Obtaining a Passport in the United States

Passport applications for the United States now have a new, updated form available. Next, we'll go through the various parts of the application and the changes made to each. You'll also discover some helpful hints and suggestions for accomplishing them.

Enhancements to the DS-11 Passport Application

The person applying for a fast passport to the United States is given a few options at the beginning of the application. The first is that the same form may be used to apply for either a passport book, a passport card, or both. The card is only valid for land and sea travel to and within Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, whereas the book is necessary for all air travel. One may apply for a 28-page or 52-page passport using the same form. You should get the more important book if you are always on the road.

Separating the areas for entering the middle and last names of passport applicants is another improvement that has helped reduce the number of typos. In the prior application, you were required to enter both characters into a sequence of squares. Problems often arose when candidates had hyphenated last names or several middle names.

The brand-new format has a supplementary line for a street address. Words like "apartment," "suite," "unit," "building," and "floor" belong here. This is where you'll write "In Care Of", followed by the intended recipient's name if you're mailing the passport to someone other than yourself.

The entire portion that must be filled out by a passport agency stands out against the orange backdrop of the section the applicant must fill out. Several applicants needed clarification on the previous application and assumed they had to fill out this section.

A few additional tweaks that don't seem all that important were made, such as adding the applicant's current or most recent spouse's date of birth and removing the phrase "optional" from the applicant's email address request.

Instructions for Applying for a New Passport

Candidates may submit their applications either online or by printing them off and filling them out in the comfort of their own homes. If you need to fill it out manually, do so in black or blue ink. Use legible handwriting. Reading your writing might lead to mistakes in your passport application.

Please answer as many of the following questions as you can. If you do not know the answer, just leave the question blank. This might cause delays in certain situations. But honesty is always the best policy. If you do this on the application with full knowledge and intent, you might face a fine and/or jail time.

The application form asks for various details about the applicant, including demographic data, travel intentions, and any previous passports the applicant may have had. A person's complete name, date and place of birth, gender, physical and email addresses, telephone numbers, alternate characters, height, hair and eye colors, employment, employer or educational institution, permanent residence, and emergency contact information will all be requested.

Already planned trips should include trip start and end dates, total trip time, and destination(s). If you don't plan any trips, leave this section blank. Passport applications are often made without a confirmed departure date.

The last two inquiries concern your past attempts to obtain and receipt a U.S. passport book and/or passport card. If so, you were prompted to provide the passport's corresponding name, number, date of issuance or application, and current status.

Obtaining a passport from the United States is not very difficult. All you have to do is make time for it. It is expected that 85 minutes will be spent on the form. Just a few of candidates really put in the time to finish it.

Remember that you must have an authorized representative present while signing the application. You should visit the local passport office with the completed but unsigned form and any supporting documentation. The representative will review everything, give an oath, and witness the signature. Your new passport should arrive between four to six weeks. Furthermore, you may ask for rush service if you need it faster than 3 weeks. The application may be submitted in a regional office or via a certified expediter if you need it processed more quickly.