Anyone wishing to leave the United States, or any home country for that matter, will need to know how to get a U.S. passport. Today, international travel, even to border countries, requires that passport documentation be used to enter any country from another country. We are going to try and explain the process to make the whole experience easier for first time passport applicants.

The first thing everyone should do before applying for a passport is visit the U.S. Department of State website to read up on any new passport laws or regulations and to check the current estimated passport processing time. The U.S. Department of State is the government agency that oversees international travel as well as U.S. diplomatic relations with foreign countries. The State Department website is the best resource for passport information.

Passport photos are going to be needed are the complete responsibility of the applicant. While some passport centers will offer this service for an additional fee, they can usually be obtained for less money as some local photo shops. If that is the source of the photos, just make sure that they know the photos are being used for a passport so that they are sized correctly.

In addition to the photos, every applicant must also have a valid government issued ID. Things such as a drivers license or military ID are acceptable. They will also need a birth certificate or other document that proves citizenship. Photocopies of all original documents will also be needed to speed up the application process.

Application centers are normally in U.S. Post Offices. First time applicants must apply in person at a certified passport application center. A full list of approved application centers can be found on the State Department website. An applicant must bring passport photos as well as the two forms of ID and photocopies of the ID to the application center.

While some things can be handled online or via mail, anyone who is applying for the first time will be required to do so in person. Once they have submitted all of their information and it has been checked and approved, the passport should arrive in about six weeks. This is a huge improvement as before the latest passport rule changes happened, people were known to wait for almost a full year before they received their passport.

If that time period is not acceptable, there are other services that can be used from the State Department or private agencies that will get the passport there quicker. In dire emergencies, there is also a 24 hour passport service that is available, but it is quite expensive. If a private agency is used, their fees get piled on top of the fees that the government charges.

Clearly, obtaining a passport for international travel can be time consuming, but not a difficult process. Anybody with additional questions concerning how to get a U S passport should consult the State Department website. Filling out a U.S. passport application form is a small price to pay for the experience of international travel. What are you waiting for? Get a passport and get out in the world.