Whether the most powerful person in the world owns and carries a passport when going abroad has always been a question of many people.
In a video released by the White House in 2010, Katie Johnson, then the US President’s personal secretary, explained in detail the process of issuing and using the passport of former President Barack Obama. In fact, even though he is a special guest and is respectfully received at the places he visits, the White House boss still needs a passport.
Through the video, viewers have the opportunity to visually see rare images of a US President’s passport. Barack Obama was issued a new passport shortly after taking office.
Passport of former President Barack Obama.
Accordingly, Obama’s passport basically has information such as full name, date of birth, hometown similar to all ordinary passports. The difference lies in the words “The bearer is the president of the United States”.
Unlike ordinary people’s blue-covered ordinary passports, the President of the United States, along with family members, some high-ranking officials and diplomatic staff will be issued a special type of diplomatic passport with a color cover. black . These people do not have to pay a fee when making a passport.
Diplomatic passport with black cover.
Having a diplomatic passport, the US President enjoys many privileges, including visa exemption and priority entry in many countries. The validity of this passport will also be maintained forever even after the President’s term expires.
However, the President of the United States is not the person who directly keeps this type of document with him. The passports of the head of state and White House staff are both kept in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) located on the west side of the White House.
During the President’s visit, the US State Department staff accompanying the escort will keep this passport. When arriving in the host country, the person in charge will be responsible for bringing it and the passports of other members of the delegation through the security gate to stamp and carry out the necessary immigration procedures.
The US currently issues 3 types of passports.
The US issues 3 types of passports. Currently, there are more than 45 million people holding blue-covered ordinary passports. About 400,000 people have official passports with a chestnut cover . Most of the people holding this passport are active-duty military personnel and their families. About 80,000 Americans hold black-covered diplomatic passports .