How to get a passport in the United States

1. Application for Passport

Traveling to other countries is a wonderful experience. However, in most cases, this requires getting a passport either to enter the destination country or to go back home. If you are considering a travel that entails an application for a passport, then you might have been concerned on how to go about the process. There really is no need to worry about it because obtaining a passport today is not as difficult as you might think. You will just need to know and follow the guidelines closely, and you will see that the process is just a cinch.You need to apply for a passport early. The estimated time set by the State Department to process your passport is four to six weeks. Renewal of passports can be done through mail, but first time applications should be done in person.

You can apply for a passport at designated circuit court offices, regional federal buildings, and post offices. One way to easily find the acceptance facility for a passport application that is closest to you is to visit the State Department’s website. You can start searching on the site for a nearby location to process your application by typing in your zip code. Moreover, the site allows you to download application forms and look for documents that are required by the State Department.

Typically, citizens are required to present a copy of their certified birth certificate as a proof of their citizenship. Requirements differ for naturalized citizens and citizens without birth certificates. Another requirement is a government-issued identification card such as a driver’s license. Applicants are also required to provide their Social Security number upon application. You must also bring a 2×2 inches picture together with your credentials during your appointment for the passport application.

After choosing an acceptance facility for your passport application and organizing all your documents, call the State Department and schedule an appointment. Most of these facilities have set a limited number of applicants per day, so it is advisable to book an appointment a week or two ahead. Do not forget to bring your application form, proof of citizenship, passport photos, and payment on your appointment.

Normally, it will take four to six weeks to get your passport from the date that you submitted your application. However, if you requested for an expedited service or hire a passport expediter service, your passport will arrive sooner than the normal application. Nevertheless, it would be an advantage for you to process your passport application in advance as it gives you an extra time to deal with any delays that may affect your ability to travel.

2. Passport Requirements

Due to the increased security measures, the State Department implemented various passport requirements and guidelines. If you are planning to travel abroad and go back home to the United States, read on and learn some of the steps for a passport application and how to make the process go smoothly.

Personal Appearance

A personal appearance at any designated passport acceptance facility is required for all first-time applicants. Several other situations also require an applicant to show up in person at the passport acceptance office. Also, minor applicants and those who need a replacement for their lost or stolen passports need to go in person at the passport office.

Application form

All applicants are also required to fill out an application form such as the DS-11. Together with the application form, you need to present several other documents in person. You can fill out the application form but do not affix your signature until you get to the passport acceptance office and you are in front of an agent. The reason behind this is that the passport facility needs to make sure that your signature matches all the signatures on the documents and IDs that were presented.

Photo and Fees

A photo is also required in all passport applications. The required photo must have the applicant’s face big enough for identification and should be colored. You also need to pay the appropriate fees for your application.

Proof of citizenship

Another document required for a passport application is a proof of citizenship such as the birth certificate or a previously issued passport. If you are an immigrant, you need to present official naturalization and immigration papers. These are must-have documents as your application will not be processed without them. Also, it is important to bear in mind not to present laminated birth certificates or documents as these are absolutely unacceptable. Also, make sure that the documents that you will present have the raised seal and in any way, must not be covered. Also, bring photocopies of all your documents.

Minor applicants are also required to submit all of the said documents. They should also be accompanied by their parents. If the child’s parents are separated or divorced, a consent form with both parents’ signatures is required for the minor’s passport application. If the other parent do not have any visitation rights and the other one has the sole custody of the child, then only the latter needs to be present in the passport office.

3. Where to get your Passport

Getting a passport can be done in various places. The place that you need to go to depends mainly on how soon you need the document and the type of the passport service that you require. Read on and learn where to get your passport.

Mail

Passport renewal applications can be done by mail using the Form DS-82. You also need to meet certain requirements and should have more than 14 days before your planned departure. Your present passport should be undamaged and should be issued when you were 16 years old and within the last 15 years. The name on your present passport should also be the same name on your renewal application. For any changes on your personal information, you are required to send certain documentation like a certified copy of a marriage license. If these requirements are not met, then an application through mail is not an option.

Passport Acceptance Facility

For expedited or regular processing of a first-time passport application, you need to bring your application form (DS-11) and all supporting credentials to the closest passport acceptance facility. The State Department authorizes various clerks of court, post offices, public libraries, and other municipal, township, county, and state government offices to receive applications on its behalf. There are more than 9,000 of these locations throughout the United States territories.

