September is Passport Awareness Month

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Have you ever wanted to travel to another country and found that

a) You didn't have a passport?
b) The passport you do have will expire in 6 months?
c) Your passport is already expired?

These are common situations that many travelers find themselves in when they try to travel abroad. A Passport is an International Traveler’s Best Friend.

Having a passport gives you the freedom to travel. Not just by cruise or air, but by car, bus, or rail. If you want to drive North in Canada, you will need a passport to gain entry. Otherwise, you've just taken a very scenic road trip in the northern U.S, before you head back home. Following are some scenarios and suggestions to ensure your passport is travel ready:
 

Scenario: You're planning a Caribbean cruise for next year but your passport expired.

Solution: Avoid expedited fees and ensure your passport will be processed in time by renewing your passport at least six months before your trip. Plan ahead so that nothing will stand in your way of sipping daiquiris on the beach. Renewals can be made by mail or in person at some local courthouses, post offices and other government facilities.
 

Scenario: You found a deal on a last-minute flight to Paris, but your passport expires in 5 months.

Solution: Many countries will not let you through customs if your passport expires in less than six months. Your Cruise Planners Travel Advisor can assist you with expedited passport and visa processing without the need for in-person appointments. Say bonjour to that!

 

Scenario: You’re traveling to India and you don’t know if you’ll need a visa.

Solution: Visa requirements depend on country, length of travel and the reason for your visit. Most short-term visits to countries in the Caribbean and Europe do not require a visa, however countries further from home, such as India, might. Have no fear, your Cruise Planners Travel Advisor can help with determining whether or not you’ll need a visa as well as assist with the processing.

 

Scenario: You’re cruising round-trip from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas but you don’t have a passport.

Solution: You may be able to circumvent passport requirements when traveling on closed-loop cruises departing from and returning to the same U.S. city. However, Cruise Planners always recommends travelers carry a passport when visiting international destinations for identification and emergency purposes.

Something else to keep in mind are the passport photos. Poor quality photos are the number one reason that passport applications are delayed during the application process. In 2015, more than 200,000 passport applications were delayed for inadequate photos. When a poor quality passport photo is received, the Department of State must notify applicants and request that a new photo be sent by mail. Passport applications submitted with photos that do not meet photo requirements could delay applications and interfere with travel plans.

Here are the top five reasons passport photos are rejected:

• Glare on glasses – Glasses should be removed for a photo.
• Photo is too light or too dark – Photo must be clear to reflect true skin tone.
• Old photo – Photo must have been taken within six months of submitting a passport application.
• Improper head size – Photo taken too close or too far away will be rejected.
• Low quality image or paper – Photo is blurry, grainy, pixelated, or printed on the wrong paper. Photos should be high resolution.

The Department of State expects record high passport demand in 2016-2018. To avoid a delay in passport applications, applicants should submit a complete passport application with a photo that meets all requirements.

Cruise Planners Cruisitude^TM Tip:

Save a copy of your passport in the Passport Vault on the Cruise Planners mobile app so you’ll be able to access a virtual copy of your passport from anywhere in the world just in case you need to reference your passport information. 

As Cruise Planners Travel Advisors and Land & Sea Specialists, we can provide travelers with an easy way to process passports and documents accurately and swiftly. Wherever and whenever you’re going, your Travel Advisors are here to help you figure out the best solution to make sure you’re ready to go!

Till next time!


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