Top 10 Passport tips from the Travel Almanac

10 Think about new accessories, such as passport covers, to protect your document.

9 Make copies of all forms and documents submitted for the passport. Write the date of application on the copies.

8 Customers can take advantage of Funjet Vacations' expediting fee, which ensures they get their passports on time.

7 Apply early to allow time for processing, and possible delays, such as a high volume of requests. Standard processing takes six to eight weeks. Don't wait until the last minute.

6 Check out promotions to help cover all or some passport expenses. Promotions for the Caribbean are available at collage.triseptsolutions. com/VendorCenter7.5/IFJ/pdfs/ CPP.pdf.

5 Save money by bringing a picture that meets the requirements. Photos must be a 2-by-2-inch head shot with a white background.

4 Use a processing service to save time. OfficialTravelDocuments.com helps customers gather and organize all the necessary information, and it helps expedite the process.

3 Get passport photos taken at the post office. It costs a few dollars more, but everything is done in one stop.

2 Many post offices allow customers to make appointments, eliminating wait time. This is helpful for children 14 and younger, and others who must have both parents present to obtain passports.

1 Fill out a passport application before going to the post office. Applications are available online at www.travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11842.html