How to Get a Passport
If you are planning to travel overseas or even visit Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean Islands, one document that is now required for American citizens to carry is a United States passport. The US passport is a document verifies your identity, and shows that you are a citizen of the United States. Since the US passport is the official document issued by the US Department of State, it is recognized throughout the world.
A US passport is a great type of identification to have. Even if you don't plan on leaving the country for the next few years, having a passport can help identify you in many ways and can help you receive a driver's license or allow you on a domestic airliner without lots of hassle.
How to Apply for a US Passport
Applying for a US passport is usually straightforward and generally takes less than 12 weeks. The following passages explain the process to receive a new US passport.
If you are applying for a US passport for the first time, you will need to report to one of the 8,000 passport acceptance facilities all over the US. Many passport facilities are located at main US post offices, town and city government buildings and US State Department offices throughout the US. You can locate a US passport acceptance facility by visiting The U.S. Department of State.
At the US passport acceptance facility, you can pick up a new US passport form and find out what types of information and documents you must provide once ready to apply. However, listed below is the current list of materials that you need to bring to the US passport acceptance office to apply for a passport.
- Two standard size passport photographs of yourself. Standard size passport photographs are 2 inches by 2 inches. You should note that both photographs must be identical to one another and be a clear photograph (head shot) of you. Make sure the photos are not grainy or have significant imperfections. In addition, both photos must be less than 6 months old. You can purchase passport photos at AAA offices, most photo studios and shops, or you can have a passport photo shot by a professional photographer. Expect to pay about $10 to $20 for 2 – 4 photos.
- Proof showing that you are a United States citizen. Generally speaking your original birth certificate is the documentation that is needed by the authorities. An original or official birth certificate has a seal that is raised. If you no longer have your original birth certificate, you will have to contact your state government and apply for an official birth certificate.
- Valid photo ID. Your birth certificate is not the only document you need to apply for a passport. You also need a valid ID that has your photo on it. Many times this can include your driver's license, military ID, school ID, etc.
- A new passport application. You can choose to download from the internet your new passport application and complete it before you arrive at the US passport acceptance office. Please note: Do not sign the US passport application until told to do so in front of the passport representative. The passport representative must witness you signing the application for it to be valid. If you would like to download the new passport application, it is available at the U.S. Department of State: Applications and Forms.
Receiving Your US Passport
Once you complete the US passport application, submit all your documents and photos to the passport representative and sign the application in front of the representative, you now need to choose how to receive your US passport. There are currently two choices: routine service and expedited service. The difference is the length of time that your passport will take to be processed and sent to you. It should be noted that processing and postal fees can differ as well.
Routine US Passport Service
Routine US passport service is the standard way in which one receives his or her passport. The processing time required from the time you submit your application along with all documents to receiving your passport in the mail generally is between 10 and 12 weeks. The cost to process your passport using the routine services is as follows:
Passport Application Fee- $67
Execution Fee- $30
Total for complete service: $97
Expedited US Passport Service
For those citizens that require a US passport in a short period of time, you can choose to have your passport expedited. Expedited passport service usually requires a processing time of about 2 to 3 weeks from the time your application is submitted to the US passport acceptance office. If you have a situation in which you must travel out of the country in less time, it is possible to receive a US passport in as little as just one week. For special situations, you should contact the US Department of State.
It should be noted that expedited service is significantly costlier than the routine US passport service, but for those in a rush, it is well worth the extra fees. Expedited US passport service fees are as follows:
Passport Application Fee- $67
Execution Fee- $30
Expedited Service Fee- $60 (each application)
Delivery Fee- Delivery fees can vary, however most overnight or expedited delivery fees can cost from $20 to $50.
Total cost: $157 + Delivery Fees
For those interested in knowing more about the US passport application and subsequent processes, you can find many resources at the U.S. Department of State.
Another useful guide on this topic is How to Apply for a Passport.
