USA Passport Application – Apply For A USA Passport This day
By Advisor. Filed in Florida |
If you are planning to travel outside the United Says, then you need to have a passport to do so. To get your US passport, you need to fill in the passport application form. As with any official documents, the process to filling in the application might seem complicated at first, but the process is actually pretty straightforward for most people.
The first step towards getting your US passport is to visit a US post office or download the passport application online and print it out. If you are printing the application from your personal, then you need to print it in black ink on white paper as no other version will be accepted. Paper that you print the application form on must be 8 1/2 X 11 inches on a matte finish.
In order to be awarded a passport, you’ll need to provide proof of US citizenship. Acceptable forms of proof according to US government regulations include a certified US birth certificate, a naturalization certificate or US citizenship certificate. You may also be requested to prove your identity with a US passport, driver’s license or some form of state or federal identification.
An important part of the application are the passport pics. These are one of the main reasons that passport applications are rejected, so be sure to have yours done correctly. The regulations regarding passport photos state that no headwear or eyewear can be worn in the pic, civilian clothes must be worn (no uniforms), you must be looking straight at the camera and there are specifications about the lighting and sizing of the photos. It is best to have the photos done at a store that specializes in this sort of thing.
Since the passport office receives such a heavy workload all throughout the year, it is suggested that applicants send in their forms around 12 weeks before they plan to travel. In most cases passports will be issued within two weeks, however this isn’t guaranteed as sometimes there are errors that need to be rectified. For an additional fee you can apply for a rush passport that will be issued faster than normal.
After you’ve sent your application to the US passport office, you can keep an eye on its progress through the Internet at the state department’s website. It is very important that you fill in the application forms carefully and thoroughly. If information is missed, not filled out correctly or false, then the application will be rejected or delayed. Your passport is current for 10 years upon issue.
Costs involved with US passports are – adult passport $100, child passport $85. The additional fee to have the passport issued more quickly is $60. If you’re applying for a US passport for the first time, then you will also need to fill in the DS-11 form with your application.
If you are careful about filling in the correct information on your U S passport application, attaching correct passport pics and you pay the correct fee, then you’ll not have trouble getting your US passport. The new passport issuing body estimates that around 10 percent of applicants make errors on their forms, which slows down the process considerably.
