International travel can be a fun and satisfying adventure. It gives us the chance to see sights and conduct business in new places, new markets, and new languages. Many people love the opportunity to explore the world outside their homes, but international travel can also be a nightmare. Even on the simplest travels, diplomatic paperwork can be a snag. The easiest way to overcome this problem is to avoid it--so you should prepare your paperwork well before you leave the country.

The two pieces of diplomatic paperwork that an international traveler must carry are his passport and visa. The passport is a document issued by his home country that identifies him as a citizen and grants him passage across national borders. The visa is a document issued by the country the traveler is visiting, granting him permission to be in the foreign country. You should make sure you have both of these documents (and that they are up-to-date) before leaving home.

The Passport Process

The process of getting your passport can be a long one. While there is nothing overly elaborate in the process, the volume of applications and the time it takes to clear them can often result in long waits for eager travelers. Especially after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 many nations--the United States in particular--have become much more strict about the processes of applying for passports and visas.

A United States passport takes about six weeks to process. You must get your passport through the State Department, which has many stations at which you can apply. No matter where you are traveling, you must have a passport to leave the country. A passport is good for ten years.

Getting a Visa

Getting a visa can take longer than getting a passport by standard services. Many countries impose a waiting period on visa applicants to keep fraudulent applications from slipping through. These are typically 30 day waits, on top of the usual processing time for the visa.

All visas are not equal, but rather there are different classes of visa. These depend on the business of the traveler and the expected length of stay. A visa must be applied for in person at the nearest consulate of the nation to which you are traveling.

Faster Service

A growing business in the United States and abroad has been that of the passport and visa expediters. These private businesses are able to file necessary forms and quarterback a passport application to the State Department, getting a passport or visa for their client in as little as 24 hours. Expediters are also often used by travelers who are not within driving distance of a consulate from which they must get a visa.

This is not to suggest that these companies skip the necessary channels. The expediter provides the service of taking care of everything, sometimes even going to consulates in person to speed up the application process and obtaining the necessary travel papers for their clients. Passport expediters charge fees on top of the standard governmental application fees for their services, but many travelers in a pinch have been grateful for their assistance.