Visa Requirements for Official OR Diplomatic Passport Holders

Official OR Diplomatic Passport Holders

U.S. government employees on official international travel are required to use their official (or diplomatic) U.S. Government passports unless the Department of State advises otherwise.

Same Day or Emergency 24 Hour Passport Processing. Rush visa processing. Obtain Certified Copies of U.S. Birth Certificate. Cellular/Satellite Phone Rental Available for International Travel.

A visa is an endorsement or stamp placed by an official of a foreign country into the official U.S. passport that allows the bearer to enter that foreign country. Application for a visa should be submitted at least 3 to 4 weeks before departure date, especially around the holiday season.

VISA REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION FORMS

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
U.S. Passports will No Longer be Issued Abroad/Overseas:
Effective April 8, 2002, U.S. passports will no longer be issued abroad, except those required for urgent travel. All passports will be issued in the United Stated using the new more secure photo-digitized imaging system. Because this technology is not available at the U.S. embassies and consulates, overseas passport issuance is being transferred to the National Passport Processing Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This new procedure will increase the processing time at U.S. embassies and consulates. U.S. embassies and consulates will continue to issue passports that are needed for urgent travel. However, such passports will be limited in validity, and cannot be extended.

Why use an official passport?

  1. According to the Department of State, there are several reasons why an official passport should be used when traveling on behalf on the U.S. Government:
  2. Required visas – A visa will not be granted for entry into a foreign country when the reason for travel to that country is stated as official business and the personal (tourist) passport is presented. In addition, a diplomatic or official visa cannot be stamped in a personal passport.
  3. Foreign country entry and exit – Some countries will deny entry at the border to someone seeking to enter on official government business who presents a personal passport. Also, problems may occur upon departure from a foreign country.
  4. Violation of sovereignty – Use of a personal passport when traveling in an official capacity misrepresents the true purpose for which the traveler has entered the country. This can have serious and adverse affects on our reciprocal relations with foreign countries. Employees of foreign governments must use official passports when they come to the U.S. on behalf of their governments. This is a traditional practice among governments and an internationally recognized policy.
  5. Security concerns – Should there be a problem while you are in the host country, the official passport provides quicker access to officials of the host country government and greater protection.

How to apply for an official passport

A traveler must meet both of these requirements to apply for an official passport.

  1. U.S. Citizen
  2. Federal Government Employee

For the safety of your passport, we recommend delivery by courier.  If there were a delay, we would be able to track or trace it.

Please send all required documents and payment (Money Order, Company Check, Cashier’s Check, American Express, Visa or MasterCard) by courier to:

TRAVEL THE WORLD VISAS, INC.
1930 18TH STREET NW, UNIT #1
WASHINGTON DC  20009

Travel Smart. Travel Safe.  Register your trip on-line with STEP, the U.S. Embassy Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.  It’s free.  So why not make it part of your travel planning and personal security?

U.S. embassies and consulates assist nearly 200,000 Americans each year who are victims of crime, accident, or illness, or whose loved ones need to contact them in an emergency. Although it is unlikely, should natural disaster, terrorism, or civil unrest strike during your foreign travel, the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate would be your source of assistance and information. By registering your trip, you help the embassy or consulate locate you when you might need them the most.

NOTICE

Travel the World Visas acts only as an agent, and accepts no responsibility for the services of any Travel Agent, Consulate, Passport Agency or Embassy in connection with the granting of visas. We are not responsible for delays, loss of passports or damage caused by such service providers or the U.S. Mail.
Requirements and fees are for U.S. Citizens only. Contact Travel the World Visas for information on other nationalities.
Requirements and fees are subject to change without prior notice.
Sorry but all fees are non-refundable.