Passport History
If you’re a resident of the United States and you’re planning on taking any type of trip to another country, you’re going to need to make sure that your United States passport and all other travel documents are in order. Let’s learn a little about U.S. Passport history in the United States is issued to both citizens and non-citizens alike and is done so exclusively by the United States Department of State. Passport booklets, passport cards, and other documents have a very interesting history that dates back many years.
How Far Back Does Passport Go?
Passport applications from October 1795 to March 1925 can be found at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), while applications from April 1925 to the present are available at the U.S. Department of State.
The Origins of U.S. Passport
The origins of the United States passport actually date all the way back to 1775, one year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. During the War of Independence, American consular offices knew to issue passports to citizens of the original 13 colonies (later to become the 13 original states) for travel. These were commonly valid for between three to six months and were based on the design of the original French passport.
From 1776 to 1783, however, there was actually no state government in the United States that had a passport requirement. For many years, passports were issued by states and cities in addition to the United States Department of State. Because some countries in Europe refused to recognize these passports, a requirement was passed that they had to be issued by the Department of State directly.
The Modern Era of U.S. Passport
The passport requirements that are now in place actually began in 1941. In 1952, it was made illegal to enter or leave the United States without some passport being issued – this was true even during periods when there wasn’t a war going on somewhere in the world. In the early 1980s, the United States was proudly the first country in the world to introduce passport documents that machines could read – paving the way for the highly sophisticated technological solutions we know today.
Expedited Passport Services
If you’ve got a big trip coming up and suddenly realize that your passport isn’t in order, you might not have the time required to wait for the three to six weeks it normally takes for processing. In these situations, you can find an expedited passport service in your area to submit all of the required documents on your behalf.
They can have your new passport in your hand in as little as 24 hours to help make sure that your trip goes off without delay.
Conclusion:
No matter what your passport needs may be, it’s important to make sure that you have all of the necessary information and documents needed to apply for a new passport. With the right guidance, you can submit all of the paperwork correctly and avoid delays in getting your passport. Whether you need help understanding the process or are looking for an expedited service, www.uspassporthelpguide.com can provide the assistance you need to get your passport quickly and easily.
Don’t let your next trip be delayed- make sure that you have a valid passport in hand before you leave!
