Get A Passport

The First and probably most important thing you should do to get out of the country is go get yourself a valid passport. If you already have one, you're good to go. Passports last for ten years, so make sure yours is update. My application for passport is currently being processed, and the normal wait time is 4-6 weeks, but they can be expedited to a 10 day wait for an extra charge.

You're gonna need to bring two checks, one for the State Department and one for your County Passport Office. The total charge for a Passport is going to be around $100. The State Department charge is $67 and I would imagine the County charge is around $35. Mine was $40, but that also includes a charge for having two photos taken.

The photos are a tricky area, I recommend going to your County Courthouse to apply for the passport (that's what I did) because they will take your pictures there. Other places may or may not also take your picture there, you should call there before going. Here's a handy dandy link to locate the Passport Offices close to you: Passport Office Locator. The photo's are tricky because as a general rule they will not accept photographs taken in a photobooth. Most CVS's will do passport photos as well. The State Department has specific requirements for the passport photos, so if you're going to do it yourself or have a private photographer do it you should be aware that you need two identical 2 x 2 inch photographs of you in plain dress (no uniforms, no hats, no sunglasses).

You will need to bring a birth certificate (with seal, not a copy) or some other valid proof of US citizenship, your social security number, and state issued photo ID (driver's license, government ID, etc) . They will take the birth certificate and return it with the passport, so make sure that you have a copy of it or that you won't be needing to use, in the next month.

If you are a minor age 14 and over may need the consent of a parent or guardian as to provide proof of identity, this may not be a problem if you have a state issued photo ID or driver's license. If you are under the age of 14 you will need both parents or guardian's present to provide consent and cosign your application. If I missed anything, here's a link to a State Department FAQ about applying in person: How To Apply In Person for a Passport.

For information about renewing go HERE and if you have anymore questions visit the US Department of State's section of Passports.

I went on a Friday at 2pm and was out of there before 2:30. It's a relativity quick and painless experience when compared to dealing with other bureaucratic offices.

P.S. Passport Offices have official copies of the passport application that are the ones that have to be filled out. If you download a pdf version and print it out, you will just be wasting ink and paper. Unless you want practice on filling out personal information :p