Applying for a US Passport
Should I apply in person or by mail?
The US Department of State recommends that every American citizen apply for a US passport. Travel rules have changed in recent years. Borders have tightened security, and most cross-border travel now requires a US passport. Every person, including babies and children, must have his or her own passport.You may be asking: should I apply for a US passport in person or by mail? The answer depends upon a few criteria. The US Department of State allows people in some circumstances to submit an application via the mail. Others are not eligible to submit a mail-in application. You must apply for a US passport in person if:
* You have never had a US passport before.
* You are not in possession of your old/expired US passport.
* Your previous passport expired more than 15 years ago.
* Your previous passport was issued to you when you were under the age of 16.
* Your current passport has been lost or stolen.
Appearing in person to apply for a US passport helps to prevent fraud. You can apply at any local passport acceptance facility. When you appear, you must supply appropriate documentation/identification. This includes legal picture ID (driver's license, government ID or military ID card) and your birth certificate (if born in the United States.) If you were born outside of the United States (i.e. naturalized citizen) you must present your Certificate of Citizenship. If your name is different than it appears on your legal identification you must also supply proof of legal name change. You must also supply two passport-regulation photos.
If you do not fall into any of the above-mentioned categories, you may be able to apply for a US passport by mail, or through the Internet via an authorized passport processing agency. Applying by mail can save time and trouble. However, if you need your passport in a hurry, applying in person may be a better bet. You can also submit an expedited US passport application through an online passport processing agency. You need not appear in person to submit a passport application if:
* Your last US passport expired less than 15 years ago and is not damaged.
* Your last US passport was issued to you when you were over the age of 16.
The main advantage to applying for your passport through the mail or the Internet is convenience. You don't need to stand in line and wait. Simply ship your application and documents to the appropriate agency. Be sure to use the carrier that is recommended by the passport processing agency in order to protect your sensitive documents. You may need to purchase extra insurance, since personal identification is very difficult to replace if lost in shipment.
Make sure your documentation is in order BEFORE you apply for your US passport.
The application process will be much quicker and more efficient if your paperwork is in order.
Try: Double-checking your paperwork. Have another person read over your completed application if possible. This will help to ensure that you haven't excluded any pertinent information. Failure to include all of the required information may delay getting your passport by several weeks.
Make sure your identification is correct.
If there are any discrepancies, this may delay the application process.
Try: Make sure all of the information on your ID (i.e. your driver's license) is correct. If the address on your driver's license differs from the address you supply on your passport application, you should supply an additional form of identification which bears the correct address. If your name has changed, be sure to supply documentation that proves that your name has been changed legally.
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