Passport, how to get one

[wetcat007]

How does one go about getting a passport? I've never been outside the US before and was thinking about going on a trip to Holland with some friends on vacation. I don't know where to start or what's involved..

 

[alien42]

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

 

[Strk]

You get a picture taken for it (a lot of drug stores do them) and go to the main Post Office branch in your area. Some towns will do them at their Town/City Hall, but call first because most of them do not. The rest is just filling out a little paperwork, paying a fee and waiting.

 

[Vincent]

You can get them through some post offices. Check usps.gov.

 

[wyvrn]

Click

Check above page for details. Basically there is a state department, and passport acceptance facilities (like post offices, government agencies). You go in, pay for your pictures and passport, fill out forms, and they send it to the state department for processing. You can pay more for 2-week processing, or if you have a flight planned, can go to the state dept. for same day processing.

 

[illusion88]

You can rush it if you need it soon. It costs a pretty penny though.

 

[jemcam]

Originally posted by: illusion88
You can rush it if you need it soon. It costs a pretty penny though.

Not really. I paid for the rush job on my passport since they guarantee it in like 10 days. I received in less than 5. I think I paid an extra $50 or less for the rush, which I gladly paid.

The whole thing cost me less that $150.

BTW, Kinkos does pictures also.