ALL ABOUT PASSPORTS

ALL ABOUT PASSPORTS!

ADVISORY for U.S. CITIZENS:

YOU MUST HAVE A VALID PASSPORT TO LEAVE THE U.S.A.!

ALL U.S. citizens traveling to ANY foreign country anywhere MUST have a VALID U.S. PASSPORT to be allowed to board & leave the country (now including travel to Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, Caribbean islands, Bermuda & central American countries) . NO MORE BIRTH CERTIFICATES, NO MORE VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS, NO MORE CITIZENSHIP AFFIDAVITS, NOTHING ELSE BUT A VALID U.S. PASSPORT IS ACCEPTED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY GOING ANYWHERE. You will be denied boarding of your plane & not allowed to leave the country if you do not have a valid passport, so get one today!

This passport MUST be/have 4 things:

# 1-- Passport must be VALID... expired passports aren't good for anything!

# 2-- Passport must be good for at least SIX MONTHS AFTER your return date home from your trip... if it expires before then,

you won't be going! (Passports "unofficially" expire 6 months before their actual expiration, so don't let that catch you by surprise!)

# 3-- Passport must be in YOUR LEGAL NAME & passport must match the name you put on your ticket/travel documents...

no matching names, no leaving the country!

# 4-- Passport must have at least ONE BLANK PAGE left in the passport... this is for when they stamp your passport

upon arrival in the foreign country. Your passport is invalid if it doesn't have at least 1 blank page for use!

If your passport does not meet all of the above requirements, don't bother leaving the house, you won't be going on your trip!

Frequently asked questions:

# 1-- How do I get a passport & what do I need to have?

For U.S. citizens traveling abroad, you will need ALL of the following items in order to apply for a passport:

# 1-- Valid government-issued photo I.D. (such as a VALID driver's license... if your I.D. is not valid, don't bother applying!)

# 2-- Certified U.S. state-issued birth certificate (issued by the county records office, called the "Bureau of Vital Statistics"),

issued by the state in which you were born. In order for it to be "certified", it must have the raised seal or official government stamp on it...

the hospital-issued copy that mom brought home from the hospital (the one with the cute feet on it!) is NOT acceptable, as it is NOT a

government-issued copy. The state in which you were born is the only state that can issue your birth certificate, so please

contact your home state for this. You may also try going on the web for ordering services that are now available for some states.

# 3-- Copy of your itinerary where you are traveling (make one for yourself if you don't have one... they need to see where you are going!)

# 4-- TWO matching passport photos (you can usually get these taken for less than $20 at Walgreen's or Kinko's)

(Helpful hint: LOOK GOOD when going to get your passport pictures taken, have them RE-taken if they turn out badly... WHY?

You want to make sure these photos are GOOD & not a "mug shot" look... that passport is good for TEN long years!!)

# 5-- Take your checkbook & cash (part of the fee is by check, part in cash... total cost to issue passport as of 1/1/07 is $97 adult, $67 child).

# 6—If you are using a PRIVATE expediter (highly, strongly recommended) then you will need a letter from your private expediter to take

with you to the passport office as proof you will be expediting with that particular expediter (call your private expediter for this letter).

If you do not have or meet all of the above requirements for applying, don't bother going, you will be turned down!

FYI: Be prepared to surrender your certified birth certificate, photos, & copy of your itinerary to be sent to the State Department for review/use.

# 2-- Where do I go to apply for a passport?

You may apply for a U.S. passport at ONLY one of the following 2 places:

# 1-- participating U.S. post office during regular business hours (some locations may be open later)

# 2-- participating government tax office during regular business hours (8-4) (this is where you pay for car registration, license plates, etc).

If you live in the Dallas area: the main U.S. post office on Interstate 30 just west of downtown Dallas is one place; there is also a tax office at the northwest corner of Walnut Hill Lane & Marsh Lane (behind Wendy's) in north Dallas. If you do not live in the Dallas area, please check in your phone book's blue pages or the web for the passport office nearest you.

# 3-- Do I have to go in person to apply for the passport or can I send someone to do it for me?

You must apply IN PERSON yourself to apply for the passport. Nobody but you can apply for you!

# 4—What if I am applying for a new passport for my child?

A “child” is considered a minor below the age of 18. When applying for a child’s passport for the first time, BOTH natural parents must be present with the child IN PERSON in order to be allowed to apply for a passport. If you are divorced with FULL custody or you are widowed, you will need paperwork proving same in order to be allowed to apply for your child’s passport. You will still need all documents listed above for your child’s passport application. If you do not meet all of these requirements, do not waste your time going to apply, you will be turned down.

