A passport is usually a small book almost as detailed as the money we have today. Encoded with varies colors and other patterns, layers, codes that are virtually impossible to forge. In the U.S. once you obtain your passport you will notice about 10 or 11 empty pages, and (in the new passport books) you will also find an electronic sticker. Kind of like you see on the back of a credit cards or drivers licenses to further make it much harder to forge. The purpose of the passport is to show that the country you are from, i.e., The United States has granted you permission to visit any country where all you need is a passport to enter. Such as London, Madrid etc.. the list is vast. Once you arrive in your place of destination you would show your passport to the immigration check desk where they will see that you are approved for travel by your country, and if all checks out, they will stamp your passport signifying you are eligible to "visit" their country. I say visit! If you plan to live there, you will need to obtain a citizenship type visa from the country you wish to stay in. This can not be granted by your home country. Which brings us to what a visa is.

Some countries, i.e., Asian Countries, third world countries…etc, will not allow you to simply come to their country on a passport alone. You will need to obtain a visa. This is for three reasons, and was explained to me by one of the people certified to issue passports and visas at my local court house. She said, one, usually these countries do not have strong ties to the U.S, so the trust issue is not there. Two, these countries are usually communist or socialist in government and carefully monitor all who enter and leave for control. Three…Money. When you sign up for a passport you usually pay your local court house the passport fee. Mine was $79. And your passport is good for the next 10 years. But a visa you have to not only pay a fee to your country, but also to the country you wish to visit. They want a piece of the pie. Now I’m sure there’s a more politically correct way to say all this, but this is how it was explained to me, and it makes sense.

How to obtain a passport or visa. It’s simple. First do not have warrants against you. Do not be a felon, and basically have a clean record. If you do not, your application will most likely be turned down. All you do is go to your local courthouse, ask where you apply for a passport, they will tell you, and at the station you will see a form for new applicants for passports. You grab the form and fill it out. It’s not tough, and takes about 5 minutes. You will need, however, two valid forms of identification and your SS card. Some say you need to bring an extra picture, and they will use that picture for your passport, but if you don’t have one, they will take one for you. That’s about it. You pay the fee and they will tell you that you should expect it within 4-6 weeks. If you are in good standing with the U.S. there’s really no reason you should be denied. The Visa was just as easy. I needed a visa to the Philippines. I told them where I wanted to go, they gave me a form. It took about 5 minutes to fill out, and I paid the fee. $55. I was told I would have to wait 3-6 weeks. Again, though, I just needed 2 forms of id and my SS. And my passport. You definitely need a passport to get a visa. That’s how simple it is for Americans to travel. If you can’t wait the 3-6 weeks to get your passport or visa, there are certain agencies that can get your passport or visa to you within 24-48 hours.

Losing your passport in another country can be a nightmare! I can’t stress this enough. Guard your passport with your life. In other countries, you’ll need to show your passport many times over. I.E. to get into lodging (hotels, extended stay motels, bed and breakfast, inns, vacation rental properties, car rental), trains, places of business. Even if you look suspicious the police have the right to ask for your passport. And you can not get back on your plane to go home without it. You’ll be stuck and forced to pay more fees to get a temporary passport to get back home, that’s of course providing you didn’t lose your identification as well. If you lose that you’re in for a whirlwind. Visiting international destinations can be great, but always keep track of your identification.