passport questions

[Sparx]

okay, i don't have a passport. but my family is currently trying to sell a house in seattle. when it sells my mom and i are going to fly up there and spend a few days in seattle with my dad, helping him pack up all the stuff in it and everything. my mom was looking to take a ferry to BC, Canada one day, and we need a passport for that.

i've been looking online for info on how to get a passport and i keep running into something called a "passport card" what is this? do i need this? it costs (i think) 130 for the passport and the passport card, but only 100 for the passport. so do i need to buy the passport card too?

 

[m!ssemmx0]

This thread reminded me that I'm going to need a passport too, for when we go to Jamaica in August. I have no idea how the process works, but my dad should know, seeing that he's had one since he was a kid.

 

[PirateSnowmen]

The passport card allows you to travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean by either car or boat. In order to fly to those places (or any other country in the world) you need a passport. You don't need both (unless you really want both).

I would reccomend getting just a regular passport, unless you're 100% sure you won't be traveling anywhere a passport is needed in the next few years.

I just applied for a new passport last week. Since I'm 18, I was able to do it by myself. If you're under 18, you need a parent/guardian with you. We did it at the post office, but not every post office does passports (around here, at least). Make sure to check online for places in your area that deal with passports. Once you get to the post office (or wherever), you fill out a form. You do need a picture, but they're really strict on the rules for the picture. You can get them done at places like CVS, Walgreens, and Wal Mart, but sometimes the picture isn't accepted. I got mine done at Walgreens, and for some reason they wouldn't accept it as the passport picture. Since the picture I had taken wasn't accepted, I ended up having it done at the post office too, but it's more expensive there.

That's pretty much it. It's really not hard to get one. Just make sure you look up the required documents you need to bring with you. They needed my birth certificate and drivers license.

 

[mebbradley]

I just got my passport last weekend for Germany this summer and something that you need to know is that they WILL take your birth certificate and mail it back to you.

 

[PirateSnowmen]

I just got my passport last weekend for Germany this summer and something that you need to know is that they WILL take your birth certificate and mail it back to you.

Ah, yes. I forgot to mention that. They told me that it's likely the passport will get to you first, followed by the birth certificate. Basically, don't be alarmed if your passport and birth certificate arrive separately.

Also, if your birth certificate looks strange, they will question you about it
Apparently my birth certificate doesn't look like others and the lady was skeptical that it was real. She said she had never seen one like it before.

 

[MKBekka]

Ok, you'd think I'd know more about this since I've been to so many places, but I don't know as much as I thought. go to your post office. They should be able to tell you what you need! Canada's a great place, but i've never been to BC, I was in Alberta.

 

[Babyjustrun]

The card itself is generally for people who travel across the border a lot, such as truck drivers or people who sell cars (a lot of people buy cars in the States here and resell them). I think it's called the Nexus card? They're finally offering it in Canada now I think.

Anyways, passport makes more sense to get, that way you've got all the bases covered.

 

[Sparx]

thanks everyone!

the cost of the passport alone is a lot lower than the passport/card, so i think i'll just get the passport, since the card isn't really that necessary.