If there’s one thing I love, it’s travel – especially international travel.
But if there’s one thing I hate, it’s scammers who prey on innocent people.
And, unfortunately, there are a ton of scammers and disreputable companies ready to jump on people trying to get a passport to travel abroad for the first time. You must beware!
That’s why I’m writing this post. Even as a longtime international traveler and someone who was pretty much born with a passport (okay, not really but I definitely had one soon after birth), I still almost got scammed once when it was time to renew my passport!
Getting your first passport for international travel is such an exciting thing – a rite of passage as a citizen of the world. The process shouldn’t be fraught with stress and financial woes due to unsavory, scammy companies just out to make a buck.
Here is the truth about getting your first passport: it’s actually pretty easy and affordable to do as long as you do it well in advance of when you need it!
You just have to watch out for – and ignore – all the various companies offering to help expedite the passport process. They will charge up to of hundreds of dollars and you do NOT need any of them. That’s why I call them scammers!
To get started with your new passport application, simply go to your local post office or visit the USPS online to fill out an application. Fill out the form, but don’t sign it. Then, bring your unsigned form along with proof of your identity (driver’s license, ideally) and proof of your citizenship (birth certificate, usually) to the post office. You can book an appointment online, or some post office locations do have walk-in passport hours.
A post office employee will witness your signature. They will also take your passport photo, unless you already got one taken and bring it with you to the appointment. Remember: for passport photos, you must have a neutral expression. No smiling allowed!
Then, you’ll have to pay some fees – $35 to 50 to the post office and about $130 to 160 to the state department. You can write a check for these fees or pay by money order. You can pay additional fees to speed up the process and get your passport faster, but hopefully you’ve got plenty of time so you don’t need to worry about paying rush charges.
Then, after you’ve sent in your application and fees, current wait time for US passports is about four to six weeks. While you wait, you can daydream about all the gorgeous international trips you’ll be taking with your new passport. I like to build out Pinterest or Trello boards for each possible destination!
Once you have your passport in hand, let the travel begin. Collecting passport stamps as you pass through international airports and enter other countries is so much fun! It’s one of the best free travel souvenirs, in my opinion.
Having a passport makes me feel like a true global citizen – like I can go anywhere and do anything. It’s a very special document and, once you have your passport, you’ll want to make sure to keep it updated (every ten years) and not let it expire.
In addition, some countries are funny about letting travelers in on a short-term passport (meaning it’s about to expire within six months), so you may even want to renew it early.
Got any other passport-related questions that I haven’t answered? Let me know in the comments below or over on Facebook or Instagram! Until then, happy travels.