# 5-- How fast can I get a passport? When/how soon should I apply?

You can get a passport in just a few days, though you will pay dearly for the rush fee (up to $100 or more!). Apply for your passport NOW... the longer you wait, the more it will cost you AND you'll risk not having it in time for your trip. The typical time it takes to get a passport is quoted by the passport office as "6-to-8-weeks", but since the law just changed that everyone has to have one now to go anywhere outside the U.S., the State Department & passport offices are now BURIED with passport applications & delays are inevitable. DO NOT WAIT!!!

# 6-- What do I do when I go to apply for the passport & what happens?

You will take all of the above information to the passport office... you will fill out the application they give you, present your I.D. & all above requirements, they will ask you to raise your right hand & swear in that you are the person on your presented documentation, they will then collect the passport fee & documents, & process your application. This is all you are required to do, they handle all the rest. HOWEVER, at this point, we recommend that you tell the passport clerk that you want to expedite the passport via a passport expediting service of your choosing... the clerk will probably ask which one you will be using, so be sure to research this before you go & know which company you want to use. The clerk will then seal your records in a big manila envelope & give back to you so that you can take it to your private expediting service. Do NOT let them expedite it, they will not handle it privately & they'll still be mailing it to you. Read # 7 below...

# 7-- Where can I go to have my passport privately “expedited” (rushed)? Why do you recommend that?

ADVISORY: We STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you use a PRIVATE passport-expediting (rush) service for your passport. DO NOT EXPEDITE WITH THE POST OFFICE OR GOV’T OFFICE EXPEDITER… they’re a JOKE! Why? They’ll tell you, “SURE, we can expedite/rush for you, no problem!” or “You don’t have to take it anywhere else, just leave it with us!” or something similar. Why is this bad? Because all the gov’t office or post office will do is TAKE YOUR MONEY, that big expedite fee, & throw your passport on the pile… no special service, no rush, nobody to call if you don’t get it back! (Those are the reasons TO expedite!) NONE of this is the case with a PRIVATE expediter… why? With a PRIVATE expediter: (A) your passport will be in private hands in transit (B) they'll know where the passport is in the application process... (C) they'll know exactly when it will be finished & returned to them for pickup/delivery with you... & most importantly (D) there is no chance of theft in the U.S. mail once your passport is issued because it is handled privately & sent back to the expediter’s office, NOT mailed to you! If you simply let the passport office take all of your documents to process, there is no real way to know when you will get the passport back, nobody to call if it takes too long, nobody to call if it never comes... AND if & when it is finally finished, it is MAILED to you!! Yikes!! Why is this bad? A valid U.S. passport is the most golden form of identification on earth, so if your passport is lost or stolen, you are almost guaranteed to experience IDENTITY THEFT & FRAUD. So use a private passport expediting service & you should have no problem! This expediting fee is usually $60- $70 & up, depending on how fast you need the passport. Well worth it for peace of mind & protecting your identity!

In the Dallas/Fort Worth area for passport expediting, we recommend:

UNIVERSAL PASSPORT & VISA— http://www.upandv.com -- 214-739-3400

Their office is at the NW corner of Walnut Hill Lane & Greenville Avenue in Dallas. Tell them Tiki Trips sent you!

If you are not in the Dallas area, please consult the yellow pages under VISAS or PASSPORTS or visit the web for a private passport/visa service near you.

# 8-- Do I need a passport to travel to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

(St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix), or Guam?—NO… these destinations are still in the U.S.

Unless you are connecting planes or ships in a foreign country, you do not need a passport to go to the above U.S. destinations.

# 9 -- I hear that I don't have to have a passport to go on a cruise... is this true?

NO... YOU MUST HAVE A VALID U.S. PASSPORT TO GO ON A CRUISE. Even if cruises didn’t require them, we would not endorse nor recommend cruise travel without a valid passport meeting the above guidelines. Why? Because if you have an emergency & need to fly home, guess what... you would not be allowed to board the plane in that foreign destination without a passport! So GET THAT PASSPORT!

# 10 -- How much does a new passport cost?

At last check, a new passport is $97 for adults, $67 for children, plus cost of certified birth certificate (usually less than $20) & cost of two required passport photos (usually around $15). Total-- around $130, plus cost of expediting fee if desired. Expedite/rush fee is extra. Cost is subject to change without notice.

# 11 -- What if I lost my passport... do I still need to get another one?-- YES

If you do not have a passport in your possession when traveling, you will not be going!

# 12—What if I need to simply renew my passport? Does it matter that it has already expired?

Passport renewals are the EASIEST to do of all. The only requirements are that you have your old passport (expired or almost), your 2 new passport photos, your itinerary, & your fee/money. You can take all of that to the private expediter’s office & that’s it!

