Protect Your Passport

Your passport is the most valuable document that you will carry abroad. It confirms your U.S. citizenship. Please guard it carefully. Do not use it as collateral for a loan or lend it to anyone. It is your best form of identification. You will need it when you pick up mail or check into hotels, embassies or consulates.

When entering some countries or registering at hotels, you may be asked to fill out a police card listing your name, passport number, destination, local address, and reason for travel. You may be required to leave your passport at the hotel reception desk overnight so that it may be checked by local police officials. These are normal procedures required by local laws. If your passport is not returned the following morning, immediately report the impoundment to local police authorities and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Passport Fraud

Law enforcement records show that U.S. passports are sometimes used for illegal entry into the United States, or by criminals abroad seeking to establish another identity. This can cause embarrassment to innocent U.S. citizens whose names become associated with illegal activities. To protect the integrity of the U.S. passport and the security of the person bearing it, consular officers overseas have found it necessary to take precautions in processing lost passport cases. These precautions may involve some delay before a new passport is issued.

Safeguard Your Passport

Carelessness is the main cause for losing a passport or having it stolen. You may find that you have to carry your passport with you because you need to show it when you cash traveler’s checks or the country that you are visiting requires you to carry it as an identity document. When you must carry your passport, hide it securely on your person. Do not leave it in a handbag or in an exposed pocket. Whenever possible, leave your passport in the hotel safe, not in an empty hotel room, and not packed in your luggage. One family member should not carry all the passports for the entire family.

Guard Against Thieves

Coat pockets, handbags, and hip pockets are particularly susceptible to theft. Thieves will use all kinds of ploys to divert your attention just long enough to pick your pocket and grab your purse or wallet. These ploys include creating a disturbance, spilling something on your clothing, or even handing you a baby to hold!

You can try to prevent theft by carrying your belongings in a secure manner. For example, consider not carrying a purse or wallet when going along crowded streets.

Women who carry a shoulder bag should keep it tucked under the arm and held securely by the strap. Men should put their wallets in their front trouser pockets or use money belts instead of hip pockets. A wallet wrapped in rubber bands is more difficult to remove without notice. Be especially cautious in a large crowd - in the subway, on buses, at the marketplace, at a festival, or if surrounded by groups of vagrant children. Do not make it easy for thieves!

I always make a color copy of my passport and visa and carry that with me and secure my passport in the hotel safe. Some countries require you to always carry your passport on your person. But, most will not have a problem if you carry a color copy.

Larry Westfall gets to Thailand whenever he can and is the author of Pattaya Crazy | Newbie”s Guide to Pattaya
Submitted by: Automatic Article Submission
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By: Richard Chapo

It’s vacation time! There are a lot of things to think about when traveling - where you want to go to and when you want to go, and how much time you’d like to spend there - but you also need to think about those little annoying things like the rules of travel, and even, getting your passport.

If you are planning to travel outside of the United States, you will need a US passport as your main form of identification while traveling. There are no exceptions to this rule except for Mexico and Canada - and those are only in specific circumstances.

The two big countries that do not require seeing your passport, at least in some circumstances, are Mexico and Canada. You do not have to show them your passport if you are visiting by land or sea. However, flying in requires a passport. Land and sea requires your birth certificate and driver’s license.

For people who have not yet had a US passport, there is a strict requirement that your passport is applied for in person. Probably the best way to do this is to look up which of your local US Post Offices accepts passport applications. Or, you can ask your post office in person.

There are other locations that will accept your passport application, if this is the first time you are applying for your passport. These include some public libraries, state, county and town municipal offices and court clerk offices. In all, there are over 9,000 spots to apply for your passport.

Complete your application ahead of time by downloading one off the web, or pick up an application and complete it on the spot. You will need to bring with you your proof of citizenship (a birth certificate is the most common) and two passport photos, identical 2″x2″ pictures.

Bring along your driver’s license, non-driver id card or other state issued identification card as well. You will need this card in order to prove your identity. It you are applying for minor children, you will need to bring them with you so you can vouch for their identity in person, as they lack this id.

Your next step is paying for the passport, which will cost you about $100 in fees. It will cost a little less for minors. You will also need to be prepared to wait for your passport to arrive - a process which can take up to eight weeks. Check the travel.gov website for updated wait times.

Be sure to apply for your passport well in advance of your date of travel, especially if you are not renewing your passport and it is a new passport application. This way, you can make sure that you get your passport in time, without having to worry about missing your trip.

Aazdak Alisimo writes about travel subjects for NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals that make great promotional gifts.

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