The U.S. government relies on paperwork for everything they do and this is no different when it comes to getting a passport or maintaining one. The right passport form can help an individual get a new passport or renew an old one and selecting the correct one can mean the difference between a quick application and a drawn out one. There are two basic forms when it comes to getting a new passport and they are the DS-11 and DS-82.
The standard passport book is known by its royal blue cover and this is the style that is issued to all applicants upon acceptance. The life expectancy of the standard passport is 10 years for adults over 16 years of age and five years for those holders that are younger than this. Depending on the applicant’s age, the correct form will need to be filled out when applying.
The passport form along with other forms of identification needs to be presented in person at a Passport Agency of some type. The Passport Acceptance facilities or Passport Issuing Agency offices are located around the country. The most widely used of these is the local Post Office but not all handle passports so it will be a good idea to research this first.
A new passport will only be issued to those appearing in person and cannot be obtained by mail. A personal appearance must also be made by anyone 16 years old or younger when applying for a new passport or renewing an old one. There is a wide variety of documentation that the applicant must have on hand when applying for a new passport.
There is also a separate form for replacing a lost or stolen passport and this may also be found online. This will need to be printed out and completed before arriving at the acceptance facility along with having photocopies or proper identification documents. This is yet another application process that must be completed in person.
As well as Form DS-11, there are some other documents that an individual needs to have with them when they appear at a designated government facility. For example, an individual will need to provide evidence of U.S. citizenship. A document that would fulfill this need is a birth certificate. Individuals who need to attain a copy of their birth certificate should contact the Vital Statistics office where they were born.
Individuals that need to appear in person should gather all their documentation together and even designate a folder to put all the information in so that it will be organized and difficult to lose. Another piece of documentation that an individual needs is form of valid identification. This can be either an old passport, as long it is not damaged, or a valid driver’s license. There are other documents accepted too, for those who do not have either of these.
Acquiring a United States passport is something that everybody should do, whether an individual thinks he or she is going to travel abroad or not. One never knows what the future may hold. Regardless, a United States passport form can be found online and either filled out online or printed out to fill out with pen. Just make sure that nothing is signed until you are in front of an agent or you will have to do it all over again.
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