Passport related FAQ  Visa related FAQ

What is a passport?
A passport is a travel document that serves as the ultimate form of proof of a person's citizenship. Passports are issued by the appropriate authoritative power of a country's government. U.S. passports are issued by the U.S. Passport Agency.

Do I need a passport?
U.S. citizens require passports to exit/enter the U.S. and to enter/exit most countries. Presently, U.S. citizens may travel to various countries such as Mexico, Canada and some Caribbean destinations with other types of identification in lieu of a passport. Please view the VISAS section and select your country of travel to view whether or not you will require passport for travel to that country. It is the traveler's responsibility to carry the correct identification during their travels abroad.

How/where do I obtain a passport?
In the U.S., U.S. passports are issued by the U.S. Passport Agency which has various locations. Outside the U.S., passports are issued by U.S. embassies and consulates. ZVS provides passport services for U.S. passports by submitting proper documentation on the traveler’s behalf to the U.S. Passport Agency. This eliminates the need for travelers to visit, communicate and correspond directly with the U.S. Passport Agency. Please view the PASSPORTS section for details. If you are non-US citizen, please consult your home country's local consular office for passport details.

What is a Passport Appointment and why is it necessary?
A Passport Appointment is required whenever you are requesting a service from the US State dept such as the first time issuance of a passport or the renewal of your passport. It is not required if you are ONLY requesting a visa to visit a foreign country. The appointment allows us to drop your documents at the US Passport Agency and have them processed. We cannot process your passport agency service without an appointment. You should have your documents delivered to us at least one day before your appointment date and you must include a Letter of Authorization that corresponds with our office that your appointment is with. Our agent will send you the proper Letter of Authorization at the time you make your appointment.

How/where can I obtain a certified copy of my U.S. birth certificate?
Your birth is registered with the state civil authorities where you were born; you may contact your local state officials for details. You may order your birth certificate online using your credit card through VitalChek, an authorized provider in all 50 states. You may also contact the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) at National Division of Data Services, Hyattsville, MD 20782-2003,
Phone: (301) 458-4636, website: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm

For how long is my U.S. passport valid?
If your passport was issued when you were 16 years of age or older, your passport is valid for 10 years. If your passport was issued when you were younger than 16 years of age, your passport is valid for 5 years.

When applying for a passport renewal, will I receive my old passport back?
Yes. You will receive your old passport back; however, it will clearly indicate that it is invalid.

How long must my passport be valid for my travel abroad?
Most countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of your trip. If your passport expires before the required validity, you must apply for a passport renewal. Please view the VISAS section to determine how long your passport must be valid for your specific country of travel. If you must renew your U.S. passport, ZVS can assist. Please view the "Passport Renewal" information under the PASSPORTS section for details.

I was born overseas. Where can I obtain a copy of my birth certificate?
At the time of your birth, if one or both of your parents was a U.S. citizen, it is possible that they registered your birth with the local U.S. authorities (U.S. embassy or consulate). If so, they received a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240). This form serves as proof of birth and U.S. citizenship. Contact the U.S. authority in your country of birth for details. Also see the U.S. State Department for details: http://travel.state.gov/family/family_issues/birth/birth_593.html

My passport will still be valid for my upcoming travels; however, I do not have any blank pages. How do I obtain additional passport pages?
You are able to obtain additional passport pages. ZVS can assist. Please view the "Passport Pages" information of the PASSPORTS section for details.

How many blank passport pages do I need for my upcoming trip and what is considered a "blank" passport page?
You must have enough blank pages inside your passport to accommodate entry/exit immigration stamps for each country of travel and at least one visa page in the passport for each visa required. (Do not count amendment pages.) Most visas that are stamped into the passport require an entire blank visa page. (If more than one visa page is necessary, the information for that country in the VISAS section will specify this.) A "blank" visa page must be clean, clear and not show ink or stains from any other pages in the passport. ZVS can assist with obtaining new passport pages for U.S. passports. Please view the "Passport Pages" information of the PASSPORTS section for details.

I am recently married/divorced and have changed my name. How do I change the name on my passport?
With proper documentation, you are able to change the name listed in your passport. Please view the information regarding "Passport Amendments" in the PASSPORTS section for specific instructions.

My passport was stolen or lost. How do I obtain another passport?
With proper documentation, you are immediately able to obtain another passport. Please view the information regarding "Lost Passports" section in the PASSPORTS information for specific instructions.

Do children under the age of 16 require passports?
Yes. Each individual U.S. citizen must possess his or her own passport. Family members are not allowed to represent other members of the family via their passport. Infants must possess their own passport.

Can I sign my infant's passport on their behalf?
Yes. Please print your child's name in block letters and sign your name below. Next to your name, indicate "mother" or "father" in parentheses.

