Passport Updates from BPL for Spring & Summer Travels 2026
Amsterdam's famous canals are among vacation destinations highlighted in this spring travel blog written by William Anthony, passport acceptance agent for BPL's Central Library Citizens Services Desk.
The flowers may be blooming, and the sun may be setting
later. Those are important reminders that spring break is around the corner. Go
ahead and plan a relaxing but exciting trip before the summertime heat kicks
in.
As always, make sure that you have
your obligatory, quintessential passport!
Apply for or renew your passport today at the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) to
avoid packing any last-minute stress on your vacation.
BPL is a Passport Acceptance Facility and has many passport
acceptance agents who can help you navigate the application process.
You can start your passport application process
at the Central Library or the Avondale
Regional Branch Library. The Springville
Road Regional Branch Library no longer accepts passport
applications.
Central Library's passport hours for walk-in services are
Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 205-226-3705
or stop by the Citizen
Services Department at the Central Library to find out more.
The Avondale Branch Library offers passport application
services by appointment only. Call the Avondale Library at (205) 226-4000 to
reserve your spot.
Be sure to use the passport application forms that are most
up to date. The following forms are also available for
free on the internet. You should not pay
any additional, unnecessary fees to fill out one of these documents
online.
Here is a list of the documents you need to apply for your
passport today:
- Form DS-82 (Adult passport renewal
form only if issued within the past 15 years)
- Birth
certificate (Naturalization form or consular report of birth
abroad is also acceptable.)
- Driver's
license
- Photograph
(Photograph services at Central and Avondale)
- Payment
for U.S. Department of State as a check or money order
- Payment
for Library in cash, check, or credit
Here are other documents that you might need to fill out
because of special situations:
- Form DS-64 (Valid
passport has been lost or stolen. This document must also
be submitted with a DS-11 application if the lost passport
is still active.)
- Form DS-5504 (Data
correction or name change within 1 year or limited passport replacement)
- Form DS-3053 (This
statement of consent for issuing a passport to a child must
be notarized and submitted with a
DS-11 application.)
- Form DS-5525 (This
document is strictly a statement of exigent/special family circumstances.)
- Form DS-86 (Statement
you did not receive your U.S. passport)
- Form DS-10 (This
document is strictly meant for applicants if their birth
certificate was issued over a year after they were born. It must also
be notarized.)
- Form DS-71 (This document only pertains to
applicants who do not have a primary form of identification. A witness
must sign this form in front of a passport agent.)
- Form DS-60 (This
document is meant to verify an applicant’s new name that is
not evident in a court order or marriage certificate.)
- Form DS-5507 (This
document is required for transmitting citizenship to
children who were born abroad.)
- Form DS-2029 (This
document primarily serves to establish a child’s
citizenship in order to obtain a consular report of birth
abroad. It can also accompany a DS-5507 form.)
NOTE: If you want to travel overseas, you need to account for the time it takes to receive your passport. The U.S. Department of State reported that normal processing time for passports ranges from 4-6 weeks. Expedited passports, which cost an extra $60.00, range from 2-3 weeks.
If you need to renew or apply for a passport sooner than
the 2-3 week range of expedited passport processing, you can schedule
an appointment at either the Atlanta Passport Agency or the New Orleans Passport Center.
You can also contact your state’s senators if you
have other pressing questions, concerns, or sudden emergencies pertaining
to your passport application process.
If you have been issued a special issuance passport for the military or government work,
you will still need to apply for a tourist passport if you are traveling for
leisure.
As for applicants who were not born in the
U.S.A. or U.S. territories and do not have a consular report of birth abroad, you will need to apply for
and bring your official naturalization form if you need a
U.S. passport.
You must follow all the instructions on this
link to obtain your naturalization form: https://www.uscis.gov/n-400.
Applicants with green cards must
also include the original, physical card, including a photocopy of
it, along with their DS-11 applications and naturalization
forms when meeting with a passport agent.
Here are some helpful links for your travel agenda:
There are many luxurious hotels and resorts to check into
once you arrive at your destination. However, don’t underestimate the
convenience of an Airbnb either.
The prices are reasonable depending on how many people are traveling together.
This app also offers suggested experiences and services to make planning your
trip easier.
All the hard work is done!
Check out these
travel recommendations from Birmingham Public Library:
Imagine enjoying this view while swimming (or
floating) in a river.
