28/09/2015
Passport Information
US passports, good for 10 years, cost $135 ($110 to renew). The fee for minors under 16 (including infants) is $105 for a passport good for five years — kids under 16 must apply in person with at least one parent and the other parent’s notarized permission.
You can apply at some courthouses and post offices, as well as municipal buildings, such as your City Hall. For details and the location of the nearest passport-acceptance facility, see the US Department of State’s travel site or call 877-487-2778. Processing time varies; the current wait is posted on the State Department website. During busier periods, a six-week wait is common. One or two weeks after you apply, you can check online for the status of your passport application and its estimated arrival date.
If you need your passport in less than six weeks, tack on an additional $60 expediting fee (plus overnight shipping both ways), and you’ll get it by mail in two to three weeks. In a last-minute emergency situation, call the above number and speak to a customer-service representative. If you can prove that you have to leave within two weeks (by showing a purchased airline eticket or a letter from work requiring you to travel overseas on short notice), you may be able to receive a passport in a day or so. Make an appointment to go in person to the nearest US Passport Agency and pay the additional $60 fee; they’ll issue your new passport in 24 to 72 hours. Keep an eye on your passport’s expiration date. Most European countries require that your passport be valid for at least three months after your ticketed date of return to the United States (Russia requires a six-month window). This means that even if your passport doesn’t expire for a few months, you may still be denied entry to a country. Check your destination country’s requirements, and if necessary, get your passport renewed before you go. Countries can have surprising entry requirements. For example, the Czech Republic and Poland technically require visitors to carry proof of medical insurance (your health insurance card usually suffices). While it’s virtually unheard of that a border guard would actually request this, it’s worth knowing about. For requirements per country, see the US Department of State’s travel site