Travel Document that
You Might Need
Birth Certificates
If a birth certificate is needed, it must be an official
government issued birth certificate. Photocopies and hospital
certificates are not acceptable. You can obtain an official
copy by contacting your state's Vital Statistics office. For
Kentucky residents, visit
here or download this
form. The cost is $10 per certificate.
Passports and Passport Cards
For travel outside the United States or its territories, most people will
need the traditional Passport or the new Passport Card. You
may visit the
US
Department of State's web page for the fine print about
passports and application process. A good resource for
questions is their
FAQ page. If you are taking a cruise, there may be an
exception, view the Customs and Border Protection website and review
their "closed
loop" cruise page. A passport is highly reccommended for all
international travel, even for "closed loop" cruises.
- The Passport is currently required for all international airline travel.
A passport cost $135 for adults and $105 for youth under the age
of sixteen. Even infants must have proper documentation.
-
Effective
June 1, 2009, a Passport or the
new Passport Card is required to cross the border by foot or by
car. The adult Passport
Card cost $55; youth Passport Card cost $40.
Visas
Traveling to a foreign country doesn't have to be difficult.
We can help make it easy for you. A great resources is the
Department
of State's International Travel site. The site includes a
great deal of country specific information including descriptions,
exit/entry requirements, safety and security concerns, crime,
medical facilities, medical insurance, traffic safety and road
conditions, aviation safety oversight, criminal penalties,
children's issues and Embassy locations and registration
requirements.
Proving Your Identity
- When traveling, always leave a copy of important documents
with someone at home in case you need a replacement quick.
- Not all countries require a Visa for entering; consult the
Dept of State's website prior to all international trips.
- A Passport can take up to 8 weeks to process; don't wait
till the last minute or it will be costly to expedite.
- For your first Passport, you will have to visit an official
processing location. It may be as close as your local post
office.