How long will it take to process my passport?
Please view the appropriate passport service under the PASSPORTS section to determine processing time.

Can I travel in the Caribbean without a passport? I only have a birth certificate or a green card.
Some Caribbean destinations allow travelers to submit other forms of identification in lieu of a passport. Please select your country of travel from the VISAS section to view required identification.

I lost my green card. Where and how can I obtain a new one?
Contact the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) directly for details: http://www.uscis.gov

Where can I mail my application and/or passport?
We recommend using FedEx to send your documentation to us; they guarantee delivery and tracking is available. To find the nearest drop-off location, go to the FedEx website at http://www.fedex.com/us/dropoff

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What is a visa?
A visa is an authority issued by the embassy/consulate of a country that permits a traveler to visit that particular country. The majority of visas are stamped inside your passport. (A small number of visas are either separate documents to be carried with the passport or issued electronically.) Visas are issued with specific limitations regarding purpose of visit, length of stay, validity of visa, etc… It is the traveler's responsibility to obtain necessary visas for their travel itinerary. Please view the VISAS section and select your country of travel to view whether or not you will require visa.

How do I obtain a visa?
The embassies and consulates of various countries are authorized to grant visas. Appropriate visa documentation must be presented to the embassy/consulate in proper order for the visa to be issued. ZVS obtains visas on travelers' behalf by submitting proper visa documentation to the embassy/consulate. This eliminates the need for the traveler to visit, communicate and correspond directly with the embassy/consulate. Please view the VISAS section and select your country of travel to determine whether or not you will require visas for your itinerary.

Do I need to send my actual passport?
For the majority of countries, a visa is stamped on a visa page inside your passport. However, there are a few exceptions. Please view the VISAS section and select your country of travel to determine whether or not you must submit your actual passport.

I hold a non-US passport. Do I need a visa?
Please view the VISAS section and select your citizenship and country of travel to determine whether or not you need a visa.

How long will it take to process my visa?
Various governments have strict and varied regulations on length of visa processing time. Please view the VISAS section and select your country of travel to determine visa processing time.

What is a visa invitation or confirmation?
Visa invitations /confirmations are documents approved by the foreign ministry of the country of travel which authorize a particular traveler to visit their country. Most often, they indicate specific information regarding the itinerary (dates of stay, name of hosting organization, cities of visit) as well as an official reference number and seal of approval. Required formats for invitations and confirmations vary per country. Please view the VISAS section and select your country of travel to determine whether or not an invitation or confirmation is required to be submitted for your visa as well as information regarding specific format.

Can I fax my passport copy and/or completed applications for issuance of a visa?
For the majority of countries, physical visa documentation that is unable to be faxed is required (i.e. actual passport, passport-type photographs). However, there are a few exceptions. Please view the VISAS section and select your country of travel to determine whether or not you must submit your actual passport.

Does the photo in my passport count as one passport photo?
No. You must submit passport-type photographs.

What is included in the cost paid to ZVS for visas?
Total cost of visas includes service fees, consular fees established by and paid to the appropriate consular office for your country of travel and shipping fees for the return of your completed documentation. Total cost of visas will be clearly listed for you on the downloadable instruction form located in our VISAS section. Consular fees are subject to change without advance notice at any time by various governments. Please note that whether or not you choose to use ZVS, consular fees must be paid to the consulate for completion of your visa.

What forms of payment does ZVS accept?
CREDIT CARDS: American Express, MasterCard, Visa Diners Club and JCB only. Please indicate type of credit card, card number, name as written on the card and expiration date. You will receive a copy of the credit card receipt with your completed documentation.  CHECKS and MONEY ORDERS: Please make checks and money orders payable to ZVS. Checks and money orders can be accepted only if they are payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on a bank in the U.S. or Canada. International money orders must be in the form of U.S. dollars.

Do I need vaccinations for my trip?
Many countries require travelers to show proof of International Certificates of Vaccinations for various diseases when entering/exiting their country. To determine whether or not you will require vaccinations for your travel itinerary, please contact the Center for Disease Control (CDC) at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747), toll-free autofax: 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299) or www.cdc.gov. The CDC can also provide specific recommendations of vaccinations and medicine. Please also consult your physician for information.

What is considered rush processing?
Please view the VISAS section and select your country of travel to determine whether or not your time deadline requires rush processing.

I have a US passport. What proof can I get that my Australian ETA visa has been issued?
For U.S. passport holders, the ETA visa is issued electronically by the Australian Government; therefore, there is no evidence of stamp inside the passport. Once issued, your information is recorded and maintained by the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. You will receive a confirmation notice from ZVS indicating that you visa has been issued. Please visit our Australian ETA section for more detailed information.

Where can I find the latest travel warnings?
For the latest information on travel warnings, public announcements and consular information sheets for all countries of the world, please contact the US State Department: www.travel.state.gov