Possessing a passport is required in order to travel to different countries. The State Department’s United States passport application forms are available online. Applicants must carefully review and follow the directions on the form to avoid unnecessary processing delays. Initially applying for a passport entails completing the DS 11 form and providing various documents needed to verify your identity.
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
Collect documents confirming your nationality or citizenship. Medical records from a hospital, a certified birth certificate or school records can be used to verify your nationality. An expired or current passport is sufficient as well. Citizenship or naturalization certificates are acceptable if you are not a citizen of the United States. Passports and birth reports can also be submitted if you are from another country.
Documentation
Submitting an old passport book/card or driver’s license are acceptable ways to verify your identity. Military identification or government employee ID Cards are also permissible. Non-citizens can also show their certificates of citizenship or naturalization to confirm their identity. If you don’t have the necessary documents available to prove your identity, you can bring an identifying witness to the place that will process your application. The identifying witness must be someone who has known you for at least two years and have their own form of identification. The identifying witness will be asked to sign an affidavit.
Photos
An applicant needs to get a color photograph of his face that was taken within the past six months. The photograph has to be a full view of the face. The picture should be 2 x 2 inches. There can be nothing in the picture that obscures the view of the face. If the picture does not meet the State Department’s regulations it cannot be used. Certain accessories can be included in the picture but only if they are worn on a regular basis due to medical or religious reasons.
Fees
The amount of the fees for processing the application and creating the book or card vary. Both the book and card list your citizenship, identity and description and contain your photograph. Individuals choose to get a card when they only need to travel to and from Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico. A book is needed if you plan on traveling to other countries. Payment can be issued to the Department of State with a certified check, personal check, or money order. Using a major credit card such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover is another way to provide payment.
Agencies
When you are within the country, the forms and supplemental documents can be processed at a expedited American passport agency, acceptance facility or at certain post offices. When you are in a foreign country, the documents need to be submitted to the U. S. Consulate or embassy. The representative at the facility will look over your application and the documents you provided. The representative can also assist you if you have any questions regarding the process. If you need to receive the book or card within a short period of time, set up an appointment at an agency that can facilitate your request.
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