Suggestions For First Time Pasport Applicants

By Ben Pate


Getting a passport is an important milestone for most Americans. They are now officially allowed to travel to foreign countries. When they visit other lands,it comes with a request from the U. S. to treat her citizens with respect. Travel abroad is an enriching experience. It is a great way of learning. If you are a first time passport applicant, this short guide will tell you what you need to know.

There are two types of applicants. Adults are one and minors are another. The same basic documentation is required for both. There will be additional documents asked if parents cannot be present when the child is being interviewed. For children aged less than 15 years old, paperwork will be completed by adults. Teenagers 15 to 16 years old can complete the documents by themselves but need to show parental consent to travel.

Applications for passports are done using Form DS-11. This is a publicly available document and is usually obtained in any pass port office and post offices. It is also conveniently available anytime by downloading it on the Internet at the website of the State Department.

It is also required to obtain the applicant's birth certificate. This must bear the dry seal of the issuing office. Inspect the documents for important information that might be missing. Such include the full names of both parents of the applicant and the applicant's full name, place and date of birth.

After gathering and completing all the paperwork, the applicant must secure his recent passport-sized picture. He will bring all documents and make a personal appearance to the nearest acceptance center. For minor applicants, it is important for both parents to be with them. They will affix their signatures on Form DS-11 as an indication of consent to travel. When a guardian is present in lieu of the parent, the adult must be ready to show a signed affidavit that allows him to accompany minor applicants.

The applicant will then pay for the processing fee after his documents have passed inspection. There are two kinds of applications. The regular process takes at least a month to complete. There is also an expedited process that is completed in about three weeks.

If the applicant wants to monitor the status of the processing of his document, he can log on to a web tracking page. Applicants log on by providing their last names, date of birth and the last four parts of their Social Security Numbers. This service only becomes available five days after application.




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