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You must apply to the State Department for a passport. You can get an application for a
passport at the Griswold Plaza Post Office at the intersection of Peach and West Thirteenth Streets
in Erie, Pennsylvania. You must submit two photographs of yourself with your application. Check
the telephone book under "Passport Photographers" for the name of a qualified passport
photographer.
When you have completed the application return to the passport office. At that time, you will
be required to take an oath which states that you have not sworn allegiance to any country other than
the United States and that you have not committed an act of treason against the United States. Once
you have taken this oath and signed the application, your application will be processed. The fee for
a passport is currently sixty dollars ($60.00) if you are 16 years of age or older and forty dollars ($40)
under the age of 16. If you are taking any children on your trip, you must obtain passports for them.
You must obtain a separate passport for each child, no matter their age. There is no such thing as
a joint passport. Once your application has been sent, you should receive your passport in the mail
in about 25 business days. If you need a passport sooner than 25 business days, you must
additionally pay an expedite fee of thirty-five dollars ($35.00). You must also pay for express mail
both ways ($10.75 each way; $21.50 total). This process takes between 7-10 days.
A visa is a document that is issued to you by the government of a foreign country in which
you are going to visit or stay. A visa is valid for only a limited period of time. Each foreign country
has its own rules about the duration and availability of visas. A travel agent will be able to tell you
about the various rules and costs associated with a visa for the particular country that you are
interested in visiting.
Not all foreign countries require a visa. For example, at the present time, if you hold a
United States passport you can travel to most Western European countries without a visa. If you
plan to visit Eastern European or Third World countries, you may need a visa. You may also need
special permission from that country's government. Foreign countries frequently change their rules
and regulations about visas so it is very important that you check with a travel agent to obtain the
latest information. Your visa must be valid when you attempt to leave the foreign country that you
are visiting. If your visa expires while you are in the foreign country, it will be very difficult for you
to leave that country. This is especially true in some former Communist and some Third World
countries. Therefore it is important that the visa cover the period of time that you expect to be in the
foreign country. Visa applications are available from travel agents or from the Embassy or Consulate
of the country you wish to visit.
If you need an attorney and don't have one, the Lawyer Referral and Information Service can help.
Call Us Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - Noon and 1:15 PM - 3:00 PM
at (814) 459-4411. |
