Who here has a passport?

[conjur]

You definitely need a visa to enter China. There are various types: typical vacation where you're staying a week or two; there long-term for work; attempting to move there; traveling through China to another country; etc.

BTW, what part of China will you be visiting?

 

[jagec]

Every country requires a "visa", technically. However, some countries grant short-term "Tourist" or "Business" visas automatically at the port of entry (in other words, they just stamp your passport and let you go). Often people refer to this as "not requiring a visa", but it isn't technically true. If you're planning on staying longer, you'll have to get a different visa. Other countries (like Russia) want you to go through a long and complicated process to get ANY visa.

Originally posted by: YoshiSato
Is there any point of having one if you never plan on leaving US soil?

Is there any point in having a condom if you never plan on having sex?

No, but you're missing out on a pretty basic experience IMHO.

 

[jumpr]

Originally posted by: TheChort

Originally posted by: YoshiSato
Is there any point of having one if you never plan on leaving US soil?

none that i can think of

It's the ultimate form of identification. You'll never need your birth certificate again if you can product a U.S. Passport.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: kranky
Well, the misinformation is piling up quickly in this thread, so just go to travel.state.gov and look up the answers to your questions.

Wait, does this mean the passport is moving on a conveyor belt with the rest of the luggage or that it's stationary in space, in this plane of reality or wtf?

I think that exceeds light speed in terms of providing access the The United States, and possibly a third world Jail Cell.

 

[YoshiSato]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: kranky
Well, the misinformation is piling up quickly in this thread, so just go to travel.state.gov and look up the answers to your questions.

Wait, does this mean the passport is moving on a conveyor belt with the rest of the luggage or that it's stationary in space, in this plane of reality or wtf?

I think that exceeds light speed in terms of providing access the The United States, and possibly a third world Jail Cell.

Trust me, you never want to spend time in a Turkish prision.

And think, the US lets people walk in with no papers at all. Unless your from Canada

 

[Svnla]

When you are visiting a third world country, a passport will help you tremendously if you ever get in trouble.

If you will visit China, I recommend you make a copy or two of your passport. Leave the original in a safe place and take the copy with you whenever you travel in China <just in case it may get lost>.

<<-------- have one, need to update it because it is over 10 years old.

Anyone knows the cost of update a passport?

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Originally posted by: YoshiSato
Is there any point of having one if you never plan on leaving US soil?

The future checkpoints we will have in all major cities.

"Your papers, citizen."

 

[AStar617]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: YoshiSato
Is there any point of having one if you never plan on leaving US soil?

Is there any point in having a condom if you never plan on having sex?

No, but you're missing out on a pretty basic experience IMHO.

IMHO, if you are leading the slightest bit of an interesting life, you really need both because you never know when you might need either on no notice, regardless of your prior plans... and you don't want to jeopardize an opportunity by having to obtain either one last-minute.

 

[BMdoobieW]

yes

 

[loic2003]

I have two.

 

[Kung Lau]

Originally posted by: dugweb
I'm in the process of applying for my passport for my trip to China this summer, but I plan on taking several out of country trips in the near future. Will this one passport accomplish the task or do I have to get a new one for each trip?

And if I dont need a new one each time, what exactly does this passport allow me to do? Can I come and go out of most any country as I please, or do I still need to get visas and stuff like that?

Thanks

As others have said, there's some less than factual information in this thread. Some of the information could be based on hearsay, or based on other citizenships or even outdated information as things in the past few years have changed since 9/11. I would refer you to the State Department for further information, assuming you're asking about a U.S. passport.

Oh, if you happen to work for the government, try to see if you can be issued a Diplomatic passport. Those work wonders.

 

[FoBoT]

i just got mine renewed, it took about 4 weeks to get it after sending in the old one and the renewal form

they are good for ten years unless you are a minor, then they are valid for 5 years

only visas have to be obtained (where needed) for each trip

have fun

 

[crownjules]

Live in the US (Permanent Resident) but have a UK passport. Unrestricted travel in Europe FTW!

 

[AdamSnow]

Yes, I have one...

I'm very glad I did too, as I needed it for ID when I was in Barbados/Grenada in January.

I would never leave my home country without it, even just to go over to the states for an afternoon.

 

[Skiddex]

im going to try and clarify a couple misconceptions in this thread. correct me if i am wrong.

