you will most likely have to change your itinerary, no matter how efficient the recovery system might be. Even though it will be a worrisome and frustrating situation, you need to make sure you follow these procedures.

Report your lost passport to the police

The moment you discover your passport is missing, you need to head to the nearest police station to report the lost passport. When doing that, it is important that you remember your passport number and the date of issuance. It is always a good idea to carry a piece of paper that has that information on it in a separate place in your luggage. If you think you lost your passport at the airport, the people to contact first are the airlines. If you the airlines can't find your passport, the customs personnel will contact your country's embassy in such a case.

Contact your embassy

When traveling, whether you discover you have lost your passport in the airport, or otherwise, the only people who can help you get a duplicate passport are those at the embassy. Embassies are located in every capital city. After lodging a police report, you will have to take a stamped copy of it to the embassy, so that the loss can be validated. Consulate professionals can help you with the right steps, especially if you are open about your plans and intentions of visiting the country.

Get ready for the application of the duplicate passport

Getting a duplicate passport is easier if you lose it in your home country. However, a certain readiness for going through the procedures is important. After lodging a police report, you need to take your passport references to the nearest passport office. It is always better to access the place where you sent in your application for the old passport. If you did it through an agent, this time go directly to the passport office or issuing unit. Remember to carry a copy of the police report, a photocopy of the passport, identification documents, and an adequate number of photographs of yourself.

Stay in touch with the issuing office

Until you have received a fresh passport, stay updated on the status of the renewal. Do not take it for granted that the new passport will be sanctioned without any complication. Although rarely, duplicate passports take a lot of time, and visits from the local authorities may make the process even longer.

Stay in touch with the police

By lodging a police report, you have officially asked the police to investigate the loss. You may be lucky and they find it, but it is vital that you know that no one is trying to steal your identity.

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By Kevin Delbert

5 Must Know Facts on How To Apply For a Passport for Your Newborn Baby

Looking to travel abroad with your newborn baby? A few years ago, newborn babies were permitted to travel on air with the passport of one of their parents, but now things have changed. All citizens, even a newborn baby, should have an individual passport to travel from one country to another. So if you're planning to travel with your newborn baby within two weeks from its birth, then you can apply for an expedited passport for your baby. Before applying for the passport you should have the following requirements:

Gather Documents: Applying for an expedited passport for infants is a little bit complicated compared to adults. You will need to provide a birth certificate for the child, proof of parental identification, and the Social Security numbers of the parents. Once you have applied for the passport, it will take approximately two weeks for processing and then the passport will be mailed directly to you.

Application form: Choose the appropriate form when you are applying for a passport for your infant. You might find various application forms for adults online but you need to choose the correct one for your baby. Application form DS-11 is the right application for infants. You can get it from the Acceptance Facility or Passport Agency. Fill it out and remember to sign it on behalf of your infant. If you run into any obstacles in applying for the expedited passport for your baby, you can get help from a reliable passport expediting service.

Standards for Photo: You need to take the photographs with your baby looking directly at the camera. Make sure there is a white or an off-white background. Their head size must be smaller than one inch and not larger than 1-0.375 inches. These are the standards required by Passport Agencies while submitting the application form.

Submission of application: Now you must decide where to submit this application. Since you're applying for a passport for your infant (or minor), you can submit the application at the closest passport office. In case of emergency, the application can be submitted at a regional passport agency.

Processing time: Once you've submitted the application, all you need to do is wait. Standard processing time to get a passport is more than 4 weeks. So you must request for an expedited passport if you need it quickly. For this, you can directly visit to the regional processing center or apply for your passport through a qualified expediting passport service provider so that you may get the passport for your infant within a week.

These are the few things you need to know before applying for a passport for your baby. Get started today and enjoy your air travel with your baby. While flying with baby, don't forget to buy or rent baby kits such as belts, flyebaby (baby bed), CARES and more to have safe and enjoyable travel.

The author has an immense knowledge on passport expediting services. Know more about visa processing service related info in his website.

By Ashlee Garza

10 Tips to Prevent Passport Problems

You might be required to go abroad for personal or official purposes and find the need to have a passport. Passports are the kind of thing to be handled with great care. Problems like passport rejection, delays or loss of passport can arise.

Researching how to prevent such issues can help you during this time. Here are a few useful tips that will provide additional confidence and guidance in the passport application process:

1. While applying for a new passport, make sure you apply at least four months before your departure date.

2. Choose the right application form and carefully fill it out. Each company has their own specific form, double check for any missing information or spelling mistakes. This may lead to a delay or rejection of your passport application. If you need the passport as soon as possible, consult with a passport expediting services to get fast your passport processed more quickly (even under one week in some circumstances).

3. Check whether you possess all the requirements, such as a proof of identity or birth certificate. 

Photocopies of these documents are not accepted.

4. Never forget to sign all the necessary fields in the passport application form and your check.

5. Always take two copies of your passport and photos. Give one copy to your spouse or a friend who can be easily called during an emergency situation. If it's possible, scan those things and make it accessible through the internet. This helps you a lot during emergencies abroad.

6. It's good to ask for a 48-page passport if you are a frequent flyer. This allows you to fly wherever you want without getting another passport. When your passport arrives, verify all the details to be correct and sign all the pages in the passport where your signature is required.

7. Most countries demand a passport even for entrance to places in the country. Ensure that you have taken the required documents with you wherever you go while you are abroad.

8. Once you reach the destination, keep your passport in a safe place. Always try to carry it with you. 

You can keep it in a money belt or within your coat pocket. Avoid leaving it in your baggage, backpack, car or your hotel room. Your passport will be of utmost important if you commit an honest mistake due to being unaware of the state policy. You can get out of those situations with your nation's identity, the passport.

