If you are planning on traveling outside the United States, you will need a valid passport. The following link contains important forms and requirements you will need in order to obtain or renew your passport.

www.travel.state.gov

Effective June 1st, 2009, United States citizens entering the country from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean must present a valid passport or secure I.D. to re-enter the country.

Children under 16 are exempt but must present their birth certificate or other proof of U.S. citizenship such as a naturalization certificate or citizenship card.

By implementing this requirement, the U.S. government will be completing the land and sea phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The WHTI also puts into action the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Trusted Travel Program, which provides expedited travel for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. 

More information on the new travel rules . 

If you have emergency travel, or your passport has not arrived in a timely manner please contact my district offices at 1-877-9-KOSMAS (1-877-956-7627).

Passport and Visa Links Online:

• Passport Applications and Instructions
• First Gov

Questions Asked the Most About Passports and Visas:

How do I get a passport?

• Passports are obtained through the Passport Services Division of the Department of State . Through your local passport acceptance agent, usually a Post Office, you can apply for a new passport, renew your old one, or do any of a number of things, including replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged passport, or adding new pages to your existing book. You can search for application locations near you and print out passport forms at the website.

How long will it take to get my passport?

• Passports usually take from 30 to 40 days to issue. For an extra $60.00 fee--plus the cost of 2-way overnight mail--you can "expedite" this process and receive your passport in 2 to 3 weeks.

Do I need a travel visa in addition to my passport?

• Some countries also require U.S. citizens to have a visa in order to enter. Check here with the State Department to determine whether or not you'll need a visa for travel or as a student. A visa is permission from a country to cross their borders and comes in the form of a stamp in your U.S. Passport.

Where can I find government information for overseas travel?

• Check the State Department website for travel warnings and consular information sheets that provide very helpful information about the country you plan on visiting. This is especially helpful during the current War on Terrorism. The U.S. State Department website also contains very comprehensive information on all the services it provides both stateside and abroad. This includes crisis assistance for U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad, and various travel publications available on-line.

How can I contact American Embassies and Consulates?

• Many U.S. Diplomatic Missions abroad have information on-line. For those that don't, check the State Department's Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts for addresses, and phone and fax numbers for U.S. Embassies and Consulates throughout the world.