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Choosing the Right Student Travel Company & Applying for a Passport

By Josette BonafinocloseAuthor: Josette Bonafino Name: Josette Bonafino
Site: http://www.cqtours.com/
About: Josette Bonafino is the founder and Director of Culture Quest Tours, an educational tour company that specializes in custom-tailored travel programs. Since 1993, Culture Quest has worked with hundreds of American high school and college groups traveling to Europe, Latin American and beyond. Josette is also the co-founder and Executive Director of MYX: Multicultural Youth eXchange, a nonprofit organization that uses the arts to help youth explore cultural diversity and social issues relevant to all people. A native Philadelphian and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Josette is an avid traveler and frequently spends time in Iceland and Montserrat where she and her husband own homes. The Global Travel Guru welcomes all travel questions at josette@cqtours.comSee Authors Posts (3)

Most of my 11^th grade students need to get first time passports for our upcoming trip to Spain this summer. I need to renew mine. I went to the State Department’s passport web site, and I’m more confused than ever. Can you explain the application process in simple layman’s terms?

Gillian McLaughlin
Las Vegas, NV

Dear Gillian,

I know what you mean about that site. What a headache! Let me break it down for you:

If you are under the age of 16 or have never had a U.S Passport, you have to apply in person at one of the countless Passport Acceptance Facilities located around the country. These are generally found in libraries, courthouses, municipal government buildings and post offices. Click on http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/ to find the facility closest to you.

Both parents or legal guardians of a passport applicant under the age of 16 must be present. If only one adult can accompany the minor, the other adult must provide a notarized Statement of Consent, which can be downloaded at http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds3053/ds3053_846.html

Sixteen and 17-year olds need only apply in person with one parent or legal guardian.

Bring proof of your social security number, a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state in which you were born with both parents’ names on it and the official ID of both your parents or legal guardians if you are under 16. Their valid driver’s licenses or passports will do. If you are 16 or older, you can present your own official ID instead.

You also need to bring two identical 2″ x 2″ color photographs taken against a white background within the last six months and showing your current full-face appearance. Be sure to wear your normal street clothes, and ditch any headgear and sunglasses. You can get these photos taken at a photography or photocopy shop, or submit your own digital photos if you dare. Make sure they are clear and follow passport guidelines. Snap shots from most vending machines are unacceptable.

When you arrive at the passport facility, fill out Form DS-11, but DON’T SIGN it until your agent instructs you to do so. You can also download the form from the web at http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11/ds11_842.html.

The fee for applicants under 16 is $85, and your passport will be valid for five years. Applicants 16 or older pay $100, but your passport will be valid for 10 years. You can pay by personal check, money order and cash or by credit if applying at a post office.

Incidentally, since you are an adult, you can renew your passport by mail. Go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html to find out how or take two aspirin and write me in the morning.

Global Travel Guru