USA Passport Application - Applying For A U.S. Passport Form Is Easy
By Advisor. Filed in Florida |
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, think about 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 might 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 grants you to track your mailing and verify proof of delivery.
If you are applying for your first passport, or if your previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago, you must apply in person. This condition also applies if you are under the age of 16 or if you were under 16 when your previous passport was issued. You must also make a personal application if your passport is damaged or was lost or stolen. Those with name changes that can’t be legally documented must also apply in person.
There are many regional passport offices across the country, but they might be hundreds of miles away. Therefore, most people choose to apply at a post office or with their county clerk. Hours of operation vary by office, but the documents you must provide are the same. You must provide proof of U.S. Citizenship, such as an embossed birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship, or a notice of naturalization. An undamaged passport also serves this purpose. If you are a U.S. Citizen who was born in another country, a report from the consul or a birth certificate might be used.
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 say 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 can’t be a duplex copy, or copy with dual sided printing.
Photographs are one area that lead to many rejections. You’ll need two identical pics, each 2 x 2 and in color. They cannot be more than 6 months old and should show how you currently appear. They must be full face frontal views. The space between the bottom of the chin and the top of the head must fall between one inch and one and three-eighths inches. You should wear your normal style of dress and pose against a white or near-white background. If you normally wear glasses or a wig, you should wear them in the picture. No hats are to be worn, and ladies should refrain from hair trims that hide the hair or hairline.
There are different requirements for special passports, such as for kids or dignitaries. However, most adults who need passports should now have a good idea of what will be required to finish a U S passport application. Accurately completing the passport application form forms and providing the proper documentation are the most crucial elements for success.
Tags: American passport application, new passport application, passport application, U.S. passport application
