Name Change On A Passport Isn't As Hard As You Would Think

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:24:14 EST

Learning how to get a passport name change is important if you wantyour passport to reflect the change in your name since your most recentpassport. A name change applies when you get married (and have taken ona different surname), or your name has changed through a court order.In both instances, you will have to go through the passport office forthis passport name change.

You have two ways about getting your passport name changed if your namewas changed legally (due to marriage or court order). What option isavailable to you is determined by the time when your latest passportwas issued. Once you’ve determined that, you will need to submit thenecessary documents that each option requires.

The first option is when your passport was issued more than one yearago. If this is the case with your passport, you will have to apply fora new passport by mail. To do that, you will need to mail the necessaryrequirements: your latest validated passport, two recent colorphotographs of yourself, the fees that cover this application, thecompleted DS-82 form so you can apply for a passport by mail, andfinally, the original or at least a certified copy of the document thatproves your name was changed legally (a marriage contract or a courtorder, depending on your case).

There are other requirements if your passport was issued within thelast year. Make sure you check the date your passport was issued beforeproceeding. If it was indeed issued within the last year, you will needto submit the following requirements: your latest validated passport,two recent color photos of yourself, the form DS-5504 for yourapplication of a passport name change, and then the supporting legaldocuments that evidence your name change.

You don’t have to pay any fee if you’re applying for a passport namechange if your passport is only a year old. However, there will be anapplicable fee should you choose to have your application expedited.This is recommended to anyone who needs to leave the country in lessthan 10 weeks. So if this situation applies to you, have it expedited.

However, there are cases when you cannot legally document your namechange, yet wish to have your name in your passport changed. If thissounds like your current situation, then there’s a remedy to that. Allyou need to do is to submit your latest valid passport, two colorphotos, your completed passport application form or the DS-11, and paythe applicable fees. Aside from that, you will also need to providethree public records with your date and place of birth that indicatesthe exclusive use of your new name for a minimum of five years.

Since you are filling in form DS-11, you will be required to submit inperson the last set of requirements we mentioned. It therefore pays toensure that you have all the requirements ready before going to thepassport agency or acceptance facility nearest you. Doing this willhelp you save a lot of time.

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Name Change On A Passport Isn't As Hard As You Would Think