Get Your Family's Passports Ready for Spring Break Travel

Are you taking the family on an international vacation for spring break? Awesome! You’re going to have a great time. You might be busy with planning excursions and figuring out what to pack, but don’t forget to check to make sure everyone in the family has a valid passport before your trip.

It’s especially important to check your children’s passports before your spring break trip. Adult’s passports are valid for 10 years, but passports issued to kids under age 16 are only valid for five years! If it’s been a while since your last big family trip, your children’s passports might be closer to expiring than yours.

Today, we’ll review some of our top tips for passports for family vacation travel.

Tip 1: Check the Passport Validity Requirements for Your Destination

Spring break is the perfect time to pack up the family and head to a sunny destination like Mexico, Jamaica, or the Bahamas! Keep in mind that everyone in the family needs to have a valid passport book any time you are flying out of the United States. But just how much validity does your passport need to have? Some countries require you to have a minimum of six months validity left on your passport in order to enter, but other countries will let you enter even if your passport is closer to the expiration date. Not sure of the passport requirements for your destination? Check out PassportInfo.com’s page on popular destinations, or review the State Department’s Country Information.

Here are the passport validity requirements for some of the most popular destinations for spring break travel:

• Bahamas: passports must be valid at the time of entry.
• Bermuda: passports must be valid at the time of entry.
• Costa Rica: passports must be valid for the full duration of your stay.
• Jamaica: passports must be valid at the time of entry.
• Mexico: passports must be valid for six months past the end of your stay.

Passport Renewal Made Easy!

February 10, 2017 By Summer Jenkins

Time for a passport renewal? It’s quick and easy to renew your passport with G3. Read on for our complete guide to passport renewals.

Are You Eligible for a Passport Renewal?

The first thing to do is to make sure that your passport can be renewed. All of the followings must be true!

1. Your current passport must have been issued after you turned 16.

If you were under 16 when your last passport was issued, you’ll need to use the New Adult Passport procedure to get a new passport… unless you are still under 16, in which case you’ll need a Minor Passport.

2. Your passport must have been issued no more than 15 years ago.

If it’s been more than five years since your passport expired, you are required to use the New Adult Passport service to get a new passport.

3. Your passport must have been issued for 10 years validity.

If you were issued a limited-validity passport, such as an emergency replacement for a passport lost overseas, please contact G3 for special assistance to get a new passport.

4. Your passport must be in good condition.

If your passport has a loose or missing cover, tears or cuts on the cover or any page, or other severe damage, you’ll need to do a Mutilated Passport Replacement instead of a Passport Renewal.

5. Your passport must be in your possession.

You’ll need to submit your current passport book in order to renew it. If you can’t find your passport, you can get a new passport through the Lost Passport Replacement process.

How to Renew Your Passport with G3

With G3, your passport renewal is swift and simple!

1. Place your order online, selecting the processing speed you’ll need.
2. We’ll email you a detailed checklist of all the documents you’ll need to send in, including a link to fill out your passport application.
3. You’ll be directed to call G3 to go over the checklist with a passport associate. Your passport associate will answer all your questions and will email you a FedEx airbill to use to send in your renewal request.
4. Send all your passport renewal documents to G3 using the provided FedEx airbill. You can drop off your FedEx package at any FedEx office or FedEx box.
5. We’ll hand-carry your passport renewal request into the Passport Agency for expedited processing.
6. Your new passport will be sent back to you via FedEx! You’ll get an email when your passport is complete to let you know it is on the way. This email will contain the FedEx tracking number for your package.

What Documents Do You Need for Your Passport Renewal?

Here’s the good news — you don’t need to supply as many documents for your passport renewal as you did to get your passport for the first time.

We’ll send you a detailed checklist of all the items you’ll need when you place your order.

Here’s a sneak preview of what you’ll need for your passport renewal.

• Your expired or expiring passport book
• Form DS-82, the passport renewal application. You’ll fill this out online and print it out.
• A signed Letter of Authorization — this allows us to submit your application to the Passport Agency on your behalf. We’ll send you the Letter of Authorization via email.
• A new passport-style photo. Make sure not to wear glasses, uniforms, or headgear in the photo!
• Proof of your upcoming travel plans.
• A check or money order for your government fees.

Source: https://www.g3passports.com/passport-renewal-made-easy/

Breaking News – Second Valid Passports Valid Four Years

Globetrotters, jet-setters, and road warriors rejoice – the US State Department has just changed the validity of second valid passports! On June 2, 2016, the State Department officially announced that effective immediately, all second valid passports issued to US citizens will be valid for four years instead of just two.

What is a Second Valid Passport?

 

Second valid passports are limited validity US passports. They allow a US citizen to hold two valid passports at once, and are issued to travelers who can demonstrate they have one of the following travel situations:

• Middle East travel. If you’re planning a trip to a country like Iran or Libya, you won’t be allowed to enter if you have entry stamps from Israel in your passport. You can get a second valid passport and use that for your Middle East travel
• Conflicting travel.What happens if you have two trips back-to-back, and the second one requires a visa? If you need to have your passport in process at an embassy to get a visa at the same time you have other international travel, you can get a second valid passport.

