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One of the first rites of passage for any traveler is getting your passport. And while some people have been traveling internationally since childhood, many others never have a passport and don’t know how to start the process. This information is for you. (Please note: the procedures outlined below apply to obtaining a passport under normal circumstances; as with anything else, the pandemic is continue to throw the once-typical timelines into turmoil, and revised timelines are indicated).

What documents and information you need to apply for a passport

• A completed application (DS-11). You can fill that out Online application or print it out pdf copy to write your answers.
• Proof of citizenship (birth certificate or Consular birth report abroad if born outside of the United States). Get a photocopy of the front of your citizenship certificate and the back (if it says something on the back). The photocopy must be on standard 8.5 “by 11” paper, in black and white, and clearly visible. If you don’t have a birth certificate, you need to read these rules for Minor forms identification.
• Proof of identity with photo ID: State ID, driver’s license, military photo ID, employee ID, expired driver’s license, health insurance card or green card You will need a copy of this to include with your application. You will need to provide some form of primary ID. If you are unable to present one of the primary IDs, you can also use 2 forms of secondary ID, including marriage certificate, social security ID, vehicle registration, employer ID, student ID and / or yearbook picture.
• A passport photo. The Photo must Recorded in full color on a clean white background within the last six months. It also needs to have a full view of the front of your face and should measure 2 inches by 2 inches. No glasses are allowed in the photo and you can smile as long as it is not extreme or closes your eyes.

Where do I apply for a passport?

When applying for your passport, you have several options. While some of these were closed during the pandemic, most government services are now fully reopened across the country.

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• The post office
• Passage agencies (here is The list)
• Office of the District Office
• Private agencies. These agencies are coming with you their own Price lists for services provided, but they can help you speed up the process if you have to travel sooner rather than later.

How much does it cost to get a passport?

A passport book for travelers 16 and older costs $ 145, including the application fee ($ 110) and the acceptance fee ($ 35).

When applying to a passport agency, you can pay by credit card, debit card, checks (personal, cash register, notarized, travelers), money orders or the exact amount of cash (no change). You can also use a prepaid card with a Visa or Mastercard logo. If you apply by post, you can pay with a check (again: in person, cash register, notarized, traveler).

The fees are higher for additional services such as acceleration. For example, there is a $ 60 expedited passport service add-on. You can find the full list of fees Here.

How long does it take to get your passport?

Under normal circumstances, passports will be mailed within 6-8 weeks (if you submitted your application by mail). However, as the nation emerges from the pandemic, the State Department says the current waiting time is closer to 18 weeks. If you choose the expedited service, you could previously count on your passport to be ready in 2-3 weeks, but now it’s closer to 12.

There is also an option to get an expedited emergency service that eventually made it possible to service on the same day or 1-2 days. Applying for such an exception requires proof of travel (flight ticket confirmation, accommodation booking and / or travel route). If you need a passport immediately, apply directly to a Passport agency that offers these fast processing times.

AZCentral offers the following tips for those seeking emergency services:

First of all, you need an appointment. You cannot enter. And appointments are usually reserved for life and death emergencies. If this applies to your situation, call the office at 877-487-2778 to schedule your appointment.

There are very few appointments for unnecessary trips that take place within 72 hours, and they fill up quickly. In this case you can try to make an appointment online at https://passportappointment.travel.state.gov.

This article was originally published in May 2020 and updated on July 9, 2021 to reflect changes in turnaround times during the pandemic and to update the article to reflect the current Lifehacker style.

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With millions of homeowners behind on their mortgage payments and a looming moratorium on foreclosure expiring July 31, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has added some new protective measures to help borrowers keep their homes. However, since lenders don’t always follow the rules, you want to know what these new protections are so that you can stand up for yourself.

Lenders need to follow these steps when they are behind with payments

To ease a cascade of foreclosures this summer, the CFPB has introduced new rules for 120-day overdue accounts. With effect from August 31st through December 31st, a lender cannot proceed with Foreclosure proceedings until one of these conditions is met:

• The borrower has exhausted all repayment measures in a bona fide attempt to avoid foreclosure. This includes a completed Claim Mitigation, which is a repayment plan that you can draw upon due to a financial emergency. The new rule states that the “service provider must determine that the borrower has no options for loss mitigation and inform the borrower,” which leaves the lender responsible for ensuring that this option has been exhausted.
• The property is being abandoned in accordance with local and state laws.
• The borrower does not respond to the contact with the servicer. If the homeowner does not respond for more than 90 days, the process can continue.

