Carl Levin - United States Senator for Michigan: Helping You

Request Passport Help

Travel & Passports

Travel and Passports

For business or pleasure, Michiganians are world travelers. Whether it’s a weekend trip to Canada or a long journey around the globe, travel is crucial to Michigan’s economy and to the rich cultural connections we have around the world. Our federal government’s role is to make that travel as efficient and safe as possible, and a wealth of resources is available to help to with travel documents and information about your destination.

Please take a few minutes to read the information below and see if it answers your questions. We have included several links to the State Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection that may be helpful to you as well.

If you need my office’s assistance, please click on the blue "Request Passport Help" button on the left to fill out the online form and privacy release and return it to my Detroit office. Please allow up to 30 days from the day we receive your release for my office to contact you. If you are in need of a passport for an emergency, please call my Detroit office at (313) 226-6020 or TTY/Voice toll-free (800) 851-0030 (in state)

Carl Levin

General Information - Travel

Click each section below to learn more about it.

Role of U.S. Embassies and Consulates »

U.S. Embassies and Consulates are located throughout the world and provide a variety of services to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are traveling outside of the United States. Embassies and consulates are also responsible for issuing visas and notifying U.S. citizens of travel warnings. When traveling outside of the United States, you may want to contact a nearby U.S. Embassy or Consulate to let them know where you are staying and how long you will be in the area.

Travel.State.gov »

Travel.State.gov, the website of the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the State Department, provides comprehensive information for the international traveler including:

International Travel – Administered by the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS), this site offers tips for traveling and living abroad, travel alerts and warnings.
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) – STEP is a free service for U.S. citizens traveling to or living in a foreign country. STEP allows you to enter information about your upcoming trip abroad so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency.
Emergencies and Crises – The ACS assists embassies and consulates in providing emergency services to Americans traveling or living abroad. U.S. citizens can call Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747 (from overseas: 202-501-4444) for assistance.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative »

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires U.S. citizens returning home from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda by land or sea to show one of the following travel documents:

The WHTI requires U.S. citizens returning home from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda by air to present a U.S. passport. This applies to everyone including newborns, infants and children with only a very few exceptions.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection »

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), one of the components of the Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for securing our borders. As part of their mission, CBP operates several programs:

Trusted Traveler Programs provide expedited travel for pre-approved, low risk travelers.

Global Entry Program – The Global Entry Program allows an expedited clearance for pre-approved, low- risk travelers returning to the United States from abroad. Participants may enter the United States by using automated kiosks located at select airports.
FAST Driver Program – The FAST (Free and Secure Trade) Driver cards are Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant documents for entry into the United States by land or sea. FAST Driver includes the U.S./Canada FAST Driver Program and the U.S./Mexico FAST Driver Program.
NEXUS Program – The NEXUS card can be used as an alternative to a passport for air, land, and sea travel into the United States for U.S. and Canadian citizens.
SENTRI Program – SENTRI (Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection) participants undergo a thorough background check and are issued a Radio Frequency Identification Document (RFID) that will identify their status upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry. A sticker decal issued for their vehicle or motorcycle allows SENTRI users access to dedicated primary lanes into the

Applying for a Passport »

The Passports section of the Travel.State.gov website provides comprehensive information on the application process for passports and passport cards including fees, forms, processing times, application status, lost or stolen passports, and more.

U.S. Passport Cards can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.

Renewing a passport »

By Mail — You can renew your passport by mail if you meet all of these criteria. Your most recent U.S. Passport:

Is undamaged and can be submitted with your application
Was issued when you were 16 or older
Was issued in the last 15 years
Was issued in your current name or you can legally document your name change

In Person — If you do not meet all four statements above, you must submit your passport application in person.

Routine Service »

The processing time for routine passport applications is approximately 4-6 weeks from time of application.

Expedited Service »

Processing time for expedited service for passport applications, including overnight delivery to and from the passport agency, is approximately 2-3 weeks door-to-door.

Urgent Requests »

The Detroit Passport Agency schedules appointments if you need your U.S. passport in less than two weeks for international travel, or if you need your U.S. passport within four weeks to obtain a foreign visa. You can make an appointment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by using the automated appointment system at 1-877-487-2778. Appointments are available from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. The address is 211 West Fort Street, 2nd floor, Detroit, MI 48226-3269.

Applicants in need of a passport for an emergency should contact my Detroit office at (313) 226-6020 or (800) 851-0030 (in state).

My office can help you understand your rights and responsibilities relative to various federal programs and help you work through a problem you may have with a federal agency. Please allow up to three weeks for my office to contact you. If your issue is time sensitive, please call my Detroit office at (313) 226-6020 or toll-free (800) 851-0030 (in state).

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Primary Contact Info - Preview

Salutation *

First Name *

Middle Name

Last Name *

Suffix

Street Address *

Street Address (2)

City *

State *

Zip Code *

Primary Phone *

Secondary Phone

e-mail

Federal Agency Involved *

With which office is your claim pending?

Contacted another congressional office?*

Request *

Destination

Departure Date

Passport/Passcard Locator Number *

Description of Request - Preview

Description
(please describe the problem in as much detail as necessary)

Preview and Send Request

Please review the information on this page. If you need to make any changes, click on the Edit button to return to the previous page.

To submit your request to my office, press the Print and Submit button. This will generate a PDF containing all of the information you have entered as well as a privacy release form. Please print the form, sign and date the last page, and return the form in its entirety to my Detroit office by fax or mail.

Although the information on your form will be submitted to my office electronically, we cannot open an inquiry on your behalf until we receive your signed form.

Edit

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Once we have received your signed authorization, my staff will begin assessing how we can help. Please allow up to 30 days from the day we receive your release for my office to contact you. Thank you.