Obtaining First-Time US Passports

There are many reasons that you might have decided that it is now time to apply for a new U S passport. When you want to apply for a passport, you are going to need to follow seven steps in order to do so, in addition to knowing some basic information about the process and the things that you will need to apply. It is important that you go and apply in person which is somewhat different than before if you have not ever had a prior passport or if you are a minor or were a minor when you got your previous passport.

The first thing that you must do is fill out the official application for a US passport. You must remember to not sign the application until you are told to as it could void your application and require that you have to fill out another one. Plus you should always include your social security number as if you do not, you could be denied at worse and at best it will be delayed for some time.

When at all possible, you should always go in person to apply for the passport. Passports can be submitted in person in two different places. This can be done through a passport agency or a passport acceptance facility, some of which can be found online.

The first thing that you have to prove when you are applying for a passport is the citizenship status that you have. This means that you will have to bring one of the necessary proofs of citizenship with you which could be a birth certificate from a United States city, a citizenship certificate, an undamaged old passport, a certificate of birth from a broad, or a naturalization certificate. It is going to be harder to get your passport if you do not have one of these items which can equate to delays or it taking longer for you to actually get your passport if you are able to get approved.

Valid identification is also necessary in order for you to prove you are who you say that you are. Identification can come in the form of a former US passport, a drivers’ license, a government identification car, naturalization certificate, or a military identification card. When you have done something to change yourself like having a sex change operation, you might be asked for more information and some additional documentation.

Even though you will have to show the original identifications in the office, you are going to need to have photocopies of them, too. These need to be on white paper that is eight in a half by eleven inches and has no other markings or information on it. Also remember that images can not be smaller than they really are.

Paying for your passport is one of the steps that you will also have to do. This is going to be subjective as there are some circumstances in which you will pay less money for the passport but the regular fees are $165 for both the passport book and passport card, $55 for the passport card, and $135 for the passport book. Remember, minors will have reduced fees and there will be reduced fees if this is a card or book replacement or renewal.

Finally you will just need to submit your passport photographs that you should already have taken to receive your new U S passport. Your picture must be a plain headshot where you are wearing standard clothes or nothing special. You will also need to make sure that you have two copies and they have to be the exact same. If you have last-minute travel plans, applying for a new passport might be necessary.