9. If you are traveling with your family members, don't have one individual keep the entire family's passports. It is better for each person to carry their own passport.

10. If you lose your passport, immediately inform the authorities about the missing document. By keeping a passport copy and extra photos with you, they can help you get a temporary passport for your return.

Note: Even if your passport expires, it should be kept safe and secure, as it will serve as proof for your passport renewal. The above points will help you from encountering passport problems.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7525232

Must-Knows About Passport Application Forms

A passport is an essential document for traveling and it has become as primordial as the citizen's card and driver's license. It is better to file for a passport well in advance as the process usually takes about four to six weeks to complete. For those who would like to speed up the process can, however, opt for the express expedited service which can yield a passport in just 14 days. Furthermore, people who need passport immediately can go for the independent expediting facility which takes just one day!

When planning to fill up a passport application form, it is important to know which form is suitable to the applicant's requirements. The DS-11 form is for people applying for a passport for the first time, or those whose passports are more than 15 years old. Even those who were less than 16 years of age when there old passport was issued; need to fill up this passport application form as a fresh applicant. DS-11 is also required in the case when a passport is stolen or lost.

If a person needs to renew an existing passport, this can be done by simply filling out and sending the DS-82 form by mail. An in-person appearance at a passport authorization center is not required in this case. If an existing passport holder wishes to make changes in the personal information on the passport, they should use the DS-5504 form. There is also the facility of adding extra pages to the passport for frequent travelers. DS-4085 is the form meant for this purpose.

There are a few important tips to keep in mind while filling out any of the above application forms. First of all, one should write legibly and in black ink. All the information provided should be accurate and supported by appropriate verifications. In case of the DS-11 passport application form, the applicant needs to make an in-person appearance at a designated passport authorization office.

Additional documents required with the form are the proof of citizenship, birth certificate, photographs and identification proofs like driving license. The new format of the DS-11 requires the filling up of a biological questionnaire as well. This form includes details of birth, employment history, addresses of all the places where the person stayed since birth and many more other details. All these documents are validated the government office.

Authenticity meets the foremost requirement when applying for passport.

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By Jennie Kakkad

Immigration to Norway

There are two ways to become a Norwegian citizen: through the application or notification. Persons eligible for citizenship by notification are those above 18 years and have lived in Norway for seven years. Citizens of Denmark, Sweden and Finland may notify become a Norwegian citizen, as well. 

There are no fees associated with this schema type of citizenship. To become a citizen by the application, there are many more requirements. Charges apply for Norwegian citizenship NOK 2,500, according to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration.

Age

All candidates for Norwegian citizenship must be above the age of 12. This requirement does not apply to refugees and stateless persons, or for people who ask the same time as their parents or with a relative in Norway.

Residence

If a Person want to apply for Norwegian citizenship then it must be necessary that he/she lived in Norway for at least 7 of the last 10 years on the residence permits of at least one year duration. For obtaining permanent residence permit, all potential citizens must meet the requirements, which include 03 years of continuous residence in Norway before being given a permanent residence permit. Three years before the permanent residence permit shall be composed of residence permits of at least a period of one year. The longer you can stay outside Norway shall be two months in total in one calendar year to be eligible for citizenship under the "seven years in a period of 10 years" requirement.

Background

It is also important for Immigration to Norway that People applying for citizenship  must have completed 300 hours of Norwegian language study or documentation that demonstrates sufficient skills in Norwegian or sufficient Sami. In addition, individuals must identify themselves by providing a passport from their country of origin. The passport must be valid during the immigration process. 

Finally, individuals convicted of criminal offenses or who have been forced to undergo psychiatric therapy or treatment may be rejected or put on a probationary period of citizenship in which there is a delay before full citizenship is transmitted. The length of the probationary period depends on the severity of the crime.

Author,

Julia Robert

Things to be avoided while filing for Schengen visa application

It is quite probable that if you are applying for Schengen visa for visit to any of the Schengen nations, then your application gets rejected. On an average one is forced to apply for about three times on an average before one's application gets approved. The rejection rates of the Schengen visa application are high.

The basic reason behind this rejection is that the applicants do not submit all the necessary documents. Another reason may be that you have not done your paperwork as per the standards of the embassy of Schengen country. Many a times your application gets rejected owing to very silly errors done by you.

Now if your Schengen visa gets rejected, then it may be due to any of the reasons. First reason may be that the Schengen consulate is not convinced about the validity of the documents which you have provided. Another reason may be that you are not allowed in the Schengen country as you may be believed to be as a threat to that country or its security or public. If you have got Schengen visa issued in the last six months, then also you will not be granted visa before the period of six moths get over and you will need to apply again only after that. Moreover, it has been prescribed as one of the requirements of Schengen Visa Code that you as the applicant must provide the proof of the purpose of visit to the Schengen member state. So if you are unable to furnish a satisfactory reason for which you are planning your trip, then it may result in your visa for Schengen country getting rejected. If you are not able to establish that you have sufficient funds for subsistence and for return journey, then this could also be the reason of the rejection. Your visa may also be refused on the grounds of submission of a forged or invalid passport or the passport having shorter validity than what is enlisted in the Schengen visa requirements.

A major reason behind the refusal of Schengen visa  is that you are not able to prove that you possess valid Schengen travel insurance plan covering your tour to the Schengen area. Even if you have travel insurancecover but if it has been acquired from an insurance company which is not registered or which does not have a single representative office in Europe, then your Schengen visa will not be approved. Most of the times, the applicants fail to meet up to the requirements specified by the Schengen Visa Code in relation to the travel insurance Schengen cover and, thereby face rejection. 

Hence, keep in mind all the above mentioned aspects so that in future when you apply for Schengen visa, it gets accorded.

Author,

gug