If you’re planning a destination wedding or honeymoon out of the country you will need a passport. There are several things you should know before you apply for a passport. Having all of the documentation with you when you go will save you much time and aggravation. The following information should help your passport application be approved with a minimum of effort.
If you already have a passport which was issued within the last 15 years you can probably renew it by mail, provided you were 16 years old or older when you first got it. Make sure you allow enough time for processing, as renewals take up to 6 weeks. It can take up to 3 months in the summer when everybody is travelling.
If you don’t have a passport you must apply in person. The easiest places to apply in person are county clerk offices and post offices. Regional passport agencies can also issue passports, but many states do not have an agency. Each type of operation will have different business hours, but all will require that you furnish the same documentation. Proof of citizenship is one requirement. This can be provided in the form of an official birth certificate (the type with an embossed seal) or a certificate of naturalization or citizenship. Your old passport can be accepted if it is undamaged. For U.S. citizens born abroad, a consular report or certificate of birth can be used.
You will also be required to prove your identity. A passport can be used for this purpose as well as your proof of citizenship. The most common documentation is a current driver’s license or state issued identification card. If your license was issued by a state other than the one in which you are making your application for passport, you will need a second form of identification. The agency will accept your social security card, your credit card, or your employer identification card. You must also provide a copy of all identification used for the passport application. This cannot be a duplex copy, or copy with dual sided printing.
You will need two color photographs of yourself. They must be identical and no more than 6 months old. Your appearance cannot vary significantly from the photograph. Each must be 2 x 2, taken against a white or nearly white background, and be a front view of your full face. The space between bottom of chin and top of head cannot be less than 1 inch or greater than 1-3/8 inches. You should dress in your normal manner for the picture, and if that includes a wig or glasses, they should be worn in the photograph. However, do not wear a hat or hair trim that hides the hairline.
Most adults who need passports should now have a good idea of what will be required to complete a US passport application. Accurately completing the passport application and providing the proper documentation are the most crucial elements for success.
For further information check with the U. S. State Department at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
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