Murphy Writing of Stockton University

Passports (For US Citizens)

In the coming weeks and months, we will post information to help you plan your trip safely and economically. The first thing you should do is make sure your passport is in order. The process is easy if you apply early. However, it is a nightmare if you wait to the last minute. Why not check now to see if you need to renew your passport, and if so, do it now?

You can renew your passport by mail if:

•   Your most recent passport is available to submit and it is not damaged;
•   You received the passport within the past 15 years;
•   You were over age 16 when it was issued;
•   You still have the same name, or can legally document your name change.

Go to http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/212241.pdf to download the renewal form, DS-82. Or, if you don’t meet the criteria for renewing by mail, you will have to renew it in person at a passport acceptance facility as described below.

To obtain a passport for the first time or renew it in person, you need to go a passport acceptance facility (Usually a post office) with two photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. citizenship (A certified birth certificate which has a raised seal) and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license. Most, but not all post offices can serve you. To find the location nearest you, plug your zip code into the form: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov.

Fees, forms, processing times and everything else you need to know passport-wise can be found here: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html.

Visas and Vaccinations

Good news. US citizens do not need a visa to enter Scotland or the UK. No special immunizations or medications are required for travel to Scotland either.