I recommended visiting Lucerne, Switzerland,
especially during the winter season, in a previous passport blog that I wrote back in October
2024. Now, kick off your travels with a trip to Basel, Switzerland, especially during the springtime!
One of the first places that you should check out in Basel
is the Rhine River. There are plenty of boat
trips and ferry
rides to enjoy as temperatures start to warm up. You will also get an
incredible view of several landmarks throughout Basel. Don’t forget
about the Rhine River cruise if you also plan on
visiting other countries that this 800-mile-long river runs through such
as Germany, France, and the Netherlands. If you plan on swimming and floating
down the Rhine River, don’t forget to use a Wickelfisch swim bag if you want to keep your personal
belongings dry.
Basel includes a few truly unique museums such
as Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel, Kunstmuseum Basel, and Basler Papiermühle -
Schweizerisches Museum für Papier, Schrift und Druck.
Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel is a museum that is
all about toys from all over the world. There are enough dolls and
teddy bears to warm any child’s heart. It is perfect for the whole family and
guarantees nostalgia for all generations.
Kunstmuseum Basel is one of the quintessential art
museums in not just Switzerland but all of Europe. What sets it apart from other monumental art
galleries is that it is the oldest public art gallery in the world. If you
were in Switzerland for just one day, please set aside a few hours to
visit Kunstmuseum Basel. Its three venues will leave you wanting to learn
more about art history.
Basler Papiermühle - Schweizerisches Museum
für Papier, Schrift und Druck is a museum dedicated to the history of
paper, printing, and calligraphy. There are interactive workshops where
visitors can participate in papermaking and bookbinding. As
tedious as all this might sound, this paper mill will surprise you with its
commitment to this everyday craft.
Other notable activities include visiting Basel Town Hall and Tinguely Fountain. There is also a monument in Basel
where you can visit a tripoint between Switzerland, France, and Germany. It is
the Dreiländereck. Either a boat or a tram can take you to
this location. Stroll around the Basel Zoo one
afternoon too.
Take advantage of the highly convenient Basel SBB
Station as you mark this city off your bucket list.
If you want to learn even more about Switzerland,
I would recommend checking out the book: From Montgomery to the Matterhorn: Reflections on Life in My
Two Homelands by Betty Amstutz Gerson.
These canals will take you through the heart of
Amsterdam.
If you are still in the mood for a Rhine River cruise, you can also
start this adventure in Amsterdam, Netherlands, not just Basel, Switzerland.
Speaking of the Rhine River, you can choose from many Amsterdam canal cruises that
will give you a worthwhile view of the city. You can book a private or shared
tour, including more specific tours such as a pizza cruise or a proposal
cruise. If you want to learn more about canals and houseboats, spend some
time in the cozy, immersive Houseboat
Museum. This experience might even convince you
to live in a houseboat for a season or two.
Going on a cruise is fun, but the best way to explore
Amsterdam is by riding a bicycle. It is the most popular and convenient form of
transportation. Almost everyone rides bikes here. You can coast
along countless bicycle highways, which are known as doorfietsroutes.
These fast cycle routes are more fun to use than a standard highway, and they
also connect the city with nearby neighborhoods such as Jordaan. Doorfietsroutes are designed
for longer bike rides. Fietsstraten are
the bicycle highways where cars are permitted as a
guest next to cyclists, and the speed limits are more
reduced on these streets compared to doorfietsroutes. It
would be a mistake to not sign up for a bike tour throughout Amsterdam.
Just like Basel, Switzerland, Amsterdam is also known
for some highly renowned museums such as the Anne Frank
House, the Van
Gogh Museum, Our Lord in the Attic Museum, and the Rijksmuseum. Be sure
to get your tickets as early as possible because these
museums typically sell out weeks and even months in
advance. Visiting these hallowed places will be the best and most
humbling lesson about Dutch history and art.
A major reason why you should visit
Amsterdam during the springtime is because of Keukenhof
Gardens. It is located in Lisse, Netherlands, which is a 30-40
minute drive from Amsterdam. The window to walk through one
of the largest flower gardens in the world is from March 19th to May 10th. All
the tulips will take your breath away. These fields will remind you why this
delicate flower is synonymous with the Netherlands.
Mark your calendar for April 27th because it is King’s Day. Celebrating King’s Day in the Netherlands is
the equivalent to celebrating the Fourth of July in the U.S.A. or Bastille Day in France. This holiday commemorates the birthday
of King Willem-Alexander. You better believe that the
Amsterdam locals get into the spirit for a day that reveres the Dutch
monarchy. Everyone dresses up in bright orange clothes in honor of the House of Orange-Nassau. Boats on the canal, shops, and
restaurants are also drenched in orange. It is known as Oranjegekte,
which means “orange madness.” The festivities include massive
street markets, boat parades, music festivals, and traditional games
such as sjoelen or koekhappen.
