Blog Post #1 How do I apply for a Passport?

How do I apply for a passport?

For many Washburn students, we are told at the beginning of every semester, we need to study abroad before we graduate. Whether it’s with the mass media department to Paris for spring break or with the Spanish teacher to a Central America country, you need a passport. Even to drive to Canada or Mexico you need at least a passport card.

Here are a list of Study Abroad opportunities with Washburn.

U.S. Passport and International Travel

Process to obtaining passport or passport card, very simple and straightforward. If you’ve filled out a job application or a college application you should be able to fill out this application. You’ll have to know the basic things such as, name, address, Social Security number, your parent’s information and someone as an emergency contact.

Now it’s very important that you don’t sign the application. You have to sign it in person when you submit the application.

Here’s a little tip when picking where to submit your application. You have to make an appointment and the more busier post offices tend to not have many openings. So, when I applied for my pass port card I called around, I found that the post office on north Lyman road had the most openings. And for an extra fee of about $15 you can take your picture there. The downtown office didn’t offer that.

Here is what you need to bring with you to your appointment.

1)Passport photo. This has to a pass port approved photo. Most Walgreen photo centers can do this, so can Wolfes camera store downtown.

2) You must have a check or money order. Money orders are very easy to obtain from your back, but some banks my charge for this. And it must be made out to the “U.S. Department of State”.

Depending on what you are needing the cost can be anywhere from $75-200. I all depends on how soon you need it and if you are purchasing both the card and book. 

3) Proof of U.S. Citizenship such as Birth Certificate or if you were not born in the U.S. a Certificate of Naturalization, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Citizenship Certificate or a previous U.S. passport. I am very protective over my birth certificate, so if you’re like me be prepared to depart with it for 4-6 weeks. I actually made a copy of mine just in case something happened.

4) You need a valid photo ID or Driver’s License, to fly anywhere you need one of these. So, if you don’t have one just visit your local DMV. If you don’t have either, this tells you what you can use instead. https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/identification.html

The appointments are normally last 15-20 mins. Comment with any questions you have