Whether you’ve gotten married, gotten divorced, or just decided to express yourself by changing your name to “Indigo Crystal Stargazer,” getting your name changed requires a lot of paperwork. Everyone from your bank to your car insurance company needs to be notified of your name. It can all get a little bit overwhelming, making it easy to overlook one of the most important places where you need to update your name: your US passport.

When you travel out of the country, it’s important that the name on your passport is correct. If the name on your passport does not match the name you are currently going by, you will need to get it changed. (more…)

Applying for a passport can be a mysterious process for those who have never held one. Many applications are turned down due to errors made by the applicant. Arriving at the passport agency without the proper documents is one key reason for rejection. The information presented here will help you to get your passport application approved without a frustrating waste of time.

If you already have a passport that is less than 15 years old, you may be able to renew it by mail. The passport cannot be damaged, and you must have been at least 16 years old when it was issued. If your name has changed, you have to provide legal proof of the name change. (more…)

The time has passed when citizens could cross many international borders without the need of a passport. Once, a quick trip to Mexico or Aruba required nothing more than a valid driver’s license and sometimes your birth certificate. They still are not needed for travel to a U.S. Territory, but they are required for almost every other nation. Changes in the law means that there is now much more passport information travelers should know.

One new offering is a passport card. These will fit in your wallet, and cost less than a full passport, or passport book. They are valid only for travel to select nations within the western hemisphere, if said travel is by land or sea and not air. They are useful for cruises to the Caribbean or cross border trips to Canada and Mexico. However, it is best to review the entry laws for the specific nation to which you plan to travel, since some will require further documentation.

A traditional passport is still required for most international destinations and for all international flights. It may be possible to renew your passport via mail, if you meet the requirements. If you have never had a passport, or it has been longer than 15 years since it was issued, you must apply in person. There are several regional passport agencies, but most post offices and some country clerks also process passport applications. (more…)

For those ready to go on a well-deserved holiday to Bali should know if they need an Indonesia visa. For most nationalities this can be arranged upon arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar. The single-entry tourist visa is valid for up to 30 days though.

The following countries can arrange a single-entry tourist visa upon arrival at the visa booth; Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan Territory, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the USA.

Before you receive this single-entry Indonesia visa your passport should be valid for at least another 6 months and you have correctly filled out the embarkation/disembarkation card upon arrival. It cost US $25 for a 30-day single entry visa and US$10 for a 7-day visa.

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