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Passports and Visas

Whenever you are leaving your country, the first thing you must do is check on passports and visas.

WHAT IS A PASSPORT? A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth. Most often, nationality and citizenship are congruent.

A passport does not of itself entitle the passport holder entry into another country, nor to consular protection while abroad or any other privileges, in the absence of any special agreements which cover the situation. It does, however, normally entitle the passport holder to return to the country which issued the passport. Rights to consular protection arise from international agreements, and the right to return arises from the laws of the issuing country.

You can handle the process for obtaining passports and online through companies offering passports services, such as Rush My Travel Passport.

WHAT IS A VISA? A Visa is a document that must be attached to a person’s passport prior to travel to certain countries. It’s like a “permission slip” to enter that country. There are forms to fill out and be sent in with your passport which will be returned to you prior to travel. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport.

Some countries do not require a visa in some situations, such as a result of reciprocal treaty arrangements. The country issuing the visa typically attaches various conditions to the visa, such as the time that the visa is valid, the period that the person may stay in the country, whether the visa is valid for more than one visit, etc.

A visa does not generally give a person any rights beyond the right to enter a country and remain there. Anything beyond those basic entitlements requires special permits, such as a residency permit or work permit.

Some countries require that their citizens, and sometimes foreign travelers, obtain an exit visa in order to be allowed to leave the country.

You can handle the process for visas online through companies offering visa services, such as Rush My Travel Visa.

To get the official requirements and forms for your passport, check the U.S. Government Site for passports and visas.