Regional Agency

Another place where you can apply for a passport is at a regional passport agency. There are thirteen of these agencies located throughout the United States. These agencies only attend to passport applications that are needed in less than two weeks. If you are in a hurry to get a passport, this option is best for you. These agencies are located in Connecticut, Colorado, Norwalk, Aurora, Washington D.C., Seattle, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Miami, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Chicago, and Boston.

It is also required to set up an appointment before going to any of the mentioned agencies. You should neither arrive early or late for more than 15 minutes. Also, make sure to bring your completed and unsigned application form, current IDs, two passport photos, proof of U.S. citizenship, and proof of departure.

Private Expediter

In scenarios when you cannot travel to a passport agency, you can hire a private expediting service provider to process your application on your behalf. This option requires presenting the same documentation to the expediter that you have authorized to represent you.

4. Acceptance Agents

By United State’s regulation, only a state, federal, or a local government official can serve as a passport acceptance agent. An acceptance agent receives applications from the public, reviews and ensures all citizenship evidence and necessary information is included, administers the required oath, witnesses the affixing of the applicant’s signatures, and forwards the passport application to the U.S. Department of State’s Passport Services Agency for the issuance of the passport. An acceptance agent also provides the public with general information regarding the passport application procedures and serves as a liaison between the Passport Service Agency and the applicant.

When applying for a new adult or child’s passport and a replacement for a damaged, lost, or stolen passport, one most important thing that you need to do is to bring your application form or DS-11 and supporting documents to the nearest acceptance agent in your area for processing. The supporting documents that need to be submitted include the evidence of U.S. citizenship, photocopies of identification, and passport photo. For a child passport application, it is required to submit evidence of relationship between the guardians or parents, evidence for sole custody, and a less than 90-days old notarized consent from the parents along with the principal supporting documents.

It is also important to bear in mind that to get your passport application processed, you need to affix your signature on the application form in front of an acceptance agent who is authorized by the Federal Government. Also, if you are applying for your child’s passport, both parents should also sign the form in front of an acceptance agent.

Acceptance agents can be found in local U.S. post offices, local libraries, county clerk’s offices, and regional passport agencies. It is also required to set an appointment before going to the said offices. Do not forget to bring your completely filled out but unsigned application form along with your supporting credentials during the appointment.

You can also find an acceptance agent near you by simply visiting the facility search page on the U.S. Department of State’s website, under the Travel’s section. This is the easiest and the most efficient way of locating an acceptance agent near you. The page will allow you to search through any of the following methods: by the state, by the zip code, and by the city. After keying in your search information and clicking on the “Search” button, the page will give you a list of the closest acceptance agent in your area.

5. Renew Passport

Applying for a renewal of passport is easier compared to a new passport application. There are three different ways to renew your passport: by mail, by going to a regional agency, and through a private expediting service provider. Read on and learn each of these ways and decide which way is best for your passport renewal application.

By Mail

If your present passport is undamaged, issued for the last 15 years, you were 16 years old or older when it was issued to you, and you are using the same name on it or you have legal documents to support the change, then applying for a passport renewal through mail is possible.

Download online passports’ application form DS-82 for the renewal. This application form is intended for passport applications through mail. Place this form in a secure envelope together with your present passport, current passport photos, proof of name change, and payment. Send the envelope to the address stated on the application form. Using a traceable mailing method is highly recommended.

The process for a passport renewal usually takes 4-6 weeks. For an additional fee, you can request for an expedited service to speed up the process and get your passport in 2-3 weeks. Choosing this option requires you to write the word “EXPEDITE” on the outer surface of the envelope and mail it through an overnight delivery method.

Going to a Regional Agency

The State Department operates in sixteen regional agencies in key cities of the United States. These agencies cater applicants who need to travel in 14 days or less. You would need to go to any of these agencies if you need a passport renewal in such a short time. Before visiting a regional agency, you need to call and schedule an appointment. If you have difficulties getting an appointment and needs a same day passport application process, you can try going to the closest agency without an appointment.

Contract a Private Expediting Service

If your situation requires you to renew your passport quick but you are unable to go to a regional passport agency, you can still send your application through a private expediter service. An expediter is a professional courier service whom you can authorize to process your application on your behalf. With the significant increase in the number of passport applications, private expediting service providers have also grown in number. Majority of these services are located in main cities or wherever there is a regional office.

