Passport Submission Requirements

As you have heard by now, Passports are now a requirement to travel anywhere outside the United States! It is very important to apply early to ensue your passport is granted to you before your travel dates. There are thousands of Acceptance Facilities within the US where you can apply, but there are several things you need to do to apply!

First of all, you must provide Application for Passport, Form DS-11. All you need to do is go to the US Department of State website and download the application form. You can also go to any passport agency or acceptance facility to pick one up! With the filling out of the Application, you will also have to present several things. Among those are Proof of Citizenship, Proof of Identity, two passport photos, the application fee, and social security card.

For the proof of US Citizenship, you may either use a previous passport or a certified birth certificate. If you do not have either one of those, you may use a Letter of No Record (which has to be issued by the state) or you may be able to use as many of the following documents possible: baptismal certificate, hospital birth certificate, census record, early school record, family bible record, doctor’s record of post-natal care.

You may prove your identity with any one of these: previous US passport, Naturalization Certificate, or a current, valid driver’s license, Government ID, or Military ID. Your social security card does not prove your identity. If you do not have any of these available to you, you will need a combination of some signature documents (such as social security card, credit card, bank card, library card, etc..).

When presenting your photos, you will need two 2x2 in size. They need to be identical, taken within the past 6 months, color, full face, between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of chin to top of head, and taken in normal street attire. Uniforms should not be worn, no hats or head gear, or dark glasses!

When paying your Passport fee, there are a few acceptable methods. You may pay by credit card, debit/check cards, or check at the 14 agencies, however at the acceptance facility, they do not accept credit cards. You must pay by check or cash. (There are 14 passport agencies and over 8,000 Passport Acceptance Facilities). The total fee if applying for the first time will be $97.00. Once received, your passport will be valid for the next 10 years.

The last item you will need to provide is your Social Security card. If you do not, the Internal Revenue Service may charge a $500 penalty.

As you can see there are just a few things you need to do in order to apply for your passport. It is strongly recommend to apply early to insure that you receive your passport on time. For any questions you may contact the US Department of State website.

"As a Group Travel Coordinator at Adventure Student Travel, I strive to provide the most memorable experiences to students from all over the United States. I am proud to be a part of the best Student Travel company in the industry. We provide quality trips for great prices and have wonderful customer service. I can assure you that you will have an unforgettable trip when traveling with us!"