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Also, to expedite the process, the CFPB allows mortgage service providers to offer streamlined loan modifications that do not require borrowers to re-submit papers as long as those loan modifications do not increase a borrower’s payments.

Know your rights as a homeowner

With these rule changes, mortgage lenders need to consider whether you are eligible for a lower interest rate or another repayment schedule that makes repayment easier. That said, some lenders weren’t consistently following special COVID aid rules, so it is best to know your homeowner rights rather than relying on your mortgage provider to tell you what they are.

If you already know that you will no longer be able to pay your mortgage after the deferral has expired, contact your loan service provider now to discuss your options. For more information on these options, see check out this Lifehacker post.

Photo: Leszek Glasner (Shutterstock)

If I want to give you one fitness tip, it’s this: If you do exercises with little to no weight, you will get infinitely more out of it if you only would Put a damn weight on the bar. Yes, it might be a little creepy at first. But it’s absolutely worth it.

This ubiquitous message – that light weights are good enough and heavy weights aren’t that important – may seem friendly at first, but it makes people fail. Internalizing this message can consist of perfecting your technique until you feel you have “earned” your right to weight gain or your choice of accessories, the specific foods you eat, or the supplements you choose take, rethink.

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Outdoor space is a bonus wherever you live, especially if you have the space to create some outdoor seating. Structures like a pergola provide protection from the sun and add some style to your garden – but they can do more of both when you cover them with creeping vines.

These tall, often wooden structures usually have slats over the top that create shadows below, but often minimal shadows. Planting and encouraging the growth of grapevines to cover them creates a living canopy that will make your space more natural and enjoyable on sunny summer days. If this sounds like your dream, here are suggestions for the plants that will work best and some tips to get you started.

Which vines grow on your pergola

You want the plants covering your pergola to be sturdy, easy to care for, leafy enough to provide adequate shade, and pleasing to the eye. Boston ivy, a fast growing ivy with large maple-like leaves, is a good choice for creating a shade cover. This ivy is resilient and thrives in both full sun and partially shaded areas. They are self-climbing and form small discs that stick to surfaces as they grow.

Another fast growing vine that provides even more shade is the Virginia creeper. This hardy plant can grow in practically every soil and climate and requires little maintenance. The stout ivy has green leaves that spread over pergolas and provide ample shade in summer, and turn bright red in autumn.

If you want more color in your garden, Chinese jasmine provides full coverage and blooms with beautiful flowers. These Climbing plants are evergreenso that they last year round and grow pretty quickly. The flowers are white and pink with a pleasant fragrance.

Or cover your pergola with flowers

If you want to add even more beauty to your space, you can plant climbing roses. Their vines are strong and they produce flowers of a wide variety of colors. You need some help with climbing, so have a trellis or Grid to hold onto helps fill in your pergola.

clematis are climbing flowers similar to roses. With a little help, they can also grow beyond your pergola. The vine produces flowers in a variety of purples, pinks, and whites, and enough leaves to keep you safe from the sun. These plants are perennial and will take a few growth cycles to bloom, but are worth the wait.

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What not to plant on your pergola

Plants you want Be careful with English ivy and wisteria. Both vine plants grow quite aggressively and can even tear apart structures and hinder the growth of other plants. If you choose these plant options, they need to be monitored and heavily pruned. In addition to its strength and vigorous growth, wisteria is also poisonous to pets, so animal lovers may want to choose a safer alternative.

How to promote the growth of climbing plants

To grow your organic canopy you need the Type of plant you have chosen along with your soil type and climate. First, consider the acidity of your soil and the level of moisture the vine needs. Plants like clematis thrive in a moist, alkaline environment. So if this is the vine of your choice, Prepare your floor accordingly.

Climbing plants are also used need some training, including pruning, bending, and binding to encourage them to cover the area they want. Once the soil is firm, plant your vine at the base of the pergola. When the plant begins to sprout high enough to reach the pergola post, wrap its tendrils around the post. For plants that need a little more help, you can use soft garden ties to pin the plant to the post. Using a net can also help direct the sprouts in the right direction, and again, grids can help direct the growth of plants such as climbing roses. Once the tendrils reach the top of the pergola, it will be difficult to spread them horizontally in the correct direction, so you will need to start tying them across the pergola in order for them to be properly attached.

Household advice page HomeSteady recommends pruning your climbing plants in the spring to encourage fuller growth and direct their coverage and shape in hopes of positioning themselves outdoors for a shady summer.