 Applying for
a US Passport
How to Apply in Person for a Passport
Should You Apply In Person?
If you are applying for a U.S. passport
for the first time. -Yes
If your previous U.S. passport was lost,
stolen, or damaged. -Yes
If your previous U.S. passport has expired
& was issued more than 15 years ago. -Yes
If your previous passport has expired and
it was issued when you were under 16. -Yes
If your name has changed since your passport
was issued and you do not have a legal document formally changing
your name. -Yes
Where can you apply for a US Passport
in person?
 Many US post offices, clerks of court, public libraries
and other state, county, township, and municipal government offices
to accept passport applications. Some will take photos on site:
The US State department has a "Passport Acceptance Facility
Search Page" wher you can input your zip code to find the
nearest passport office at www.iafdb.travel.state.gov.
NOTE: All persons must have their own passports,
including infants.
For All Minors Under Age 14 :
Each minor child shall appear in person.
All applications for children under 14 require both parents'
or legal guardians' consent.
For All Minors Age 14 to 17:
Each minor child shall appear in person.
For security reasons, parental consent may be requested.
If your child does not have identification of his/her own, you
need to accompany your child and present identification.
To Apply in Person for a U.S. Passport
You MUST:
1. Provide Application for Passport,
Form DS-11
Forms can be obtained from any passport agency or acceptance
facility or from the US State department website at http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/forms_847.html
NOTE: Please do NOT sign the DS-11
application form until the Passport Acceptance Agent instructs
you to do so.
2. Present Proof of U.S.
Citizenship
You may prove U.S. Citizenship with any
one of the following:
Previous U.S. Passport (mutilated, altered, or damaged passports
are not acceptable as evidence of U.S. citizenship.)
Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state
NOTE: A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised,
embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar's signature,
and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office,
which must be within 1 year of your birth
Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
Naturalization Certificate
Certificate of Citizenship
A Delayed Birth Certificate filed more
than one year after your birth may be acceptable if it:
Listed the documentation used to create it and
Signed by the attending physician or midwife, or, lists an affidavit
signed by the parents, or shows early public records.
If you do NOT have a previous U.S.
passport or a certified birth certificate, you will need:
1. Letter of No Record
Issued by the State with your name, date of birth, which years
were searched for a birth record and that there is no birth certificate
on file for you.
2. AND as many of the following as possible:
Baptismal certificate
Hospital birth certificate
Census record
Early school record
Family bible record
Doctor's record of post-natal care
NOTES: These documents must be early public
records showing the date and place of birth, preferably created
within the first five years of your life.
You may also submit an Affidavit of Birth,
form DS-10, from an older blood relative, i.e., a parent, aunt,
uncle, sibling, who has personal knowledge of your birth. It
must be notarized or have the seal and signature of the acceptance
agent.
If you were born abroad AND do not have
a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certificate of Birth on
file, you will need:
1 If you claim citizenship through birth abroad to one U.S. citizen
parent:
Foreign birth certificate,
Proof of citizenship of your U.S. citizen parent, AND
An affidavit of your U.S. citizen parent showing all periods
and places of residence or physical presence in the United States
and abroad before your birth.
2 If you claim citizenship through birth
abroad to two U.S. citizen parents:
Your foreign birth certificate,
Parent's marriage certificate, AND
Proof of citizenship of your U.S. parents and an affidavit of
your U.S. citizen parents showing all periods and places of residence
of physical presence in the United States and abroad before your
birth.
NOTE: The following are NOT proof of citizenship
Voter registration cards
Army discharge papers
We have new information on foreign-born
children adopted by U.S. citizens.
NOTE: If you travel extensively, you
may request a larger, 48-page passport at no additional cost.
To do so, please attach a signed request for a 48-page passport
to your application.
FOR MINORS UNDER THE AGE OF 14:
The citizenship evidence submitted for minors under the age of
14 must list both parents' names. Read more information on the
citizenship requirements for minors under the age of 14.
3. Present Proof of Identity
You may prove your identity with any one
of these, if you are recognizable:
Previous U.S. passport (mutilated, altered, or damaged passports
are not acceptable as proof of identity.)
Naturalization Certificate
Current, valid
Driver's license
Government ID: city, state or federal
Military ID: military and dependents
NOTE: Your Social Security Card does
NOT prove your identity.
If none of these are available , you
will need:
1 Some signature documents, not acceptable alone as ID
(ex: a combination of documents, such as
your Social Security card, credit card, bank card, library card,
etc.)
AND
2 A person who can vouch for you. He/she must
Have known you for at least 2 years,
Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident,
Have valid ID, and
Fill out a Form DS-71 in the presence of a passport agent.
FOR MINORS UNDER THE AGE OF 14:
Each minor child shall appear in person. Both
parents or legal guardians must present evidence of identity
when they apply for a minor under the age of 14. Read more information
on the identity requirements for minors under the age of 14.
FOR MINORS 14 to 17:
Your child MUST appear in person.
For security reasons, parental consent may be requested.
If your child does not have identification of his/her own, you
need to accompany your child, present identification and co-sign
the application.
4. Provide Two Passport Photos
Your photographs must be:
2x2 inches in size
Identical
Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance
Color
Full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background
Between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to
the top of the head
Taken in normal street attire
Uniforms should not be worn in photographs except religious attire
that is worn daily.
Do not wear a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or
hairline.
If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device,
wig or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture.
Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are
not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons. A medical
certificate may be required.
NOTE:Vending machine photos are not generally
acceptable
5. Pay the Applicable Fee
The 13 Passport Agencies Accept:
For Passport Application and Execution
Fee:
Credit Cards VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover
Debit/Check cards (not ATM cards)
Checks, money orders, bank drafts
The over 7,000 Passport Acceptance Facilities
Accept:
For Passport Application Fee:
Personal checks, money orders, and bank drafts at all locations
Exact cash at some locations
For Execution Fee:
Money orders and bank drafts at all locations
Personal checks and exact cash at some locations
Credit cards at U.S. Postal Facilities and some other locations
NOTE: When applying at one of the thousands
of designated application acceptance facilities in the U.S.,
you pay the application processing fee to the "U.S. Department
of State" and the execution fee to the facility where you
are applying. When applying at a Regional Passport Agency, both
fees are combined into one payment to the "U.S. Department
of State."
6. Provide a Social Security Number
If you do not provide your Social Security
Number, the Internal Revenue Service may impose a $500 penalty.
If you have any questions please call your nearest IRS office.
|