6. Passport Expediter

If you have plans of travelling abroad within the next two weeks and you do not have a valid passport, then you certainly are interested in getting a passport fast.

I completely understand if you are now feeling pressured because I myself have gone through this situation before. Having to rush my passport application process is truly stressful. Yet, I would like to share a secret with you. I got my passport in less than a week and so can you! Actually, you can even get it as fast as the same day. Do you want to know how?

In order to get you passport quick, you have two options:

1. You can process your passport application by yourself.
2. You can have someone process to passport application on your behalf.

In order to know which method works best for you, let us look at each of the said options and you can choose for yourself.

Applying for a passport for yourself

When applying for a passport for yourself, you need to call the acceptance facility to set up an appointment. No doubt that dialing their toll-free number is easy. However, getting through may take forever. Nevertheless, let us suppose your call went through. Hurray for you!

Your next step is to show up at the passport acceptance facility for your appointment. This is not a problem if you live close to where the facility is located. But in my case, I lived miles away from the nearest facility in my area, and I need to travel for 7 hours to get there. So I opted for the second option.

Contracting a Passport Expediting Service

The process of contracting a passport expediting service provider is pretty easy. You simply need to download and fill out an application form for passports online. Then, send the form along with your supporting documents to the expediting service provider. That is it and Viola! You are now free to prepare for your trip.

There was no calling the facility over and over again and no long-distance road trips. Though there is an additional fee, your sanity and time are still worth something. Am I right?

There are tons of passport expediting service providers that can help you get your passport fast. You will just have to choose the one that is reliable and has positive customer reviews. Expediting service providers offer different application processing times for you to choose from such as 11 or more business days, 8 to 10 business days, 5 to 7 business days, 3 to 4 business days, 2 business days, and same day processing.

7. Passport Forms

The United State’s government relies mainly on paperwork for almost everything that they do, and getting or maintaining a passport makes no difference. A passport application form helps an individual in getting a new passport as well as renewing an old one. Choosing the right passport application form and completing it correctly can mean the big difference between a fast passport application and a prolonged one.

Below is a list of different passport application forms and a short description for each of them. It is important to bear in mind that when filling out any passport application form, make sure to write your information legibly and use blank ink. Do not sign the form until you took an oath in front of the authorized passport acceptance agent.

DS-11 Form

The DS-11 form is used for first time or new passport applications, if the last passport was obtained when you were below 16 years old, if your last passport was issued over 15 years ago, and if your current passport was stolen or lost. The latter also requires you to fill out the DS-64 form and submit it together with the DS-11 form.

DS-82 Form

The DS-82 form is used for the renewal of your passport through mail. Using this form requires you to meet certain criteria. You can fill out this form online through an Adobe Reader application. It can also be downloaded for your convenience. However, if this form is not correctly filled out, there is a high possibility that your passport application will be denied. Nevertheless, this form comes with a guide containing all instructions and procedures that can also be downloaded on your computer.

DS-5504

The DS-5504 is typically used by those who are applying for data change on their valid passport. Keep in mind also that making changes to your passport can only be done within one year from the date of issuance. One most frequently requested change is the name change. This form needs to be accompanied with a proof of name change such as a marriage certificate.

DS-4085

The DS-4085 form is used to apply for more pages that you want to be attached to your valid passport. It can only be filed by the passport owner in any passport acceptance facility. It is also important to remember that the State Department’s Passport Service facility no longer issues a 48-pages passport but can add pages to it.

8. How to Get a Passport Fast

The fastest way of getting a passport is the same-day processing. The normal passport application process through an acceptance facility takes 4 to 6 weeks. Expedited and mail services take 2 to 3 weeks. If these processes are too long for you, then you need to process your passport application at the nearest regional passport agency.

The regional passport agency serves passport applicants who need to travel abroad in less than two weeks. Applicants who also want to get visas for the country that they plan to visit must submit their applications four weeks prior to their departure date. All documents required for your passport application still apply if you choose to process it in a regional agency.

Regional passport agencies are located in various major cities all over the United States. Their locations include Washington DC, Tucson, Seattle, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Norwalk, New York, New Orleans, Minneapolis, Miami, Houston, Honolulu, Detroit, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, Aurora, and more newly opened centers.

