I Know What the Red Clay Looks Like: The Voice and Vision of Black Women Writers by @rebel19.bsky.social is a stunning book that puts the work and musings of fifteen Black literary luminaries in conversation with a new generation of writers and readers. www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2445-i...

I didn’t even think to take a picture off the information page. I thought the card would be the only thing else to show at an embassy/consulate.

This is why this is so overwhelming. You don’t know what you don’t know. Thank you for clarifying and sharing tips. Appreciate you!

Make sure to check out the info @usedtobeshelver.bsky.social shared on this thread!

Better info, great tips, and some explanations on what to do if you lose your book. Info you need to know but probably wouldn’t learn until you’re experiencing it (yikes).

Thank you for sharing!! This was all very helpful. I wish the library had passport agents here. They do in the metro area closest to me but that is an hour away. Luckily for me, the post office was great.

What happens if you lose your book and you don’t have your card on you?

For adults, passports are good for 10 years. You can renew it as early as 9 months before expiration. Some countries require your passport to be valid at least 6 more months from your arrival/departure date. This varies so you should make sure your dates line up with the country you’re visiting.

Keep your book in a safe or lock box in your hotel room while traveling. The card stays on your person.

You need the book for international travel by air, sea, or land. The card can be used for domestic travel by land or sea.

Book vs Card vs Both:
So many passports are lost/stolen every year (like several hundred thousand). Getting the card & keeping it on your person, but separate from your wallet/ID, adds another level of security while you’re traveling (in case you lose your book and wallet, you’ll still have an ID).

You can self-identify your gender for your passport, either M for male, F for female, or X for unspecified or another gender. It does not have to match your citizenship paperwork or ID. You don’t have to bring any medical documentation for your gender marker either.

If you have changed your name but all of your legal documents don’t match yet, bring your name change paperwork with you.

They keep your birth certificate with the application and it will be mailed back to you in a few weeks. Heads up if you like to keep that thing on you.

Some notes:
This process is much more simple if you already have a Real ID and birth certificate. That’s not an option for everyone and the website lays out all the options. Definitely check through those to see what will work best for you.
The whole appt, from picture to payment, took 15 minutes.