A passport is one of the most important documents a nation's ordinary citizen can possess. It isn't necessary if you never leave your country, but you can't cross its borders without it, either. And the only way to get one of these in the U. S. is through the government's USA passport services (<A HREF=" TARGET="_blank">
A new passport (<A HREF=" TARGET="_blank"> is important because it identifies the holder as a citizen or national of a specific country. People use it to ask foreign governments for permission to travel inside their country. It is also used to seek permission to live temporarily in another country. It gives the holder access to any lawful protection or assistance. With it, the holder is also allowed access to consular assistance or services when traveling abroad. The holder is also allowed re-entry to his or her home country.
The Services agency also provides service by issuing passports to its citizens wishing to travel abroad. It protects the integrity of the passport, as well, because it is proof both here and abroad of citizenship. This agency also includes a multitude of support and resources for Americans, including assistance in times of trouble.
There are fifteen (15) Regional Passport Agencies located throughout the country. Some of these are found in the western half of the United States, such as in Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle, Tuscon, Dallas, Chicago, and Miami. There are several more centrally located in Houston, Minneapolis, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Detroit. The remainder are in northeastern cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Hartford, CT. Of course, there is a passport agency in Washington, D. C., but it is a separately categorized Special Issuance Agency. Headquarters are also found here in the nation's capital.
Also under the auspices of Passport Services are three National Processing Facilities. These facilities support the issuance of passports to American citizens at American Consulates and Embassies found abroad. Additionally, there is a large network of nearly 10,000 public government offices throughout the land. These are designated by Passport Services for accepting applications, but not for passport issuance.
The National Passport Information Center is the final big agency under the Services. The National Passport Information Center takes care of all questions related to your passport. Appointments can be made via the National Passport Information Center. Travel emergencies are dealt with here. You monitor online the status of a passport application and there's a toll-free hotline, staffed by live customer service reps, who answer your questions and provide needed assistance.
Under this umbrella, bearers can pay their fees, renew their passports, or obtain a passport for their children or other underage citizens. Also available are expedited or overnight delivery services. You can add pages to your passport, change your name, or correct a data error. Of course, passport fees can be paid here, as well.
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