In order to get started with your passport application at a regional agency, you need to set an appointment first through calling their toll-free number. Usually, it takes several attempts for your call to get through. It is also possible that will get an appointment that is later than what you expected. In such a case, you have two options.

One thing that you can do is to try showing up at the closest regional agency. Though the State Department stated that all applicants are required to set up an appointment and that they are not obliged to receive applicants who do not have appointments, they never turned down anyone. Some applicants were even able to get their passport on the same day without an appointment.

Another thing that you can do if you are not able to schedule an appointment or you do not have the time to travel to the closest regional agency is to contract a professional expediter to process your passport application on your behalf. Passport expediting service providers have been around for many decades. They are reliable means for a fast passport processing. Just make sure to choose an expediting service provider that offers online services and has positive ratings and reviews from their previous customers.

Hence, if you are in a rush of getting a passport, processing your application at the nearest regional agency is the quickest way. Either you do it yourself or you authorized an expediter, you can get your passport as quickly as the same day.

9. Regional Passport Agency

Due to the increased security measures, all travelers departing and returning back to the United States must now have a valid passport. If an unplanned or unexpected overseas trip becomes urgent, the regional passport agency can assist with rush passport requests.
Regardless of the time considerations, all applicants must present a proof of citizenship such as the original birth certificate and the correct size of passport photo. Those who have enough time for the regular processing typically present their completed forms to the closest local acceptance facility.

There is a four to six weeks waiting time for the regular processing. This may not be a problem for those who have plenty of time prior to their departure schedule. However, this is not the best option in various rush situations. Nevertheless, it is possible to speed up the application process by directly going to the nearest regional passport center. These facilities are capable of providing immediate application approvals and finish the travel document more quickly.

Truly, there are differences between local acceptance facilities and regional agencies. Acceptance offices may be closer to your home and are ideal for many standard processes. Also, they offer fee-based professional expediting services. On the other hand, regional agencies are more equipped to handle time-constrained requests quickly than the normal processing allows.

There are thirteen regional passport agencies located throughout the U.S. with toll-free numbers that are readily available. Their primary function is to serve applicants with urgent travel needs. Though there is no absolute guarantee, many applicants are able to have their passport on the day of their appointment.

Rush passport applicants are required to submit a proof of travel that is scheduled in less than 2 weeks. This proof of travel may be a copy of a fully paid travel itinerary or an airline ticket. If you are leaving in less than 14 days, then you need to call the regional agency’s toll-free number to set up an appointment.

When setting up an appointment on the phone, you will be given a confirmation number for the appointment. Take note of that number. During the appointment, an applicant must present proof of citizenship and passport photos. The application form should be filled out in advance to avoid any mistakes, but should only be signed in front of the acceptance agent. There is a corresponding fee to the type of passport request that you need, so be sure to check the State Department’s website for the current costs.

10. Where to Process a Passport

If you are considering an overseas travel that requires carrying a passport, then you might have been worried about the process. Yet, before starting the application process, you need to know first where to get a passport.

The State Department’s Office of Passport Services’ website provides information as to where you can process a passport application. It has designated various municipal, township, county, and state government offices, public libraries, clerks of court, and post offices with the authority to accept passport applications on its behalf. With the numerous passport acceptance facilities located throughout the United States, finding one that is nearest to your area can be a challenge.

Here are a few tips that can help you find the nearest facility to your area within a short time.

• Go to the State Department’s website.
• Proceed to the Passport Acceptance Facility search page.
• Start your search using your city, state, or zip code. Then click on the search button.

You will then be directed to a results page that comes with a list of all the passport acceptance facilities that are within or near your area. It also provides detailed information about the location such as whether it is accessible for handicapped individuals, or if it has a photo facility on-site or nearby.

In case you need to travel abroad in less than 14 days, you have to set up an appointment with the regional passport agency to request for an expedited service. A proof of travel is required for this request. You can also check the nearest regional agency from the State Department’s website.

For life/death emergencies or life threatening cases that require immediate travel, a special service known as the “Will Call Service” can be used.

The above-mentioned information is only applicable for applicants who are planning to apply for a passport and that they are currently in the United States. For applicants who are located outside the U.S., they need to visit the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their area and process the application according to their guidelines.

