Friday, September 9, 2011

Passport Application Online

Great news for travelers! You can now fill out your passport application online. The US Department of State has put together on their website a new system in which you can make your passport application online, which will save you a lot of time and hassle over having to fill out many pages of forms by hand.

When doing the application, the Online Passport service will automatically send you to the correct form depending on your individual circumstances, such as whether this is your first time applying for a US passport, your passport was lost or stolen, you want to renew an existing American passport, or the data contained in your existing passport has changed or is no longer accurate.

ONLINE APPLICATION

The process itself is fairly simple, you first proceed to entering your data on the secure website, such as your name, date of birth, place of birth, occupation, etc.

Once you have finished filling out the form, you then need to print out the papers and take the oath at a passport acceptance facility. Do not sign the application before taking it to the passport acceptance facility, as your signature would need to be witnessed by an official from there.

You also need to submit your passport photographs as well as supporting documentation to prove US Citizenship, such as a birth certification or certificate of naturalization. To avoid any undue delays in getting your new passport, make sure you submit all the necessary documents and that the information contained in the application that you filled out is complete and accurate. It is also important that the passport photographs that you submit meet all the requirements set forth in the Department of State website. This is why it is recommended to use a professional photographer's services in order to get your photographs taken.

The processing times vary, however completing your passport application online has the advantage of making processing times quicker than filling out a manual form like before. If you choose the regular service, you can expect to receive your passport in about three weeks. If your travel needs require you to get your passport sooner, in that case there is an expedited option, in which the process of sending in the application, and returning your passport to you by overnight delivery can take less than two weeks from the date you submitted the application.

The Department of State has a tool that allows you to check the status of your application directly on their website. That way, you can have a better idea of what the status is and when you can expect to receive your new passport. You can use this tool after 5 to 7 days have passed since your application has been submitted. All you have to do is enter your last name, social security number and date of birth on their site.

Passport Application Online

ONLINE APPLICATION

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