A US passport will allow you to travel to many countries without a visa. even countries like Spain you can travel to without a visa. if you are planning on studying or staying in a country for an extended period of time, you will need a visa (i know this is a fact for Spain and Denmark). a visa may be enough for working overseas, but some countries require a work permit (i know this for a fact of Denmark) which you will need when applying for a job. on my US passport, i traveled to the England, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Greece, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden without any problem.

A us passport will grant you all of your US rights at any US Embassy also. If you were to find yourself in any kind of legal trouble, find your way to the nearest Embassy and the will help you out. They are highly sought after documents so as stated before, be sure to keep it with you and secure at all times. I did lose mine in the Zurich airport when flying back to Denmark, but since i had already gone through security and had a Danish student ID, they did still let me fly after some pleading.

read the government sites that have been linked, but also check out foreign travel sites as they will tell you exactly what you need.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: dugweb
I'm in the process of applying for my passport for my trip to China this summer, but I plan on taking several out of country trips in the near future. Will this one passport accomplish the task or do I have to get a new one for each trip?

And if I dont need a new one each time, what exactly does this passport allow me to do? Can I come and go out of most any country as I please, or do I still need to get visas and stuff like that?

Thanks

wow you never left your home state, huh?

Passport is an international proof of citizenship - you won't be able to travel anywhere w/o one.

<- has czech passport and US permanent residenship. Yay for free healthcare in EU

 

[azilaga]

Originally posted by: TheChort

Originally posted by: YoshiSato
Is there any point of having one if you never plan on leaving US soil?

none that i can think of

You can use it as another form of ID

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: Svnla
When you are visiting a third world country, a passport will help you tremendously if you ever get in trouble.

If you will visit China, I recommend you make a copy or two of your passport. Leave the original in a safe place and take the copy with you whenever you travel in China <just in case it may get lost>.

<<-------- have one, need to update it because it is over 10 years old.

Anyone knows the cost of update a passport?

Keep in mind you need your original to clear customs/enter the country etc. Don't try leaving your original at home in the US and enter China w/ a copy. It's not going to happen.

 

[GasX]

I have been all over and have never needed a visa. There are not a whole lot of countries (that you want to visit) that don't accept a US passport for entry - we spend too many tourism dollars for most countries to care. China is a notable exception

 

[archiloco]

i have one just in case....also helps ID me when i come back from mexico.

 

[dugweb]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: dugweb
I'm in the process of applying for my passport for my trip to China this summer, but I plan on taking several out of country trips in the near future. Will this one passport accomplish the task or do I have to get a new one for each trip?

And if I dont need a new one each time, what exactly does this passport allow me to do? Can I come and go out of most any country as I please, or do I still need to get visas and stuff like that?

Thanks

wow you never left your home state, huh?

Passport is an international proof of citizenship - you won't be able to travel anywhere w/o one.

<- has czech passport and US permanent residenship. Yay for free healthcare in EU

I've been to Canada and Mexico several times. I guess they just don't mind as much as other countries

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: dugweb
I've been to Canada and Mexico several times. I guess they just don't mind as much as other countries

By 2008, you will need a US Passport to return from Canada, Mexico, Panama, Bermuda and the Caribbean - air, sea or land.

 

[mcvickj]

"Starting in January 2008, U.S. citizens will have to show a passport or other alternative secure document that shows their identity and citizenship when they re-enter the country from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda or Panama."

Michigan is in the process of reworking the drivers license within the next two years. Our current Secretary of State was trying to work with the Department of Homeland Security to incorporate some of the features of a passport into the new license. That way you could still enter and exit without having to purchase a passport. However DHS said there isn't enough time to merge the new driver's license and passport requirements. A bunch of crap if you ask me. They just don't want the state to eat off their gravy train.

Twice a year I've been cutting through Canada on my way to New York. It looks like I will have to apply for a passport before 2008. Or take the long way around.

 

[YoshiSato]

I'm sure by 2012 we will need a "Passport "just exist as a citizen
It's call the national ID and that's the next step after the passport

When that kicks in you'll need to show your papers when moving from state to state.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: mrrman
most countries accept the passport however there are some that require visa like Spain. Its best to check with the passport office as to what country requires what before travelling. A passport is good for 5 years and if you have been convicted of a crime you will need to get a pardon before they will issue one.

You don't need to get a pardon to get a passport. I got one, and i've got federal records. All they asked for was work history, residential history, 2 forms of ID, and $80. I won't go to the US until my pardon goes through though (getting a waivered is dumb... from what i'm told, in 90% of the cases they don't issue it, and the US then have you in their database), because then the US would have me on their list, but i can certainly fly to other countries that don't have criminal background checks with Canada.