Regulations governing international travel have changed significantly in recent years. Passport booklets and cards are now required for all travel to other countries. Only cards are required for bordering countries but all other international travel requires a booklet. Many Americans are opting to get a passport fast booklet and card now, before any travel is planned.

Obtaining travel documents can take a significant amount of time. The stated processing time is from four to six weeks. Any emergency travel or travel within two weeks requires an additional cost for expedited processing even for American passport lost. For business travelers who must submit an application in a very short time period, expediting companies can ensure they are processed in twenty-four hours.

Using an expediting company is efficient but it is costly. They are licensed to be couriers between customers and the offices that process them. They are allowed a specific number of same-day submissions and once that limit is reached, they must wait until the next day. Their costs increase as the target date grows closer. For businesses, this may be an acceptable cost. For families with children, using the expediting firms can be unnecessarily expensive.

One of the best methods to ensure you have your travel documentation in plenty of time is to apply before you even need them. Many people use them as a form of identification or keep them because they may travel in the future. Since very specific requirements must be met, it is easier to get everything you need before you are facing a stressful deadline.

Birth certificates are often misplaced or filed where they will never again be found. When requesting a replacement, ask for a certified copy that includes the names of both parents. You can tell it is certified by the raised seal from the office that created it. The inclusion of the names of both parents is a recent addition, since April of 2011.

Local agencies that can give you information and forms include post offices and libraries. Large cities have district offices that can process the application. You can also get information and the forms you will need online.

Passport cards are accepted for travel between countries that border on the United States. More and more, however, international travelers are opting for both the booklet and the card. Many countries retain your booklet when you enter and may not return it until you are ready to leave. In the even the booklet is stolen, the card can help in an emergency situation.

With all of the changes to international travel requirements, it is a good idea to get both passport booklets and cards before you need them. By getting the supporting documentation now, you will not be scrambling to find it when you suddenly have to take a business trip out of the country or realize you have a U S passport lost. The savings in the cost between submitting a standard application and an expedited one can make it worthwhile to get an American passport for everyone in the family.