PASSPORT BASICS

Nothing's more exciting than a trip out of the country. Who wouldn't be thrilled at the prospect of visiting the Victoria & Albert Museum in Britain, the seaside in Portugal or the Eiffel Tower in Paris? And if you have the opportunity to bring your children along on this enriching journey?

But before you pack your bags and head off to the airport, don't forget to pull out your passports and make sure everyone's up to date. If your passport has expired, if you've changed your name, or if you or your children have never applied for a passport before, you'll need to take care of all the necessary paperwork long before your plane lifts off the ground.

Applications for new passports can take up to six weeks to process and EVERY traveler -- even an infant -- must have his or her own. If you've got the time, the procedure is fairly simple. Go to the State Department's web site at http://travel.state.gov/passport_service... and read the information there.

Basically, you'll need to download, print and complete a short application, bring proof of citizenship (a birth certificate will do), two passport photos and the $35 fee to a local authorization agent. The State Department's site includes a list of local agents (typically post offices or court houses).

If you are leaving in two weeks or so and need a passport urgently, there are ways to expedite the process. You'll have to pay overnight fees on top of your application fee. Go to the State Department's site at http://travel.state.gov/passport_expedit... for additional information on expedited services.

If you're departing in less than two weeks, you can go directly to one of the government's passport service offices (see a list at http://travel.state.gov/agencies_list.ht... WARNING! These offices take appointments only. I found myself in a bind when all the appointments before my departure date were filled. In typical government fashion, there are NO instructions on the site or on the automated phone line to tell you what to do when this occurs. Makes you wonder what we're paying all those taxes for when you can't even talk to a live body...!!!

Anyway, I found myself looking for a private passport expedite service, such as American Passport Express http://americanpassport.com/Passport_Fir... They promise to deliver your passport in as little as 24 hours -- guaranteed, and for a fee, of course, which can be up to $150. But if you have to go, you have to go!

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