After locating the nearest location to process your passport, your next step is to complete the application process. You need to bring your completely filled out but unsigned application form along with all the supporting documents such as proof of citizenship, photo, government ID, and payment. After which, all you have to do is wait for the releasing of your completed passport.

11. US PASSPORT

A passport, in general, is an important document, issued by a certain national government, which confirms or verifies the nationality and identity of the person in possession and is used for travelling purposes. It contains vital information about the holder which includes full name, date of birth, place of birth, and registered residential address. Mostly, these travel documents are identical and includes more or less the same elements of identity.

A U.S Passport is a passport provided to either citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States. It is issued solely by the United States’ Department of State. Usually, it comes in five types. The first type is the regular type that comes in dark blue cover. It is issuable mainly to all citizens and non-citizen nationals. The periods of validity are dependent on the age. For ages 16 above, it is usually 10 years and for ages 15 below, it is for five years, reckoned on the date of issue. The second type is the official passport for citizen-employee of the country, their eligible dependents, and members of the Congress who are assigned abroad, whether permanent or temporary and who travel for on official business. The third type is a diplomatic passport which is issued to citizen-employees of the United States who are assigned abroad, either temporarily or permanently, including their eligible members, and members of the Congress who leaves the country for official business. The fourth type is not completely a passport, but issued to permanent resident aliens in place of a passport. It is a guarantee for their permission to re-enter the country and is valid for 2 years. Lastly, the emergency passport which is valid for a year and issued to citizens who are located overseas in urgent circumstances.

In order to obtain a passport, there are specific and mandatory requirements that must be secured and acquired such as a valid identification card, birth certificate and photo. One must comply strictly with the policies and pay the required fees to avoid rejection of the application. While it is true that there are many ways to expedite a passport, this can only be made possible by authorized passport expediting companies which are authorized to do so.

Getting a passport is not easy. There must be someone who knows the ins and outs of the process to attain approval. Passport expediting companies, for that matter, are the best option in passport processing and assure smooth flow of transaction and transparency.

12. OBTAIN A PASSPORT

Many people at present want to obtain a passport, whether it may be a US passport or any other passport for purposes of travel, identification or any other reason. And you must realize that getting one application approved is not an easy task. You need to have the patience and the eye for detail.

Generally, each country has its own specific requirements and rules to follow in processing a passport while most of the requirements are identical and similar at the same time.

The most common requirements are following:

• Filled out form specified

The form may be required to be filled out in person or sent through mail depending on the customary policy of the country. The information stated usually includes the Social Security number or any other identification as point of reference. In all cases, a signature is required done in the presence of an acceptance agent.

• Proof of citizenship

Documents purporting to be admissible evidence of citizenship are required to be submitted together with the form such as but not limited to: Certificate of citizenship, Authenticated birth certificate, or naturalization certificate, whatever the case may be.

• Identification (photo IDs)

Identification must be presented together with other documents required before processing. These IDs are valid issued government IDs and documents such as Driver’s License, current government ID, previously issued/damaged passport, naturalization certificate, and military ID.

• Photocopy of Identification documents

Usually photocopies include the front and back portion of the documents, should be free from other images and/or markings and prescribe a certain size of the image to be reflected. You must make sure that you comply with the specifications indicated to avoid rejection of the application.

• Payment of application fee

With regard to payments, there are specific amounts provided to be paid before the application will be processed and the necessary methods of payment considered when cash payment is not an option.

After all these are complied with, you just need to wait for the timeframe given for the issuance depending on the timeliness of the submission and the number of applicants accommodated.

If you need to expedite a passport, better yet, explore other options such as consulting a passport expediting company to assist you in the process. It can surely give you an idea of how to accomplish the task faster and hassle-free. After all, they are the experts on this matter at hand.

13. EXPEDITE A PASSPORT

We all know that to obtain a passport is not easy. We need to go through with the rigorous process of complying with all the requirements and making sure that all documents have met the standard requirement for approval.

When it comes to these things, our patience is tested and sometimes, it gets worse. In times like this, we resort to the fastest way of doing it which is popularly known as “expediting”.

Most of the time, we call in the help of agencies to do all the work of us. Nowadays, we have the passport expediting companies to assist us in all our passport needs. From securing IDs to filling out the necessary forms, they are there to guide us.

