I know it sounds like a sort of stupid question, but I need to know if its entirely necessary for me to carry a passport to go to Spain if I have a European birth certificate. I haven't renewed my US Passport and my mother booked a last-minute-flight. I only have around 5 days to find out about this. Otherwise, my mom would have to go on her own. I think she'll end up going on her own anyways, but I want to make sure that there is no other option. She cant go with anybody else... so yeah.
Thanks in advance!!
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32352 posts
Michelle, As the others have said, you WILL need a Passport for international travel and again to re-enter the U.S. According to the U.S. State Dept. website: "Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay." You can read the full details at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1024.html I'm not sure there's a Passport office in Puerto Rico, so Miami may be your best option. If you can get an appointment for expedited processing, you'd have to visit the office there as they have a provision if "You need your U.S. passport in less than 2 weeks for international travel". You can find the details here: http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/agencies/agencies_910.html One option you could consider would be for your Mom to travel to Spain on her own, and you could join her as soon as you get the Passport matter sorted. Whether you'll be able to do that very quickly will probably depend on your budget. As I'm sure you've now realized, it would have been a good idea to have dealt with this long before now. Good luck!
Posted by
OP
San Juan, Puerto Rico
4 posts
thanks for the answers people!!
I actually didn't know I could have gone to Miami to get my passport.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Figure out the cost of getting back and forth to Miami. You'll need an appointment and probably have to spend the night, get back and forth to the airport, etc. Googlize FastPort and see what they charge for quick service. Also figure out how old your passport is - - if it was issued less than fifteen years ago, you can renew, older and it's a new one. Your name has to still be the same, you had to be of some age when it was issued, etc. The info is somewhere on the State Department site. There's no governmental agency that can do it in Puerto Rico.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
You need a passport to get into Spain. You also need one to get back into the United States. You've found out in ten minutes. Get on the stick.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
The airline won't even let you get on the plane without a passport.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16058 posts
Here in San Francisco there is an office that can get you an emergency passport in 24 hours (for a little extra $$). I'm sure there must be one in PR as well.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
Google, "Get a passport fast". Expediters are able to turn them around in 24 hours.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
Google, "Get a passport fast". Expediters are able to turn them around in 24 hours.
Posted by
San Diego, CA
638 posts
You don't need to go to Miami, I googled or was it binged Puerto Rico passports services and got a number of hits on companies that can expedite the process in as little as 24 hours. I will cost you but will probably be cheaper than flying to Miami and having to get transportation and accommodations.
Posted by
OP
San Juan, Puerto Rico
4 posts
I just found this really good web called http://ambassadorpassportandvisa.com Thanks for the information. Hopefully I'll be going to Barcelona soon!!
Posted by
San Diego, CA
638 posts
That's the one that came up for me too when I googled it, or did I Bing!