US Citizens are required to have a passport for reentry into the US when traveling abroad. A passport is government issued identification, identifying you as a US citizen. The US State Department has created a procedure to insure and protect your identity. The procedure is two part and starts with proving your identity to a designated official. For US Citizens over the age of 16 (If you require a passport for a minor child, please contact us for additional requirements.)

Part I. The Prerequisit Items for a Passport

Application

The first thing you will need is an application. The application for a new passport is done on form DS-11. The State Department would prefer that you complete the DS-11 form on-line. You can follow the link below to the State Department's on-line form and print it off when completed.

DS-11 On line Form

Passport Photos

All passport applications must be acompanied by a set of two, identical, passport style, frontal portrait photographs of the applicant. If you require more information about passport photo specs, you can view a copy the State Department's photo faq.

State Department's passport photo FAQ

Proof of US Citzenship

Only US citizens are eligible for US passports. The citizenship of the applicant must be proven with out a doubt to the Passport Office before a passport is issued. An original or original copy of the birthcertificate verifing birth in the USA is the most common form of citzenship verification. If you were born abroad to US parents than the original overseas consular registration of foriegn birth is required. If you are naturalized citizen than you must produce the original naturalization documents.

Global Visa can assist travelers with the recovery and reisue of US birth certificates and lost naturalization documents. Please contact us for more information regarding those proceedures.

Payment to US Department of State

The current fee for an expediated passport at the State Department is $135.00 . The State Department fees can be made on a check or money order, do not send cash. The check should be made payable to the US Dept. of State . It is our experience that having the name of the applicant printed on the check assists with hassle free processing from the passport office.

Continue to STEP 2 DOCUMENT SEALING --->