U.S. Passport Application Advice
A passport book or card is needed whenever you travel to other countries and the pass port application can be downloaded online. The State Department’s DS 11 form needs to be completed when applying for a book or card for the first time. Getting a book or card is a process that can take a few weeks to complete.
Information
Complete the form by listing your name, mailing and permanent address, sex, place of birth and birth date. You will also need to state your social security number, marital status and other personal information. Providing your parents’ names, birth dates, and places of birth is also required. Review the completed form to make sure all of the information is correct.
Review
In order to start the application process, you need to present documents that verify your birth of origin and nationality. Certified birth certificates, medical records, an old passport, or school records are sufficient to prove nationality. If you are a citizen of a foreign country, you can provide certificates of citizenship or a certificate of naturalization. Non-U. S. Citizens can also present birth records or passports issued by their country.
Identification
Provide proof of your identity with a driver’s license or an old passport. Government employee identification cards and military identification can also be submitted. The certificate of citizenship or naturalization is an acceptable form of identification. If you do not have any documentation verifying your identity, you can bring a person who has known you for at least two years to the processing facility. The person will be required to prove his identity and sign an Affidavit of Identifying Witness.
Photos
A current color photograph will be needed for your book or card. The picture needs to be an unobstructed full view of the front of your face. Postal offices and other locations provide standard sized pictures that fit the State Department’s requirements. Wearing a hat, scarf, sunglasses or other accessories that block the face are only permissible if they are worn for religious or medical purposes.
Fees
The State Department charges different processing fees for a passport book and a passport card. The major difference between a book and card is that a card can only be used when traveling to Caribbean countries, Mexico or Canada. A book is a valid from of documentation when traveling to any country. The book and card will have your color photograph and list a physical description, your name, and place of citizenship. Major credit cards are an acceptable form of payment. The fees can also be paid by using cashier’s checks, traveler’s checks, personal check or money order. The checks or money orders should be payable to the Department of State.
Agencies
Go to an acceptance facility, agency or post office to submit your completed expedited pasport application and documentation. Contact the U. S. Embassy or consulate in the country where you are located if you are outside of the country. The representative reviewing your materials will let you know if everything is sufficient. The representative can also answer questions you have. Going to a regional agency is the better option if you need the materials administered in a short period of time. An appointment can be set to expedite the process for you.