There are people who plan to travel abroad and then cancel their travel plans because they do not have the essential travel documents. Most of them do not have the documents because they have never applied for them. Such people need to realize that there is nothing hard about filling out a passport form. A person can apply for the travel documents even if they are not planning to travel in the near future.
Application Papers
A person can access the application papers from the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affair’s website. This site contains useful information for people who are applying for the document. Once a person has accessed the application, they should be able to print out a copy. A person can also provide their address and wait for the applications to be posted. You should also look into adding pages to your passport for future reference.
You May Have To Be In Person
There are certain applicants who have to submit their application to the necessary offices personally. This includes people who are applying for the document for the first time, minors, someone who is not in possession of their current travel documents and a person who has not renewed their document for over fifteen years. Any other applicant is free to submit their application via mailing services.
It Takes Time
If a person needs this document urgently, it is advisable for them to submit their application in good time. It takes four to six weeks for an application to be completed. It is important for someone to make their plans in advance to avoid any inconvenience.
Expedited Is Available
It is possible for someone to speed up the process by using the expedited US passport services. Those applicants that choose this alternative only have to wait two to three weeks for their documents. However, they are expected to pay an extra fee of sixty dollars or more. They also bear the costs of the overnight shipping services.
Photos Required
When a person is applying for the document, they are supposed to submit two passport size photos. These are usually not just any photos but there are certain requirements that the applicant must meet. The relevant offices of a professional photographer will know how to take the right photo for this situation.
Form DS-82
An applicant has to make sure that the Form DS-82 is correctly filled out before posting it. Abide by the instructions on the application and use clear writing. Include two photos, the expired document and proof on name changes in the package.
Form DS-11
A first time applicant should fill out the Form DS-11. This applicant is also used for the minors. The minors are expected to show up to the offices with their parents. It is not possible for a person to submit this application through the mail. The applicant is expected to have passport photos, identification cards and proof of citizenship.
The process of completing the US passport form is simple yet beneficial to the applicant. A person cannot travel outside the country if they do not have this document. After a person has correctly filled out the form, they just need to patiently wait for the travel documents to be delivered to them. You should also look into adding pages to your passport for future reference.