# 13-- If I am not a U.S. citizen, what do I need for my travel?

If you are not a U.S. citizen, please consult your country's consulate & that of the country you plan to visit to find out what you will need for your trip. Traveler is responsible for meeting travel requirements & obtaining required items for travel.

# 14-- Do I need anything else for my trip? Visa, immunization, anything?

For U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, western Europe & most Caribbean islands, you do not need anything besides a U.S. valid passport meeting the above requirements. Of course, this can change, so you the traveler are responsible for checking on what you will need to have for your trip & obtaining same.

# 15-- What if I need to apply for a passport NOW for my honeymoon trip, but I'll be changing my name

after I get married... should I get my passport in my current maiden name or my future married name?

You'll need to apply for your passport in your CURRENT maiden name... you won't be MRS. New Name until after you get married! You can amend your name on your passport later. Amendments are handled by the passport office.

# 16-- Do I really & truly HAVE TO have a passport to leave the country now? -- YES

It is now FEDERAL LAW to have a valid passport to travel, so there is no way around this requirement. PERIOD.

# 17-- Is everyone eligible to have a passport?-- NO

If you have a criminal history and/or owe back child support , you may not be eligible to have or be issued a new or renewed passport to leave the country. We at Tiki Trips cannot advise you on this matter; you will need to consult your attorney or the U.S. State Department regarding your legal rights in this matter.

# 18-- How long are passports “good”? (valid)

Your new valid U.S. passport is valid for 10 years for adults who are 18 & over at time of passport issuance; children's passports are good for 5 years. Keep in mind that passports unofficially expire 6 months before they actually expire (most destinations won't accept a passport that's about to expire), so be sure to apply for a new passport well before your passport's expiration date!

# 19-- Where can I go for more travel information?

Travel requirements, laws & info can change... please visit the U.S. State Department's website at: http://travel.state.gov/

TRAVELER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING ON WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR HIS/HER TRIP & MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

# 20—What if I am still confused or have questions?

If you are our client, call us at the number below… we are happy to help! And if you are NOT our client & are reading this, SHOULDN’T YOU BE? After all, your travel source is not very adequate if you have to look on our website to help with your travel info! Give us a jingle, we’ll take good care of you… J

For more helpful links & info for your travel, please visit our website’s specialty pages:

http://www.tikitrips.com/toptenreasons -- Top Ten Reasons to book with Tiki Trips

http://www.tikitrips.com/testimonials.html -- Testimonials from Tiki Trips clients themselves

http://www.tikitrips.com/honeymoons101 -- Crash course on planning a honeymoon

http://www.tikitrips.com/toptenfavorites -- Tiki Trips’ Top Ten favorite honeymoon/vacation hot spots

http://www.tikitrips.com/destination -- Exciting perks & pictures of destination weddings around the world!

http://www.tikitrips.com/passport.htm -- All you need to know about passports

http://www.tikitrips.com/tikiheads -- Come travel the world with our group of fun friends, the TIKI HEADS!

http://www.tikitrips.com/tvshow -- Info & updates about our national travel reality TV show, Tiki Trippin’!

As always, if we may assist you with travel plans anywhere, please don’t hesitate to contact us,

we are here & happy to help!

Happy trails!

-- Your Tiki Trips agents

TIKI TRIPS, LLC

2715-C McKinney Ave.

Dallas, TX 75204

214-999-1009--phone

1-877-999-1009--toll free outside the DFW area

E-mail: info@tikitrips.com

Website: www.tikitrips.com

WE SPECIALIZE IN VACATIONS, HONEYMOONS & DESTINATION WEDDINGS!

We would love to help you plan your next exciting vacation to:

HAWAII~ MEXICO~ JAMAICA~ CARIBBEAN ISLES~ BERMUDA~ COSTA RICA~ BAHAMAS~

TAHITI/ BORA BORA/ MOOREA~ FIJI~ COOK ISLES~ AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND~

U.S.A.~ CANADA~ CALIFORNIA~ FLORIDA~ NEW YORK~ EUROPE~ ASIA~ AFRICA~ CRUISES~

Contact us today!

All payments are non-refundable once made; please be certain of travel plans before payment. PASSPORTS ARE NOW REQUIRED FOR U.S. CITIZENS TRAVELING TO ALL INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS (including MEXICO, CARIBBEAN ISLANDS & CANADA)... get one soon! (Passports can be obtained through your local gov't tax office or main U.S. post office… please visit our website's main page at the bottom for more helpful info on obtaining a passport). Don't forget to re-confirm all flights with the airline 24 hrs prior to travel for any last-minute changes, & be sure to arrive at the airport 2 hrs before departure with proper identification. Happy travels!