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Customs Rules for Returning Residents

Important: These Reports Were Prepared From Information
Obtained Prior To March 1995.

PART III. Applying For Your Passport

United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Passports
Applying for them the EASY WAY

DEPARTMENT OF STATE PUBLICATION 10049
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Revised March 1993

The Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs has prepared this publication to assist you in applying for your U.S. passport. This guide will give you information on where to apply, how to apply, and the best time to apply.

Other Than Passport Agencies, Where Can I Apply for a Passport?

You can apply for a passport at many Federal and state courts, probate courts, and some post offices.

Over 2500 courts and 900 post offices in the United States accept passport applications. Courts and post offices are usually more convenient because they are near your home or your place of business. You save time and money by not having to travel to one of the 13 major U.S. cries where passport agencies are located.

When Do I Have to Apply in Person?

You must always apply in person if you are 13 or older, and if you do not meet the requirements for applying by mail (see section "May I Apply for a Passport by Mail?").

Usually, for children under 13, only a parent or legal guardian need appear to execute a passport application.

What Do I Need to Do to Apply for a Passport at a Courthouse or Post Office?

Go to a courthouse or post office authorized to accept passport applications and complete the DSP-11 application form, but do not sign it until instructed to do so.

You must present:

PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP
a previous U.S. passport, or
If you were born in the U.S., a certified copy of your birth certificate issued by the state, city, or county of your birth (a certified copy will have a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed, or multicolored seal and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office).
If you have neither a passport nor a certified birth certificate, bring a notice from the registrar of the state where you were born that no birth record exists; also, bring as many as possible of the following: a baptismal certificate, hospital birth record, early census, school record, or family Bible record. (To be considered, these documents must show your full name and date and place of birth.);
also, bring a notarized affidavit completed by an older blood relative who has personal knowledge of your birth.
If you were born abroad, bring a Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen, or a Certification of Birth (Form FS-545 or DS-1350). If you do not have these documents, check with the acceptance office agent for documents that can be used in their place.
TWO PHOTOGRAPHS
The photos must be recent (taken within the past six months), identical, 2x2 inches, and either color or black/white;
They must show a front view, full face, on a plain, light white or off-white) background. (Vending machine photographs are not acceptable.)
PROOF OF IDENTITY
a previous U.S. passport, a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, a valid driver's license, government or military ID, or corporate ID.
FEES
$65 for a ten-year passport;
$40 for a five-year passport for persons under 18 (these amounts include a $10 execution fee.)
Make your check or money order payable to Passport Services. Post offices (and passport agencies) accept cash, but courts are not required to do so.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Although a Social Security number is not required for issuance of a passport, Section 603E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 requires passport applicants to provide this information. Passport Services will provide this information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) routinely. Any applicant who fails to provide the information is subject to a $500 penalty enforced by the IRS. All questions on this matter should be referred to the nearest IRS office.

May I Apply for a Passport by Mail?

Yes, if you already have a passport and that passport is your most recent passport, and it was issued within the past 12 years, and if you were over 18 years old at the time it was issued.

Ask the court, post office, or your travel agent for a DSP-82 "Application For Passport By Mail." Fill it out, sign it, and date it.

Attach to it:

Mail the completed DSP-82 application and attachments to:

National Passport Center
P.O. Box 371971
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7971.

Your previous passport will be returned to you with your new passport.

If you need faster service, you can use an overnight delivery service. If the service of your choice will not deliver to a post office box, send it to:

Mellon Bank
Attn: Passport Supervisor 371971
3 Mellon Bank Center. Rm. 153-2723
Pittsburgh. PA 15259-0001.

Include the appropriate fee for overnight return of your passport.

Note: If the passport has been mutilated, altered or damaged in any manner, you cannot apply by mail. You must apply in person and use Form DSP-11, present evidence of U.S. citizenship, and acceptable identification.

When Should I Apply for a Passport?

Apply for your passport several months in advance of your planned departure. If you will need visas from foreign embassies, allow additional time.

What Happens to My Passport Application After I Submit It?

If you apply at a passport acceptance facility, the day you apply your application will be forwarded to the passport agency that services the acceptance office, or, in the case of mail-in applications, they are forwarded to the National Passport Center.

Applications are processed according to the departure date indicated on the application form. If you give no departure date, the passport agency will assume you are not planning any immediate travel. Your passport will be returned to you by mail at the address you provided on your application.

What Should I Do if My Passport Is Lost or Stolen?

If your passport is lost or stolen in the U.S., report the loss or theft in writing to Passport Services, 1425 K Street, N.W., Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20522-1705, or to the nearest passport agency. If you are abroad, report the loss immediately to local police authorities and contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

What Else Should I Know About Passports?

All persons, including newborn infants, are required to obtain passports in their own name.

If you need to get a valid passport amended because of a name change, use Form DSP-19.

Before traveling abroad, make a copy of the identification page to make it easier to get a new one should it be necessary.

If you require additional visa pages before your passport expires, submit your passport with a signed request for extra pages to one of the passport agencies listed on the last page. (Please allow time for the processing of the request.) If you travel abroad frequently, you may request a 48-page passport at the time of application.

Some countries require that your passport be valid at least 6 months beyond the dates of your trip. If your passport is expiring in less than the required validity, you will need to get a new one. Check with the nearest embassy or consulate of the countries you plan to visit to find out their entry requirements.

In addition to foreign entry requirements, U.S. law must also be considered. With certain exceptions, it is against U.S. law to enter or leave the country without a valid passport. Generally for tourists, the exceptions refer to direct travel within U.S. territories or between North, South, or Central America (except Cuba).

Note: If you mutilate or alter your U.S. passport, you may render it invalid and expose yourself to possible prosecution under the law (Section 1543 of Title 22 of the U.S. Code).

What If I Need a Passport in a Hurry?

If you are leaving on an emergency trip within five working days, apply in person at the nearest passport agency and present your tickets or travel itinerary from an airline, as well as the other required items. Or, apply at a court or post office and have the application sent to the passport agency through an overnight delivery service of your choice (you should include a selfaddressed, pre-paid envelope for the return of the passport). Be sure to include your dates of departure and travel plans on your application.

PASSPORT AGENCIES

Apply Early For Your Passport

* This is a 24-hour information line that includes general passport information, passport agency location, and hours of operation and information regarding emergency passport services during non-working hours.

If you are applying by mail see the section "May I Apply for My Passport by Mail?" for proper mailing addresses. If you have any questions about an application that was mailed, write or call:

National Passport Center
31 Rochester Ave.
Portsmouth, NH 003801-2900
(603) 334-0500

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