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Passports

A U.S. passport identifies the bearer as a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, and is a request to foreign governments to permit travel or temporary residence in their territories and access to all lawful, local aid and protection. Additionally, a U.S. passport allows bearers access to U.S. consular services and assistance while abroad and re-entry into the U.S.  To obtain a U.S. Passport, qualified residents must apply to the U.S. State Department – Bureau of Consular Affairs.  Routine processing of a passport application generally takes about 4 – 6 weeks from the time of application. Except in certain circumstances, passports are valid for 10 years.  Applicants are encouraged to renew your passport six months prior to its expiration.

More information regarding passports is available by visiting the Department of State’s travel website at http://travel.state.gov.

Passport Assistance

If you are in urgent need of a first-time passport or passport renewal, my office may be able to expedite the processing of these applications.

For assistance, please contact Saul Hernandez (in my Washington, DC office) at (202) 225-3101 or via e-mail.

First Time Applicants

The following items are required for the processing of a FIRST-TIME applicant:
  • Two (2) current passport photos
  • Birth certificate (original or certified copy)
  • Check or money order made out to “Passport Service”
  • Expedited Service: $195.00
  • Regular Service: $135.00
Passport Renewals
If your passport has recently expired, or will expire soon, the following items are required to complete processing:
  • Two (2) current passport photos
  • Your expired passport
  • Check or money order made out to “Passport Services”
  • Expedited service: $170.00
  • Regular service: $110.00

Visa Requirements

A visa is permission from a country to cross their borders and comes in the form of a page inserted in your U.S. Passport. Generally speaking, travelers are required to mail their passport to the embassy or consulate of the country they plan to visit.  Accordingly, travelers should determine whether a visa is required for entry, and allow sufficient time for processing.

 

To determine country-by-country visa requirements click here.

Travel Advisories

The U.S. State Department website provides up-to-date travel warnings and consular information sheets for foreign countries, and travelers are encouraged to review this information prior to visiting. The Travel and Living Abroad section of the State Department Website also contains a comprehensive list of the services it provides, which includes crisis assistance for U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad, and various travel publications available online.

American Embassies and Consulates General

Many U.S. diplomatic missions abroad have a Web site, which can be found on the list of U.S. embassies and consulates.