What are Passport Tattoos Really?

What is a visa? What is a passport? Is a visa a passport? Is a passport a visa? What are those stamps in the passport for? You probably have no idea, but like the idea of a “tatted passport”. Wow. Y’all wild. I’m going to drop some knowledge on y’all today so you can stunt with your stamps and tats. Go ahead and show Instagram what you’re working with, but before you go out there flossing, know what you’re talking about.

A PASSPORT

A passport is a lovely book that your residential government issues that gives you the ability to travel to foreign countries. (Don’t know how to get one? Click here!) There are also passport cards, but those only allow you to re-enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Basically not worth it. Stick to the passport book. This book is the U.S. government saying to you “look yo, go ahead and explore, check those other places out”.

This is that small blue book that has all your information on the inside of it. Foreign governments use this book to acknowledge that you belong to a plot of land, aren’t some crazy alien, and to ensure they have a place to send your tail back to should you decide to act up. This book is nonetheless important. You can’t get in or out of a country without it.

Pro Tip: Before travelling overseas, take a picture of the inside of your passport and email it to yourself; that way, if you lose it, you’ll always have some sort of identification.

A VISA

Now, just because you got permission to go doesn’t mean that you have permission to enter. This is where the visa comes into place. A visa is a stamp or a sticker that officials of a foreign country place on your passport that grants you access to their country. You can get this visa from the embassy or consulate of the foreign country within your residential country.

That might have been confusing, so let me break it down:

I am a U.S. citizen and I’m interested in going to India. I have a passport, but I now also need a visa. I take my passport to the Indian embassy (located in the United States) to get a visa. I do this prior to travelling. Now, when I fly to India, I can pass through customs and passport control, because I have been granted access to their country from their embassy in my residential country (the U.S.).

Or….

I was about to skrrt skrrt to Bollywood. Needed a visa, so I handed old boy my passport. Homie was like “YOOOOO, you good bruv”. He gave me the passport tat, and homies didn’t give me no problems at the border.

I hope that helped.

TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION

There are certain things that you should know before taking your passport and visa knowledge into the world:

1. Not all countries require visas to enter, but all countries require a passport of some kind. What countries can Americans enter without a visa? Click here.

2. Certain countries allow for you to obtain visas in the airport so you don’t need to go to a consulate or embassy. What are those countries? Click here.

3. Visas have an expiration date, so make sure that you are in and out of the country before your visa expires. How long will your visa last? Ask Google.

4. Some countries don’t necessarily want Americans tourists. Shock. (I don’t blame them) As such, they’ll give you a hard time getting into the country, so have some patience and all your required documents.

**NOTE: This info is primarily for those with AMERICAN (U.S.A.) passports 

Now that you'r aware of the nature of "passport tats" go ahead and start flexing. I really do want y'all to prosper, but you really have to have the receipts to back up your flossing. FEEL ME?

What's your next "passport tat" going to be? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Wandering...

If You Don't Have A Passport CLICK THIS!

Many of you have kept up with my adventures, but when I ask about your adventures, one too many people have exclaimed that they don’t have a passport yet. When I inquire as to why, they usually say the same thing: “I don’t know how to do all that”, “It just seems like such a long process”, or my personal favorite “Aint nobody got time fo dat”. Well listen up sweetheart, you better make time if you’re considering traveling the world.

So, since y’all all lazy as hell, and need me to do everything for you, and refuse to google “passport”, I’ve arrived with some Primetime, Grade A, Valedictorian-level advice. Ok, it’s really simple as hell, but bear with me as I break down the 3 step process. Yall stay trying to make simple things beyond difficult.

STEP 1: Get An Application

You gotta start somewhere, so why not start with grabbing an application. Don’t know where to find one? Don’t worry, I’ve linked it for you here. I know if you scroll through, you’ll see that there are 6 pages filled with text...daunting. Have no fear, Wad is here! I’ll explain everything to you in a second, and it’ll only take a paragraph or so. Click that link and print it out. Once you do that, you’re almost halfway done with getting your passport! Was that so hard?

STEP 2: Fill It Out

Alright, so you’ve printed it out! I’m so proud of you! Now check out the last two pages and fill that out with your information. I don’t know what your social security or address are so I unfortunately can not do that work for you. This is something you’re going to have to do yourself. You can do it sweetheart, I promise it’s not hard. As you’re filling the application out you’ll see a place where there is a stick figure head. Your picture goes here. No, do not draw a self-portrait here. Go to a CVS, Walgreens, or maybe a Wal-Mart and get a passport picture taken. This should only cost about $10-$15.

To complete this application you’ll also need proof of U.S. citizenship (read: copy of front and back of birth certificate); proof of identity (read: copy of front and back of driver's license); and lastly a fee. You thought it was free? HA! Think again, this is the government we’re talking about. Go ahead and click here to see how much money you’ll need to cough up. Remember that you can only pay via check or money order. Do not...I repeat DO NOT consider cash or a credit/debit card. You will be turned away, denied, exiled, all of the above. Ok, not exiled, but you catch my drift.

 STEP 3: Find A Post Office

At this point you’ve completed the application, gotten a copy of your birth certificate and driver’s license, gotten your passport picture taken, and your check or money order together. All that is left is to go to a post office to turn in the application. There are certain offices that have passport services, and some even require appointments. I was able to find many with walk-in availability in my location. Not sure how to find out which post office near you has these services? Click here. Go with you full application and turn in your documents. You’ll be asked to sign verifying you are the applicant.

Sign that bish and then DIP! You OUT! YOU DONE!

I don’t want to hear any more of you complain about not having a passport. These are step by step instructions. It is easy. It is simple. I have made your life a breeze. Quit your whining. Cough up that $110 (if it’s your first passport and you don’t want it expedited) and call it a day. You literally pay this much to get your hair done. You pay twice this much to purchase shoes. Get yo life and your priorities in order. #thatisall

**NOTE: This info is primarily for those getting AMERICAN (U.S.A.) passports 

Happy Wandering...