A passport book or card is needed whenever you travel to other countries and the passport 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
Answer the questions on the form. List your name, social security number, address, birth date, where you were born, and parental information. If any of the information is incorrect it could increase the amount of time needed to process the form. Review any necessary documents to verify that everything stated in the form is accurate.
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
Proof of identity needs to be shown. A driver’s license, a military identification card or government employee identification are verifiable forms of documentation. An old or current passport is also acceptable. Non-U. S. Citizens can provide a naturalization certificate or a citizenship certificate. A person you have known for two or more years can also be used to verify your identity. The person needs to have proof of his identity and sign an affidavit at the agency or facility. By signing the affidavit the person attests under oath that he knows who you are.
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 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.
Submission
Passport agencies, acceptance facilities and post offices are places where the paperwork can be submitted. If you are not in the country, you can go to the U. S. Embassy or U. S. Consulate to administer your paperwork. The representative at the facility will thoroughly review the application and supplemental materials to make sure all of the necessary information has been provided. The agencies allow individuals to set up appointments when a book or card is needed within a particularly short period of time.
The standard amount of time it takes to process the passport application is from four to six weeks. When the application is expedited, it usually takes two to three weeks to get the expedited passport. Failure to plan ahead and submit the application early can result in possible processing delays that will prevent you from traveling as scheduled.
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