However, if you opt to do it yourself, here are some easy ways of expediting a passport. Just simply follow the steps:

• Complete the appropriate form

This is true even in the normal processing of a passport.

• Gather the needed documents

Make sure to secure all the necessary documents needed such as proof of identity, citizenship, photocopies of identification documents and one passport photo, usually 2 inch by 2 inch in size, submitted together with the forms and other requirements.

• Fill out a specified form requesting to expedite a passport
You may need to fill out a specific form and complete them as soon as all the other requirements are completed. This form is needed to separate your application from others which are not to be expedited.

• Apply through a regional passport agency

Passport agencies are one of the options to consider if you want to process a passport fast and easy. They typically handle everything and do the hard work for you for a higher cost, of course. Just make sure to ask everything you need before you employ their service to obtain transparency in your desired transaction. Most of all, do not forget to check other similar agencies which offers lower cost than the other to get the best value for your money.

• Contact expediting companies

Expediting companies are so far the most convenient and reliable way to go in this kind of situation. They are considered experts on the matter and authorized by the government to process such kinds of transactions. You do not need to worry about the things you may have missed out because it is their duty to secure all the transaction.

14. How do I get a passport?

A U.S. Passport – how do I get one? You may ask. Obtaining a passport can be simple but tricky. But if you want some advice, it is better that you should learn the rules, gather everything you need before you apply at least 6 weeks before your intended trip.

While there are so many agencies promising for faster and convenient ways of processing your passport, you must check other resources and not limit yourself to just one option to compare the rates and the service inclusions. If you decide to expedite a passport, there are also existing passport expediting companies that offer their service for a reasonable rate.

Generally, there are two options for you to process your passport. The first option is the routine service. In this option, you will go through the normal processing method and follow the current processing times for approval. Routine applications at present are processed in approximately 4-6 weeks from the start of the application. Though this type of service requires the same forms and documents to be submitted, the processing time is longer compared to the second type which is the expedited service.

In expedited service, requests for expedited service are processed in approximately 2-3 weeks plus door-to-door, when you requested for overnight delivery. Applications must be clearly marked “expedite” on the outside of the mailing envelope for the expedite processing to exactly apply.

When you think you need to track the application, you can now easily do it online. Just remember that currently, it usually takes 5-7 days for online tracking and a passport cannot be shipped through overnight delivery but rather through using a First Class Mail.
In mailing personal documents, it is more advisable and highly encouraged to mail them using traceable delivery method and through a secure means of packaging to ensure proper delivery and handling of the documents.

If your passport has been lost or stolen, you need to contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to report the incident especially when you are outside of the country to avoid compromised identities or identity theft. You may also contact certain numbers provided in the website and submit a completed form to ensure proper notification.

Remember, your passport is a means of identifying yourself and you must at all times keep it secure and safe to avoid any mishaps and accidents pertaining to your lost or stolen passport.

15. Passport NYC

Passport is considered the number one form of identification. If you love traveling, especially overseas, you must acquire one in order for you to be permitted to leave.
Different states have their own way of processing a U.S passport. The state of New York for example, offers a variety of options to its residents. In most cases, New Yorkers may need to apply through an acceptance facility. Public libraries, post offices and other public places also offer such kind of a service.

If you are in a hurry and needs your passport within 14 days, the Consular Affairs is the perfect place to visit to expedite a passport application. One of its passport agencies is located in New York and can assist you in getting your passport at the intended time.

No matter when and where you decide to process your passport, here are some relevant tips that could help you get your way through it:

1. Gather your documents

Documents required being submitted need to be arranged and organized to make sure that everything is accounted for and verified. Few of the important documents are the certificate of birth, passport photos, Social security number, IDs like driver’s license, government IDs or any other official photo ID that you can present validly to the agency.

2. Locate the acceptance facility nearest in your area.

You may contact them and ask their hours of operations to prevent you from not accomplishing anything. Zip codes may come handy in times of locating the acceptance facility.

3. Appear in person.

When applying for a passport, you must apply in person. Even children are required to be presented for proper identification and verification. If you cannot do so, there is a slim chance for you to have your application approved.

4. Pay the required fees.

Check the current fees on the State Department’s website, so you must be ready with the payment. No application will be processed without tendering the correct amount.

5. Set an appointment.

This applies when you are traveling within 6 months. It would be best if you make an appointment with the New York Passport Agency to facilitate the request