When you’re planning a honeymoon, there are several things you need to consider and plan for besides just the destination of your honeymoon and what the costs for the trip are going to be. If you are planning an international trip, such as to Mexico, Europe, and Canada, or even a trip to some US territories, such as Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands, you’re going to need to consider what kinds of travel laws and documents you’ll need to make the trip. While it seems they keep moving back the date of when you’ll need your passport to cross over the borders of Mexico and Canada by plane, you’ll definitely need a passport to visit Europe, or any other countries where you pass over a large body of water. In any case, it’s best to be prepared and have your passport. Here are some great tips for getting your passport in on time, and other questions brides frequently ask when getting their passports for a honeymoon vacation.
Start as Early as Possible
The earlier that you start getting the documents together to apply for your passport the better off you’ll be.
While most people say to go at least six weeks before your honeymoon, I advise to start even earlier than that. The reason being, with the new travel laws coming into effect soon, scores of Americans are sending in to have their passports done by the deadline, meaning there could be a backlog of passports, making yours a little bit late. Instead, start applying for your passport about nine weeks or more before your wedding and honeymoon.If you don’t have that much time, consider paying the extra fee to expedite the process. It would be a nightmare if your passports didn’t come in time.
Gathering the Documents You Need
There are several different documents you’ll need to obtain your passport for your honeymoon. First of all you’ll need to have an original birth certificate. If you don’t have it, talk to your parents about where it may be, or contact the hospital were you were born and have them send you one (there is usually a fee for this, and they do send your birth certificate back to you). You’ll also need a form of picture ID, such as a drivers license. You’ll also need a passport photo, which can be done at nearly any hour photo place. My husband and I went to the photographer in our local Wal-Mart for the specific 2×2 photo. Then, you’ll need their passport forms completely filled out correctly. Depending on where you live, you may need other documentation, so be sure to look at your passport forms completely.
What about a Name Change?
For me, as soon as the wedding was over I wanted to be known by my new married name, and not by my maiden name. However, the name change can not be done until I had a signed marriage certificate. Plus, the name on your plane tickets and the name on your passport have to match exactly, making it necessary for you to obtain your passport and plane tickets in your maiden name. But not to worry, you can renew your passport from a name change within one year for no cost. So once the wedding is over, be sure to send in your old passport, along with the necessary documentation for a new passport with your married name.
I know that when you’re planning a wedding you have enough to worry about without adding to it. Choosing a honeymoon location is important when it comes to whether or not you’re going to need a passport for the trip, so you can’t really put that decision off for very long. The earlier you can decide where you want to go, the better. As I said earlier, it would be a total nightmare if your passports didn’t come in time for your honeymoon.
Tags: honeymoon, honeymoon vacation, passport for honeymoon, renewing a passport
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June 3rd, 2008 at 2:03 am
the passport is the most valuable asset for international travel.