<p>Hello! I will be traveling to France, Belgium, and Switzerland with a group of people from my school in June of 2008. I need to get a passport, but I don’t know very much about how to get one. I went to the website, but I didn’t find it to be very helpful. I know that you can go to somewhere like a post office, and they will take your picture, etc. I also know that there is a form the was on the website that I will have to fill out. </p>
<p>But what else is there to getting a passport? Do I need to take specific documents there with me when I’m applying for my passport? </p>
<p>Hmmm. It has the application. It tells you the photo requirements and it gives you locations of passport offices where you can take your required materials in person and get the passport same day. Mailing addresses for processing by mail. Cost and how to pay. What is not helpful about that?</p>
<p>You can get your photo at most Kinko’s or drugstores. </p>
<p>Good luck. Print the application, get your photo and documents assembled, get your payment method and send away. Be sure to allow plenty of time to receive prior to your departure.</p>
<p>You will need very specific proofs of identity, including birth certificate, photo ID, etc. Our post office did have picture services, but after paying their price, expedited service, etc., the passport folks called me and said the picture was too poor in quality for them to use. They allowed me to send another set of pictures, which I had taken at CVS. This was two years ago, and it delayed the process considerably. GGRRRR. Allow lots of time for the process. Good luck. Lorelei</p>
<p>You might want to consider your birthdate when you apply. I believe passports are good for only 5 years for children under 16. After age 16, they are good for 10 years. I’m not sure about the exact age but it’s worwhile to check it out on the application. We ran into this with our highschooler and waited a couple of months for the magic age so the new passport would be valid for 10 years, allowing for valid passport for college travel, semester abroad, etc… Save a few bucks in the process…if you have the time to wait.</p>
<p>AAA will do passport photos and if you have AAA plus, it’s free. At least at our AAA. It’s interesting that it doesn’t clearly say on the passport website that kids ages 14-17 don’t need parents to accompany them, </p>
<p>" For All Minors Ages 14 to 17:</p>
<p>Each minor child shall appear in person.
For security reasons, parental consent may be requested.
If your child does not have identification of his/her own, you need to accompany your child and present identification. "</p>
<p>And what does “may be requested” mean and when would you find that out?</p>
<p>I believe you have to have both parents present with you when you apply for a passport the first time if you’re 16 or under. (I can’t remember if I had to produce ID other than a driver’s license.) This includes even divorced parents. My ex-husband couldn’t make the application appointment for our then-15-year-old daughter, so I had to bring a notarized letter from him - even though I have full legal custody.</p>
<p>Well when folks hear “original” and “seal” I think there is a that one soul who hauls in the keepsake edition with the pink/blue ribbon and big whopping gold sticker. hehehe That was all I meant and if a kid is at school or finding the original takes time, most all agencies have expedited service …order online.</p>
<p>Hazmat-
I had to look up your profile and I see that you teach LSAT classes. As such, I find it odd that you do not wish to advise people that it is important to have an official birth certificate, whether an original, or as you aptly pointed out, a certified copy.<br>
Exactly with whom do you teach LSAT classes.</p>
<p>Why would I need to advise applicants on application requirements US Passport?
Passport website is very detailed in clarity. There was a question posed, I answered.<br>
…</p>