Limited Validity

 

Because they are meant to deal with a single, temporary travel situation, second valid passports are only valid for a limited period of time. Up until now, second valid passports have been issued with no more than a two year validity. Since so many countries enforce the "six month rule" – meaning you need to have at least six months validity on your passport when you enter the country – second valid passports wound up only being useful for 18 months at a time. For people whose jobs require them to travel internationally all the time (think pilots, travel writers, and executives for major international companies), second valid passports are a lifesaver. Many people who travel for a living have had to renew their second valid passports every year and a half to make sure they’re always able to travel and get the visas they need for future travel. The State Department’s decision to extend second valid passport validity to four years means that these limited validity passports can be used for more than twice as long!

Existing Second Valid Passports

 

If you currently hold a second valid passport, the State Department’s announcement doesn’t change the validity of your current passport. It will still expire on the date printed on the passport! The good news is that the next time you apply for a second valid passport, you’ll be able to get one that will be valid for four years.

Are Requirements for Second Valid Passports Changing?

 

Although the validity of second valid passports has changed, the procedures and requirements to get one remain exactly the same. You will still need to submit Form DS-82, the same form used for passport renewals, and your valid ten-year passport. You’ll also need to submit proof of your travel plans that show that you have one of the travel dilemmas described above. Check out our page on Second Valid Passports for all the details!

Getting a second valid passport can be a bit trickier than doing a more common passport service like a passport renewal, so if you need help, we highly recommend that you contact a passport expediting service for assistance with your processing. Although you might be getting a second passport for the first time, a reputable passport expediting company will have helped hundreds or even thousands of travelers get a second valid passport. They will be able to guide you and make sure that you can show the right kind of travel documentation to qualify for a second valid passport. They’ll also be able to get your new passport for you very quickly… which you’ll probably need, to get you ready to jet off on your next trip!

Source: https://passportinfo.com/second-passport-valid-for-four-year/

Passport Cards: Your Questions Answered

US passport cards are becoming increasingly popular… and that means that more and more travelers have questions about passport cards! At PassportInfo.com, we love answering your questions. Recently, we’ve had a lot of travelers inquire about passport cards, so we’ve compiled this article to answer the most popular questions.

Q. If I already have a passport book, do I have to send it in to get a passport card?
Yes, you will have to send in your passport book when you apply for a passport card. Your passport book will be returned when your card is issued. We recommend putting a sticky note on the book’s cover that reads “Do Not Cancel – Passport Card Request.”

Q. Will my passport card have the same number as my passport book?
No, your card will have a different number. Separate number formats are used for passport books and passport cards.

Q. My passport book expires in two years, but I want to get a passport card. Will my passport card expire at the same time as my passport book?

What Do I Need to Know About Passports? Your Top Passport Questions Answered

Do you have questions about US passports? No matter your question, you can find detailed answers here on PassportInfo.com. But for those of you in a hurry, who want your question answered ASAP, we’ve compiled this list of your top passport questions and the info you need to know.

What is a passport?

A passport is an official document that confirms your identity and citizenship. It’s an essential document for international travel.

What kind of travel requires a passport?

If you are traveling outside of the US by air, no matter where you are going, you will need to have a valid US passport book. If you are visiting Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean via land or sea, you can use a US passport card or a passport book. We recommend that all travelers maintain a valid US passport book, as it can be used for all destinations worldwide and for all forms of travel.

How long is my passport valid?

Passports issued to adults over age 16 are valid for 10 years, and passports for children age 15 and under are valid for 5 years. However, many countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months past your date of entry, so we recommend that you renew your passport at least 8 months before it expires.

How long does it take to get a passport?

If you apply for passport service by mail, it can take up to 6 to 8 weeks for your new passport to arrive. Expedited service is available by mail for an additional fee, and will have your passport back to you in 2 to 3 weeks. Faster service is available by visiting a US Passport Agency, but you’ll need to make an appointment in advance, and appointments sometimes take weeks to get. By far, the fastest and most convenient way to get a passport is to use a registered passport expediting company. These private companies are authorized by the US State Department to submit expedited passport requests, and can get your passport completed in as little as 24 hours… or less!

What do I do if my passport is lost, stolen, or damaged?

You can apply for a new passport if yours has been lost or stolen, or if it has been substantially damaged. There are special processes to replace a lost or stolen passport or a damaged one. These procedures must be followed even if your passport was expired.

Can I change my name on my passport?

If you’ve legally changed your name, you will need to follow one of two procedures to change the name on your passport. If your passport was issued less than one year ago, you can re-apply for your passport and have a new passport issued at no government fee (an expedite fee will apply, if you need your passport in a hurry.) If your passport was issued more than one year ago, you will need to renew your passport to have a new one issued in your new name.

I’ve got a difficult passport question, where can I get an answer?

Just ask us! Use our contact form to send your question to the PassportInfo.com Help Desk for a quick answer from our team of experts.

Source: http://passportinfo.com/four-trusted-traveler-programs/