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How Long is a US Passport Valid?
A normal adult passport is valid for 10 years from the date of issue.
Generally US passports validity can not be extended and must be
renewed (replaced) upon expiration except by US Embassies in emergency
situations. In some cases, applicants may receive reduced validly
passports as a result of a history of loosing passports.
Children's passports (less the 16 years old) are valid for five
years, except for infants who often receive passports valid for
one or two years.
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What is the 6 Month Validly Rule?
As a rule of thumb, US passports must be valid for a minimum of
six months past the date of entry into a foreign country. This rule
exists to protect the traveler should they encounter medical, legal
or other issues resulting in an unforeseen extended stay in the
country.
Some countries are more relaxed on this regulation. Most countries
in Western Europe indicate three months of validity are required
and countries such as China routinely allow people to enter with
one month of validly remaining. But any of these counties can and
do enforce a six month policy at the discretion of the immigration
officer.
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Can I Use an Expired Passport?
No. An expired passport is not valid for travel into a foreign country.
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What is an "Electronic Passport" and how can I
tell if I have one?
The U.S. Electronic Passport (e-passport) is the same as a regular
passport with the addition of a small contactless integrated circuit
(computer chip) embedded in the back cover. The chip securely stores
the same data visually displayed on the photo page of the passport,
and additionally includes a digital photograph. The inclusion of
the digital photograph enables biometric comparison, through the
use of facial recognition technology, at international borders.
The U.S. e-passport also has a new look, incorporating additional
anti-fraud and security features.
Since August 2007, the U.S. has been issuing only e-passports.
Passports without chips will still be valid for the full extent
of their validity period.
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Can I Have Two Passports?
Persons making frequent international trips sometimes need a second
passport. The most common reason a second passport is required is
that travelers must submit their passport to an embassy to secure
a visa for travel to that country, however the person using his/her
passport to travel to another country while the visa application
is being processed. In such circumstances, the passport agency will
issue a duplicate or second limited validity passport for a period
of time - usually two years.
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What Do I Do If I Lost My Passport?
If you are unable to locate your passport it is recommended that
you file a report with your local police and submit a government
form (DS-64) to the US State Department to invalidate that passport.
You may apply for a new passport (you can not renew a passport you
do not have in your possession) and submit the DS-64 form with your
application for a new passport.
For detailed instructions on replacing your lost or stolen passport,
click here.
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Who Signs a Child's Passport?
If the child is under 16 a parent must sign the passport. In the
space provided for the signature, the mother or father must print
the child's name and then sign their own name with their signature
and in parenthesis by the parent's signature, write the word (mother)
or (father).
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What is a Visa?
A visa is a permit issued by a foreign country allowing an individual
U.S. citizen to travel to the issuing country. The visa is issued
in the U.S. by the embassy or consulate of the country to which
you are traveling. Each country that requires a visa has its own
requirements, fee and application forms.
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Why Do Some Countries Require Visas?
There are many reason that countries (including the US) require
visitors to obtain visa. The most obvious is to know who is in your
county. Embassies may perform public knowledge background checks,
verify against international "No-Fly" databases and previous
entry records. Visas are also used to control entry into countries
and the paperwork on file can be used to locate a traveler for personal,
legal or other reasons.
Remember, when traveling to a foreign country you are a guest of
that country and bound by the laws governing that country. Although
US Embassies can assist US travelers oversees, the individual is
under the jurisdiction of the country which they are in.
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Why Do I Have to Send My Passport?
A Visa is a stamp in a passport. In order to process your visa request,
the Embassy or consulate will require your passport to affix the
visa to.
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Why Do I Need a Blank Page?
US passports are generally issued with 24 visa pages and three "amendment"
pages. Each of the visa pages is broken into four squares. One square
will be used for each entry into a foreign country and filled with
an ink stamp. Visas typically take an entire page (all four squares)
therefore, you must have at least one blank visa page for the visa
to be affixed to. IT is illegal for a visa to cover a previous entry
stamp.
Amendment pages can not be used for visas. These pages are dedicated
for noting changes made to the passport - for example, that additional
visa pages were added or due to legal reasons a persons name was
changed.
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Is My Visa Valid if My Passport is Not?
Typically once a passport is expired or cancelled, all visas within
the passport become invalid. Visas can not be renewed. You will
need to apply for a new visa once you have secured your new passport.
There are limited exceptions to this rule, Brazil and India will
occasionally let people enter on a valid passport without a visa
if they provide an expired or cancelled passport with a visa indicating
that it is still valid. It is not recommended that this be attempted
as entry is often denied.
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What's the Difference Between a Tourist and Business Visa?
Tourist visas are typically for one or two entries for limited periods
of time to cover sightseeing or other tourist needs. Business visas
can be issued for longer durations and stays but require that a
legal US company take responsibility for the traveler and often
that a legal company within the destination country invite the traveler.
If you already poses a business visa and wish to travel to that
country, you do not need to apply for a tourist visa as a business
visa supersedes a tourist visa. This does not work the other way.
If you poses a tourist visa and wish to travel on business, you
must apply for a business visa.
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How Long Does it Take to Get a Visa?
Each country has their own processing times and there are often
multiple processing times for a country depending on the visa type.
Generally visas take between a few days and two weeks.
For detailed visa information for your destination, please click
here.
If you have a multiple destination trip, use our multi-destination
helper.
