Making Changes to a US Passport

How to Ensure Your US Passport Remains Valid

By Jenny Schweyer, Owner and freelance writer, Silver Bullet Text

Travelers may find themselves in circumstances which necessitate making a change to an existing passport. In fact, a passport may be rendered invalid, or a traveler may be regarded with suspicion if passport information is incorrect, out-of-date, or missing. To avoid delays at the airport or the border, see if you fall into one of the following categories. If you do, you may need to apply for changes or amendments to your passport.

Has your name changed?

If you've legally changed your name you must change it on your US passport.
Try: completing the proper form (available wherever passports are issued). You must provide your current passport, as well as legal documentation describing your name change. This may include a marriage certificate or a court order which bears an official seal and signature from a judge or other official. You must also submit new passport photos. The same guidelines apply to the new photos as to the original ones. It's also possible to expedite a US passport name change if a travel emergency arises. You must present the same type of documentation as listed above, plus a proof of departure, such as a copy of a next-day airline ticket. You'll also have to pay an expediting fee.

Are your pasport pages full?

If you've run out of pages to stamp, you need to apply to add pages to your US passport.
Try: applying for additional pages. You should submit your application when you have less than four empty pages left. If you travel abroad frequently, make sure that you don't wait until your pages are nearly full before applying. However, if you find yourself in an unexpected situation, you can expedite adding passport pages. Remember, this will cost you more, so it's best to apply as soon as you have less than four empty pages.

Have you had a baby or adopted a child?

If you are traveling with your child, he or she needs his/her own passport.
Try: obtaining a child passport application anywhere that passport applications are processed. Your child need not be present when you apply as long as you bring all of the correct documentation.

Do you need to extend a limited passport?

Limited passports are, in essence, "emergency" passports. They are granted under special circumstances, usually when the applicant is missing documentation that is normally required when trying to obtain a US passport. They are only valid for one year.
Try: submitting an application to extend limited passport validity. If within that year the applicant is able to secure proper documentation, he or she can apply to extend the limited passport. All documentation, including what was originally missing, must be submitted along with new passport photos. To expedite a limited passport extension, an additional expediting fee is applicable.