The first Passport Day in the USA was held in March 2009, and its resounding success provided a public service and awareness in the community. This year, the Postal Service™ will partner with the Department of State to participate in this year’s Passport Day in the USA event on Saturday, March 9, 2013.
If your travel plans take you outside of the United States, a passport is a must! If you already have a passport, remember to check the expiration date well in advance of your departure date. U.S. passports are issued to adults for 10 years and children under the age of 16 for five years. This means that even though your passport may be valid, your child (who may now be a 20-year-old adult) could be carrying an expired passport.
The passport book provides the traveler with the identification and proof of citizenship to travel anywhere in the world, by any conveyance; in other words, it can be used for all international travel, whether by air, land, or sea.
The passport card is a travel document that can be used for entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry. It cannot be used for international air travel. The wallet-size passport card is convenient and less expensive than the passport book and was designed for those that make frequent trips across the borders. Travelers considering the passport card should check the document requirements of the countries to be visited, as some may not accept the passport card for entry.
Whether you plan to apply for a passport book, passport card, or both, submitting your passport application is a quick trip away. With thousands of Post Office™ locations that accept passport applications, the U.S. Postal Service® makes it convenient to apply for your passport. Visit www.usps.com/passport to locate a Post Office near you that offers passport services.
For more information, contact the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778 or TDD/TTY 888-874-7793, or online at www.travel.state.gov:
n Before traveling abroad, copy the identification page in case your passport is lost or stolen.
n If your passport is lost or stolen abroad, report the loss immediately to local police authorities and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
n Before you travel, check for U.S. Department of State travel warnings at www.travel.state.gov.
n Register your trip with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at www.travel.state.gov.
— Retail Services,
Channel Access, 1-10-13
