Applying for a passport can be a mysterious process for those who
have never held one. Many applications are turned down due to errors
made by the applicant. Arriving at the passport agency without the
proper documents is one key reason for rejection. The information
presented here will help you to get your passport application approved
without a frustrating waste of time.
If you already have a passport that is less than 15 years old, you may be able to renew it by mail. The passport cannot be damaged, and you must have been at least 16 years old when it was issued. If your name has changed, you have to provide legal proof of the name change.
Mail order renewals make take 10 or 12 weeks to process during the busy season. During slow times, you should still allow 4 to 6 weeks. Expedited service can be requested for an additional $60, which will cut the processing time in half. When mailing in your application, include all documentation required, pack it in a weather-proof mailer, and opt for tracking services.
If you have never had a passport, or if your old one is beyond the time frame of 15 years, you must appear in person. You must also make a personal application if under age 16 either at the present time or when the prior passport was issued. If your previous passport was stolen, lost, or damaged, you cannot renew by mail but must go in person to make the application. Name changes for which you do not have legal documentation also require that you complete the application process in person.
There are several regional passport offices across the country, but they may be hundreds of miles away. Therefore, most people choose to apply at a post office or with their county clerk. Hours of operation vary by office, but the documents you must provide are the same. You must provide proof of U.S. Citizenship, such as an embossed birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship, or a notice of naturalization. An undamaged passport also serves this purpose. If you are a U.S. Citizen who was born in another country, a report from the consul or a birth certificate may be used.
You must also prove your identity. A passport can do double duty and fulfill this requirement as well as proving your citizenship. A state issued ID card or driver's license will also suffice. However, if your license is from a different state than the one in which you are applying for a passport, you must provide secondary identification. The agency will accept a social security card, a credit card in your name, or an identification card from your employer. Whatever forms of identification you plan to use, take along a photocopy of both sides of the document. Do not make two sided copies.
Photographs are one area that lead to many rejections. You will need two identical photos, each 2 x 2 and in color. They cannot be more than 6 months old and should show how you currently appear.
They must be full face frontal views. The space between the bottom of the chin and the top of the head must fall between one inch and one and three-eighths inches. You should wear your normal style of dress and pose against a white or near-white background. If you normally wear glasses or a wig, you should wear them in the picture. No hats are to be worn, and ladies should refrain from hair trims that hide the hair or hairline.
If you already have a passport that is less than 15 years old, you may be able to renew it by mail. The passport cannot be damaged, and you must have been at least 16 years old when it was issued. If your name has changed, you have to provide legal proof of the name change.
Mail order renewals make take 10 or 12 weeks to process during the busy season. During slow times, you should still allow 4 to 6 weeks. Expedited service can be requested for an additional $60, which will cut the processing time in half. When mailing in your application, include all documentation required, pack it in a weather-proof mailer, and opt for tracking services.
If you have never had a passport, or if your old one is beyond the time frame of 15 years, you must appear in person. You must also make a personal application if under age 16 either at the present time or when the prior passport was issued. If your previous passport was stolen, lost, or damaged, you cannot renew by mail but must go in person to make the application. Name changes for which you do not have legal documentation also require that you complete the application process in person.
There are several regional passport offices across the country, but they may be hundreds of miles away. Therefore, most people choose to apply at a post office or with their county clerk. Hours of operation vary by office, but the documents you must provide are the same. You must provide proof of U.S. Citizenship, such as an embossed birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship, or a notice of naturalization. An undamaged passport also serves this purpose. If you are a U.S. Citizen who was born in another country, a report from the consul or a birth certificate may be used.
You must also prove your identity. A passport can do double duty and fulfill this requirement as well as proving your citizenship. A state issued ID card or driver's license will also suffice. However, if your license is from a different state than the one in which you are applying for a passport, you must provide secondary identification. The agency will accept a social security card, a credit card in your name, or an identification card from your employer. Whatever forms of identification you plan to use, take along a photocopy of both sides of the document. Do not make two sided copies.
Photographs are one area that lead to many rejections. You will need two identical photos, each 2 x 2 and in color. They cannot be more than 6 months old and should show how you currently appear.
They must be full face frontal views. The space between the bottom of the chin and the top of the head must fall between one inch and one and three-eighths inches. You should wear your normal style of dress and pose against a white or near-white background. If you normally wear glasses or a wig, you should wear them in the picture. No hats are to be worn, and ladies should refrain from hair trims that hide the hair or hairline.
Children, emergency passports, and passports for those traveling
on official business all have varying requirements, and no attempt has
been made to address them in this article. But for the typical traveler,
this information should help make your passport application go more smoothly. The most important thing to remember is to complete your passport form and take it with you when you go to apply.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ben_Pate
