More than likely, there is a passport office near you or, at
least, not too far away where you can apply for a new passport. Sure,
there are the exceptions but, with over 9,400 passport application
acceptance facilities located throughout the United States and U.S.
territories, you would have to live in a pretty remote area to not have a
passport office near you.
Where passport offices are located
Authorized agents who will review your form and supporting documents, administer an oath and witness the signing of your application can be found at a variety of locations. The most common place to find an application acceptance facility is in a United States post office or postal station. For example, five out of seven passport offices in Boston are located in post offices.
Probably the second most likely place to find a passport office near you is at a county clerk's office. Of the ten acceptance facilities in Dallas, three are located in offices of the county clerks. Finally, application acceptance facilities can occasionally be found at some other state or municipal government office or, even, at a public library.
So, if you are looking for a passport office near you, the best place to start might be the post office that is closest to you. Just give them a call and ask if they have an agent who receives applications for new passports. Many acceptance facilities require you to make an appointment anyway.
What to take to the application acceptance facility
Applicants are only required to submit their application forms at a passport office if they are applying for a new passport. This does not mean that only those who are requesting a passport for the first time need to do this. You also have to visit a passport office and apply for a new passport if you are requesting a replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged passport.
The application that needs to be submitted is Form DS-11. Applicants can either complete the form online and print it off or print a blank form and complete it offline. If you complete the form offline, be sure to use blue or black ink and write as legible as possible. Remember not to sign the application until the agent asks you to do so.
Supporting documents that should also be taken include a recent passport photo taken within the last six months, evidence of United States citizenship, a valid identification document and a photocopy of the ID. An execution fee is paid to the agent and the application fee is sent with your application and supporting documents.
When not to apply at a passport office
While it is convenient to have a passport office near you, there are occasions when it you might need to apply somewhere else. When is this? You should not apply at an application acceptance facility when you need to get a passport in two weeks or less. If you need your travel document in a hurry, you either need to visit a regional agency or get a qualified expediter to deliver the application to the agency for you.
Regional processing centers are located in major cities of the United States such as Boston, New York, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle among others. Applicants are required to call and schedule an appointment before visiting the nearest agency. Those who apply at a regional processing center should arrive a few minutes early. Arriving late may result in the cancellation of your appointment.
When you need a passport fast but the nearest regional agency is far from where you live, you can employ the assistance of a professional expediting service. In order to use this service, you would be required to visit a passport office near you in order to have the application adjudicated. You would then send the sealed envelope with the application and supporting documents to the expediter who can get the application processed as quickly as the same day.
Getting a passport quickly can be stressful and requires you pay extra fees. This can be avoided if you remember one of the most important tips about getting a passport: apply early. By applying early, you can submit the application at a passport office near you and avoid paying extra fees. That's savings you can invest in your international trip.
Where passport offices are located
Authorized agents who will review your form and supporting documents, administer an oath and witness the signing of your application can be found at a variety of locations. The most common place to find an application acceptance facility is in a United States post office or postal station. For example, five out of seven passport offices in Boston are located in post offices.
Probably the second most likely place to find a passport office near you is at a county clerk's office. Of the ten acceptance facilities in Dallas, three are located in offices of the county clerks. Finally, application acceptance facilities can occasionally be found at some other state or municipal government office or, even, at a public library.
So, if you are looking for a passport office near you, the best place to start might be the post office that is closest to you. Just give them a call and ask if they have an agent who receives applications for new passports. Many acceptance facilities require you to make an appointment anyway.
What to take to the application acceptance facility
Applicants are only required to submit their application forms at a passport office if they are applying for a new passport. This does not mean that only those who are requesting a passport for the first time need to do this. You also have to visit a passport office and apply for a new passport if you are requesting a replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged passport.
The application that needs to be submitted is Form DS-11. Applicants can either complete the form online and print it off or print a blank form and complete it offline. If you complete the form offline, be sure to use blue or black ink and write as legible as possible. Remember not to sign the application until the agent asks you to do so.
Supporting documents that should also be taken include a recent passport photo taken within the last six months, evidence of United States citizenship, a valid identification document and a photocopy of the ID. An execution fee is paid to the agent and the application fee is sent with your application and supporting documents.
When not to apply at a passport office
While it is convenient to have a passport office near you, there are occasions when it you might need to apply somewhere else. When is this? You should not apply at an application acceptance facility when you need to get a passport in two weeks or less. If you need your travel document in a hurry, you either need to visit a regional agency or get a qualified expediter to deliver the application to the agency for you.
Regional processing centers are located in major cities of the United States such as Boston, New York, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle among others. Applicants are required to call and schedule an appointment before visiting the nearest agency. Those who apply at a regional processing center should arrive a few minutes early. Arriving late may result in the cancellation of your appointment.
When you need a passport fast but the nearest regional agency is far from where you live, you can employ the assistance of a professional expediting service. In order to use this service, you would be required to visit a passport office near you in order to have the application adjudicated. You would then send the sealed envelope with the application and supporting documents to the expediter who can get the application processed as quickly as the same day.
Getting a passport quickly can be stressful and requires you pay extra fees. This can be avoided if you remember one of the most important tips about getting a passport: apply early. By applying early, you can submit the application at a passport office near you and avoid paying extra fees. That's savings you can invest in your international trip.
Visit U.S. Passport Service Guide for a complete list of passport offices for each state. Access step-by-step instructions, downloadable forms and a directory of registered expedited passport services.
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