Amsterdam also offers an abundance of fun nightclubs, especially if you are a fan
of electronic dance music and techno. Some
of the biggest DJs in the world such as Armin
van Buuren, Tiësto, and Martin Garrix all hail from the Netherlands.
Take your obligatory photos of all the windmills. Treat
yourself to a delicious stroopwafel and an appeltaart. Amsterdam is the perfect destination
for a spring vacation.
You couldn’t ask for a better sunset.
I highlighted Lisbon, Portugal in another passport blog that I wrote in February 2025.
Now, it is time to prioritize Madrid, Spain!
The first thing that you should do in Madrid is visit
the Royal
Palace of Madrid. It would be a huge mistake to not tour the most
majestic sections such as the Main Staircase,
the Throne
Room, the Royal Chapel, and the Gasparini
Room. The painted ceilings, ornate tapestries, and opulent
marble floors will stay with you long after you have learned about
the Spanish Royal Family. Complete your tour of the Royal
Palace of Madrid with a stroll through Sabatini
Gardens.
The ultimate experience in Madrid during the spring
is the San Isidro Festival. It is a spectacular fiesta that
honors Saint Isidore the Laborer. Although this festival
lasts for 7-10 days, its fixed date is May 15th. Since
this patron saint is associated with water, people line up to drink
miraculous water from the fountain at the Hermitage of San Isidro. It is a pilgrimage
worth witnessing.
Plaza Mayor is another main location for dozens of
concerts, zarzuela performances, traditional dancing known
as the chotis, and the Procession
of Giants and Bigheads. You can also enjoy these festivities
at Las
Vistillas Gardens and Matadero
Madrid. Don’t forget to try gallinejas and entresijos along with a glass of limonada
madrileña. Then, enjoy rosquillas for
dessert. Your taste buds won’t regret this decision.
Don’t forget to book tickets for an epic
bullfight at the Las Ventas bullring. It may be terrifying and
stressful to watch a matador face off against a furious bull, but it is still
considered a staple experience during the San Isidro Festival. Bullfighting
season lasts from March to October.
Another extraordinary arena in Madrid to visit is the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. You can go on a tour of the whole stadium or you can watch a Real Madrid C.F. match throughout
the upcoming season. The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium was
also recently renovated back in 2024, and it now includes a
retractable roof and pitch. Sports enthusiasts will get
their money’s worth at this advanced venue.
Every Sunday in a neighborhood called La
Latina, the legendary flea market, El Rastro,
is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., including
holidays. This is not a typical flea market; it is
a massive gathering. Get there as early as possible so that
the crowd does not overwhelm you. El Rastro is the perfect
opportunity to get to know the locals and to make some new
friends. Be sure to bring cash and support several family
businesses. Whether you are shopping for antiques or not, El Rastro brings
out a more personable side to Madrid.
Final Tips
It is advised that you arrive early at your
closest airport due to unusually long TSA wait times.
Stay vigilant about practicing sanitary habits and be
mindful of your overall health so that a sudden illness does not take away
from your fun abroad.
Before traveling abroad, check for travel restrictions in any locations that you are
traveling through. This includes your final destination and any other
stops for connecting flights, layovers, or similar trips.
Always be aware of your surroundings and practice
increased caution no matter where you choose to travel. There are several countries that you should not visit right now
because of ongoing warfare. Your safety must be a top
priority. Contact a nearby foreign embassy and consulate as soon as
possible if you find yourself stuck in a dangerous situation.
On top of that, some countries might
require additional documentation along with your passport such as
a visa or an electronic travel authorization, which is
particularly meant for a visit to Canada or the United Kingdom.
If you plan on traveling domestically, the
deadline to obtain the STAR ID on
your driver’s license was May 7th, 2025. However, there is no need to worry if
you don’t have your STAR ID yet. You can use a passport book or
card in place of a driver’s license without the STAR ID while flying
domestically. Many DMVs are also offering appointments for
a STAR ID if you haven’t gotten it yet.
Find out more about these travel destinations and others at
the Birmingham
Public Library and other members of the Jefferson County Library
Cooperative.
Written By William Anthony | Librarian I, Citizen Services
Department
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