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US Members - Remember,
Passports are needed to return to the US from Canada
All American citizens will need a valid passport if
they are flying by air in order to return home.
Those crossing the border by land or sea will need
a driver's license AND proof of citizenship
or birth certificate. This is in effect until
June 2009.
Other countries have their own rules. For complete information refer
to the Canadian Ministry of Travel and Immigration at www.cic.gc.ca
How To Get A Passport
If you don’t have a passport, if it was lost, stolen or damaged,
if it’s expired, if it was issued more than 15 years ago or when
you were under the age of 16, you should apply in person. There are
about 7,000 passport facilities located throughout the United States.
They include many post offices, courts, county or municipal offices
and some public libraries. You will need two photographs of yourself,
proof of U.S. citizenship such as a birth certificate, and a valid
form of photo identification such as a driver’s license. Renew Your Passport/Change Your Name
If you simply need to renew your passport or change
your name on it due to marriage or divorce, you can
download an application from the State Department’s website and mail it along with
the necessary fee, your old passport, any necessary documentation
such as a marriage license or divorce decree, and two new photos. Fees
To obtain a new passport, the fee for adults is currently
$97.00, renewal is $67.00. Expedited service, which
usually takes about two weeks, is an extra $60.00.
All of the fees are non-refundable.
Credit cards, debit cards, checks and money orders
are accepted as payment. For faster service, the
State Department recommends that
applicants arrange overnight delivery for sending
the application and receiving the passport. Passport Photos
Having a passport photo taken is easier than you may
think. Many discount chains, drug stores, camera
shops, and copy centers now offer passport photo service
for a fee. Some businesses
that take passport photos include Walgreens, The
UPS Store, FedEx, AAA, Kinko’s, Wal-Mart Portrait Studios, Kmart Portrait Studios,
Target Portrait Studios, Sears Portrait Studios, and JC Penney Portraits.
You’ll need two copies of a recent, color photograph of yourself
alone. The image must be a good likeness of you and be 2x2 inches
in size. The image from the bottom of your chin to the top of your
head including your hair should not be less than 1 inch and not more
than 1 3/8 inches. The photo must be clear with a full front view
of your face without dark sunglasses, a hat or other head covering
and printed on thin paper with a light, white or off-white background. For More Information
For more information and answers to frequently asked
questions, visit the State Department’s official website at
www.travel.state.gov or
the Canadian Ministry of Travel and Immigration at www.cic.gc.ca
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