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Information on US Passports?
Information for US citizens wishing to obtain US passports quickly
can be found using the following links:
New US Passports (adult)
Renew US Passports
(adult)
Adding Visa Pages
to a Valid US Passport
Replacing a Lost
or Stolen US Passport (adult)
Name Changes on
a Valid US Passport (adult)
Children's US Passports
(minor)
Duplicate US Passports
(adult)
Damaged or Mutilated
US Passports (adult)
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Information on Travel Visas?
To view requirements for a particular destination, please select
the destination using the drop down box below or click
here for a list of countries.
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Corporate and Affiliate Accounts?
Companies wishing to establish a relationship with BPS Passports may either contact our offices directly or fill in a
breif form by clicking here.
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BPS Background?
Want to learn a little more abbout us? Have you checked out the
"About Us"
page?
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Contact BPS?
You may contact BPS and Visa by visiting the contact
us page or using the information below:
917-935-4084
1-917-217-3222
Non-US Citizens Traveling to the US
In general, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the
United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa
for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence.
The "visitor" visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons
desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1)
or for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2). However, travelers from
certain eligible countries may abe able to visit the U.S. without
a visa on the Visa Waiver Pilot Program,
Applicants for visitor visas must demonstrate that:
1. The purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S. for business,
pleasure, or medical treatment;
2. That they plan to remain for a specific, limited period;
3. That they have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other
binding ties which will insure their return abroad at the end of
the visit.
Visa Waiver Pilot Program The Visa Waiver Pilot Program (VWPP)
enables citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S.
for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a
U.S. visa. Currently there are 28 participating countries in the
VWPP, including:
Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal,
San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the
United Kingdom and Uruguay.
As of the writing of this page, Greece was in the process of also
being included, but the process had not been completed.
To qualify, travelers from participating countries must:
1. Have a valid passport issued by the participating country and
be a citizen (not only a resident) of that country;
2. Be seeking entry for 90 days or less as a temporary visitor;
3. If entering by air or sea, have a round-trip transportation
ticket issued on s carrier that has signed an agreement with the
U.S. government to participate in the waiver program, and arrive
in the United States aboard such a carrier;
4. Have proof of financial solvency and hold a completed and signed
visa waiver arrival/departure form (I-94W), on which he/she has
waived the right to a hearing of exclusion or deportation.
These forms will generally be available from participating carriers,
and at land-border ports-of-entry. Travelers should consult carriers
before departure to verify which ones are participating. Entry at
a land border crossing point from Canada or Mexico is permitted
under the VWPP. Travelers who apply for entry at a land border crossing
point are not required to present round-trip transportation tickets
or arrive at the border entry point aboard a carrier who has signed
an agreement with the U.S. to participate in the VWPP. All other
VWPP requirements apply to such travelers. Visitors applying for
entry under this program are allowed to remain 90 days (no extensions
granted) and cannot change their status. Travelers coming under
the VWPP cannot work (be employed by a US company) or study.
Note: The I94W must be an original. Emails, pdfs or any other version
are not acceptable.
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Immunizations & Shots
If you are planning to travel outside of the US, you may require
immunizations, depending on your travel destination, the length
of your stay and whether or not your routine immunizations are up-to-date.
Since it can take several weeks for an immunization to protect you
against a disease, you should consult a travel health clinic or
your family physician 6 to 8 weeks before your trip in order to
allow enough time for the vaccines or immunizing agent to take effect.
Although few countries actually require immunizations for entry,
the CDC (Center for Disease Control) encourages them for many destinations.
Although sometimes a little overly cautious, travelers are encouraged
to review the CDC's information in order to make educated decisions
regarding their health.
To visit the CDC's web site for specific requirements or recommendations,
click here.
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General Travel Safety
Unwary travelers can make easy targets for thieves because they
stand out in a crowd, are unused to their surroundings, and are
generally carrying money, credit cards and other valuables. You
can reduce your risk of being mugged or robbed by taking a few simple
precautions.
General Safety Suggestions Include:
• Keep your travel plans, including accommodation details,
to yourself.
• Try not to travel at night.
• Avoid 'seedier' areas of the cities you visit, especially
at night.
• Ask your hotel manager for advice on 'safe' versus 'unsafe'
local areas.
• As a general rule, city streets that include children and
women suggest the area is safe.
• Carry contact details of the American embassy with you at
all times.
• Keep a photocopy of your passport and all other important
documents in a safe place.
• Use ATM's during the day, when there are people around.
• Try to rely more on credit cards and travelers cheques than
cash.
• If you are mugged, don't fight back. It is better to lose
a few dollars than get injured.
• Avoid incidents such as fights, riots or civil disturbances
at all times.
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Registering With US Embassy's
Travel registration is a free service provided by the U.S. Government
to U.S. citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country.
Registration allows you to record information about your upcoming
trip abroad that the Department of State can use to assist you in
case of an emergency. Americans residing abroad can also get routine
information from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
For more information, please visit the US State Departments registration
page here.
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Traveling With Children
In an effort to keep children safe while traveling internationally,
many governments have instituted procedures at entry and exit points
that require parents to show documentary evidence of their relationship
to all accompanying minors (children under age 18).
Additionally, many countries require that children under 18, when
traveling without one or both parents/guardians, carry notarized
permission of the parents or legal guardian not present for the
child's travel.
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