How To Apply For A New Passport

by erin on July 6, 2011

A travel document is required for anyone who wants to travel outside the United States. Individuals who have never had this type of travel documentation will have to apply for a new passport sometime in advance of their trip. Children, adults and teens must follow different application criterion. What follows is an explanation of the process and what documentation is required for an adult application.

Travel Document

Because you will need to apply in person for an initial adult travel document, find a passport acceptance facility that is near you. These facilities are often located inside post offices, libraries and county clerk’s offices. The Department of State will provide a list of the offices so that you can locate one nearest to you.

Identity Proof

Several documents are required as a form of proof of identity, which include a State ID, naturalization papers, military certificate, and driver license. If you have an ID card from some other state, you will have to provide a credit card, social security card, a library card or an alternative secondary identification document. It is a good idea to make copies of the forms of identification before taking them to apply for a travel document.

US Citizenship

Applicants must also show some proof of US citizenship when applying for the document. Documents that can be used as proof include citizenship papers, naturalization papers or a US birth certificate. A current picture is also needed for the new document. There are a number of places were the photo can be taken including some of the acceptance facilities.

Agency Support

Once the applicant has collected all documentation and has a photo taken, they will submit everything to the acceptance agency or post office. The applicant can save time by printing the correct form from the Internet and filling it in before visiting the agency. Keep in mind that the application must be signed when the agent instructs so that they can be a witness to the signature.

Required Fee

Authorized agents at the acceptance facilities review the documentation and take the required fee. Payment is accepted in check or money order only. From time to time the fees are adjusted so it is a good idea to check to see what the current amount is.

Delivery Time

After completing the application and providing the documentation required with the required photo, the packet is forwarded to the Department of State for approval. For those who wish to receive their document in three weeks, an extra fee is charged. The normal delivery time for the document will be in about six weeks from the date submitted.

Application Process

Getting a new passport is much easier than one might believe when the application process is started early enough to guarantee the document will be ready at travel time. Nationwide, there are thousands of passport acceptance facilities and many of them are located inside the local post office that help with services such as expedited child passport. To make the task even easier, it is not uncommon to have photo services on site. This creates a type of one stop shop for acquiring travel documentation.

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