Anyone considering international travel will need a passport. This applies to all U.S. citizens including children and infants. Furthermore, due to new laws, U.S. citizens are now required to carry passports for travel to border countries. The following article will explain how to get a United States passport for the first time.

It is always recommended that before anyone makes a move, they get online and read all of the rules and laws that the State Department has in place in regards to passports. These laws will sometimes change and it is best to be 100% sure of what is needed. There are other locations on the Internet that will provide this information, but the State Department is the original source and the best one to use.

Prior to applying for a passport a potential applicant must get passport photos. Passport photos can be taken at any local one-hour photo counter. Normally, the photo-counter will be able to crop your photos to passport size right in the store. Passport photos must be a certain size so that the processing center can easily place them on the passport. The process is normally relatively quick and inexpensive.

After the photos are obtained, check to make sure that all relevant documentation is on hand. Having a valid drivers license or other current government issued ID will be needed along with proof of citizenship. The applicant is also required to make photo copies of all of their documents.

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.

Anyone that is getting a passport for the first time will actually have to go to a passport office in order to turn in all of their forms. Once everything has been accepted, they can expect to receive a passport in about two months. While this may seem like a long time, it used to be much longer before the new travel laws were put in place.

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.

For many people, merely knowing how to get a U S passport can make the whole experience much easier. Take the time to educate yourself on the ins and outs of the passport process and you will surely find that while it will take some time, the process is actually not that difficult. They key is in making sure all documents are filled out correctly and that the proper documentation is submitted with the U.S. passport application form.