Applying for a passport can be a
confusing tangle of forms. Completing them correctly and providing the
documentation requested can speed up your passport application. It can
also save you several hours of repeat visits, and eliminate
frustration.
First of all, consider whether you can renew your passport by
mail. If your current passport is less than 15 years old and is
undamaged, you may qualify. However, you must be at least 16 years old
now and when the original passport was issued. If your current name
differs from your passport, you can still renew by mail but you must
provide legal proof, such as a marriage license, that documents your
new name.
If it is during the busiest time of year, such as the summer, it
can take up to 3 months to receive your passport. During off-peak
periods, it may only take 4 or 6 weeks. These times can be halved if
you wish to pay an extra $60 for expedited service. When mailing in an
application, place the passport forms and your documentation in an
envelope that will protect it from the weather. It is also best to use
a carrier that allows you to track your mailing and verify proof of
delivery.
If you have never had a passport, or if it has been more than 15
years since you received one, you have to apply at the issuing site.
This is also the case if the age limit of 16 cannot be met. If your
current passport has been damaged, stolen, or lost, you must also apply
in person. Also, anyone with a name change he or she cannot document
must make personal application.
Typically, most people choose to apply at their local post office
or office of the county clerk. There are several official passport
agencies located across the country, but these are regionally based and
may be quite distant from your home. Every office will keep different
hours, so it is best to call ahead. Every one, however, will need the
same types of documentation. You must prove you are a citizen of the
United States by providing an official birth certificate or proof of
naturalization. Consular reports or notice of birth can serve if you
were born abroad and your parents were citizens of the U.S. If you have
an undamaged passport, this will also serve to document citizenship.
You will also be required to prove your identity. A passport can
serve for this purpose as well as your proof of citizenship. The most
common documentation is a current driver's license or state issued
identification card. If your license was issued by a state other than
the one in which you are making your application for passport, you will
need a second form of identification. The agency will accept your
social security card, your credit card, or your employer identification
card. You must also provide a copy of all identification used for the
application. This cannot be a duplex copy, or copy with dual sided
printing.
You will need two color photographs of yourself. They must be
identical and no more than 6 months old. Your appearance cannot vary
significantly from the photograph. Each must be 2 x 2, taken against a
white or nearly white background, and be a front view of your full
face. The space between bottom of chin and top of head cannot be less
than 1 inch or greater than 1-3/8 inches. You should dress in your
normal manner for the picture, and if that includes a wig or glasses,
they should be worn in the photograph. However, do not wear a hat or
hair trim that hides the hairline.
There are different requirements for
special passports, such as for children or dignitaries. However, most
adults who need passports should now have a good idea of what will be
required to complete a passport application. Accurately completing the
passport forms and providing the proper documentation are the most
crucial elements for success.
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