Planning to go overseas on vacation or business takes a lot of preparation. Travel documents need to be organized, including the most important of all: your passport. Without a passport, you will be denied entry into other countries. Applying for a passport in the state of Maryland is a straightforward process. The Internet supplies forms available for download and residents can submit their applications at a large number of local passport facilities.

Download a DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport form and fill in every section. Prepare all your passport documents. Get your social security card and proof of citizenship documents ready. Documents that prove U.S. citizenship include a birth certificate, naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship. Present identification is also needed, which could be a driver's license or a government or military ID.

Make copies of your documents. Photocopy both sides of the documents and keep these ready; you'll need to supply them when you apply for your passport.

Get two passport photos. You can get your passport photos taken at department stores throughout Maryland. Some passport acceptance facilities, including Maryland post offices, also take passport photos for applicants.

Visit a passport agency or acceptance facility. A list of locations within Maryland can be found on the State Department's website. There are 215 locations within the state that process passports.

Submit your application and pay the fees. Be prepared with cash, check or money order as not all facilities accept credit cards.

Tip

  • Get your passport application expedited in two to three weeks for an additional fee when applying. Check to see if passport acceptance facilities take walk-in applicants before arriving.

Tip

  • Your application may be rejected or delayed if you submit incorrect or incomplete information on the form.

About the Author

Rachel Oakley has written professionally since 2003. She has worked as an editorial intern at "The Onion" newspaper and freelanced for the educational website Gigglepotz. She also worked as an editorial assistant in Australia, while completing college. Oakley holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and philosophy from the University of Adelaide, Australia.

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