Online Passport Application – Getting A United States Passport Is Simple

The online passport application document for initial application differs from the application for passport renewal via mail. Both documents may be obtained from a local U.S. Post Office location, a Passport Acceptance Facility, or U.S. Passport Agency. The online application may be found on the U.S. Department of State or private processing service Web sites. The passport renewal process may be conducted entirely via mail only in certain circumstances.

These Web sites offer the application form for download and printing by the public. Though it may be completed online, the form may not be submitted online. The reason for this is that the application must be hand-signed and additional documents must be provided in hard copy format.

More items will be needed to be gathered to accompany the online passport application when it is submitted. These are mainly forms of identification and are usually easy to obtain. A copy of a birth certificate and driver’s license are the standard two forms that are requested first by the issuing agency.

The birth certificate must be a certified version containing the registrar’s seal, signature, and date the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office. The birth certificate may be issued by the city, county, or state of birth. The driver’s license must still be valid and must be submitted in person by the first-time applicant. A copy of the driver’s license must also be provided. Should the applicant not have a driver’s license, a current government or military ID may be substituted.

For those individuals that do not have a driver’s license or state issued ID card, there are secondary forms of ID that are acceptable. The criteria for these are that they must contain either a picture of the applicant or the applicant’s signature. These can be a simple school ID if the applicant is still attending to a copy of a utility bill or even a cancelled check, provided that it is from a currently held account that is over five years old.

The private service providers and the government list all of this information on their Web sites. There is a wealth of detail on these sites, so read through everything carefully. The Web sites also contain information regarding the various government fees and additional charges established by the service providers. Different providers charge different fees, so some research will be required in order to obtain the best deal.

First-time passport applicants will need to visit an authorized agent in person. All applicants will need to compile the documents into one package and mail it to the service provider for processing. Two photos of the applicant must be included in the package. These photos must meet certain requirements in order to be accepted for inclusion on the passport book. Check the Web sites for the photo specifications because they are very detailed.

Downloading an Online Passport Application and completing it either electronically or by hand will save some time. Any questions related to the application will be answered from the processing company’s customer service representatives. The entire passport application is made quick and easy by taking advantage of technology. The new US passport will arrive within no time and the traveler will be equipped to take that dream vacation abroad.