Get Ready for Passport Day 2010

Passport Day 2010 has been scheduled for Saturday, March 27. Regional passport agencies that are normally closed on weekends will be open on this special day. The State Department is also waiving the requirement that applicants schedule an appointment before arriving. On Passport Day, you can just show up during the hours of attendance with required documentation and submit your application.

Regional passport agencies are located in major cities throughout the United States. Don't live in or near one of these cities? Don't fret. Thousands of passport application acceptance facilities will also be attending on this day.

This is a great opportunity for you to get your passport, especially if you work or study during the week and have been unable to submit your application.

You should consider getting this important travel document even if you have no immediate plans to travel outside the United States. Passports issued to minors are valid for 5 years and those issued to adults are valid for 10 years. If the opportunity to travel abroad ever comes up in this period of time, you will be ready.

This is especially true since the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative went into effect requiring U.S. citizens to possess a valid passport or other WHTI-approved document in order to travel to Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean region and Mexico.

As an added incentive, the State Department is planning passport-themed events for adults and children. Sure, you may have to wait in some lines but, at least, there will be some interesting activities to keep you occupied. You won't get this on any other day of the year.

Get ready, mark your calendars and plan to be a part of Passport Day 2010.