Questions About Getting a Passport
Any U.S. citizen that wants to leave the United States is required to have a passport. It permits travel or temporary residence within foreign countries and access to all lawful local aid and protection. It also allows bearers access to U.S. consular services and reentry back into the United States.
Other People Are Reading
-
Getting a Passport
-
To obtain a U.S. passport, you must submit a completed form DS-11 in person at a passport agency or acceptance facility. With this, you will need to show proof of citizenship (like a birth certificate), a current form of identification (like a drivers license) with a photocopy, pay fees, and have two acceptable photographs prepared. (See below.)
Passport Photographs
-
When you apply for a passport in person, have available two photographs. These must be identical color photos, 2-by-2 inches in size. They have to have been taken within the last six months and show the full face of the applicant. The applicant should be in normal street attire. No hats or sunglasses are permitted except for religious or medical exceptions.
-
Duration
-
Receiving a passport can take 10 weeks or more from the application time. A U.S. passport or passport card is valid for 10 years. It is only valid for five years for minors 15 or younger. Many airlines will require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your trip.
Passport Renewal
-
You can renew your passport from inside the United States or Canada by mail by submitting form DS-82 at http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/renew/renew_833.html. If your most recent passport has been damaged or altered, you cannot apply by mail and must apply in person. Passports renewed by mail in the U.S. or Canada will only be mailed to addresses in the U.S. or Canada. U.S citizens outside the United States or Canada must renew their passport at the nearest U.S. embassy or U.S. consulate.
Lost or Stolen Passport
-
Any passport that is lost or stolen needs to be reported immediately. To do this, call toll free to 1-877-487-2778. If the passport is lost or stolen abroad, seek the closest U.S. embassy or consulate. Once a passport is reported lost or stolen, it cannot be revalidated. To replace a lost or stolen passport, the applicant must submit form DS-64, which includes a statement regarding the loss or theft of the passport.
-
