Passports

Before you can travel internationally (even to neighboring countries) you need a valid US Passport. In addition, your passport MUST NOT expire within 6 Months of Travel. BEFORE you commit to a pricey trip – check that everything is valid and you know where your passport is (THAT ALSO INCLUDES NAME CHANGES (marriage, divorce, etc.)). I had a client last year not be able to go on a Scotland trip due to a name that wasn’t changed after marriage – it happens.

Every year I witness disappointed travelers that are denied going on trips of a lifetime because their passport was not in order. While they tell you that it generally takes 4-6 weeks – it often takes longer – faster 2-3 weeks will cost more.

As a frequent traveler who doesn’t like my passport ever being away for long, I have invested the extra fee to use an expeditor which gets my passport through in several days. You can also walk your passport through yourself if under time constraint and if you are near a passport office.

There is a new on-line passport renewal service Hello Gov (https://hellogov.com/passports). This is a private company that works with the US Government much like an expeditor. At this writing I haven’t personally used (although mine is up for renewal this year). Fees start at approx. $200 – which is similar to expeditors I’ve used in the past.

Even if you aren’t planning a trip outside the country this year – if you or your children currently do not hold a valid passport – there is no time like the present – never know when an opportunity to travel might occur.