Proving You Are Who You Claim to Be

So, when you apply you have to prove that you are the person you claim to be. Here is what the JET US website says:

12) Proof of U.S. Citizenship (3 photocopies): Please include ONE of the following documents:

• VALID United States passport: pages which include photo, name, and signature.
• Birth Certificate
• Naturalization papers: if you are a naturalized citizen, please contact the INS for information on receiving copies of your naturalization papers.

I used my birth certificate last year, but I want to use my passport this year. I couldn't use mine last year because I had just gotten married, so my name was wrong. I suggest working on getting your passport ASAP, if you really want to do JET because it can take a while, sometimes your app is rejected because the picture is wrong or whatever. But, it is the best form of ID, generally speaking. I know that my friend uses her passport as her main form of ID because she is from NH, but is in MA a lot and some bars won't take her NH license. Also, when you get into JET, you'll need a passport anyways and sometimes it just takes longer than you want it to take.

That being said, if you use your passport, you will need to make copies. Last year, a lot of people had issues with the copies, generally the picture came out dark or difficult to see. You can do some things to fix the picture issue, if you encounter it: copy the passport in color (this seemed to help a lot of people), lighten the copy, or leave it as is. Miami Coordinator stated that as long as the printed info and the signature are clearly visible, the copy of your passport is fine for the application stage. If you get in, you will need to send another copy with your photo being clear before you can go, but you don't have to worry about that while you are applying.

Another important thing: if you, like me, have had your name changed and your paperwork does not reflect your correct current name, getting your passport renewed and corrected solves the problem. I got married last October, so my name is not the same as my birth certificate or my old passport. I am planning to renew my passport and change my name this summer, so that I have the correct info for the application in the fall. Also, I can't travel with my passport until it is fixed, so doing this as soon as possible is preferable.