US Passport application process

[taniya 1]

Dear VJ members,

I am from philadelphia & currently in final stage of my naturalization. As I will apply for US passport in few days, I have been preparing all the documents and information for that. Here is my case details below to have a clear idea:

I & my son had entered in US at August 2006 on F-IV immigrant visa. My son will be 18 in next May, 2012. Thus I have applied N400 for myself only not for my son as he is under 18 yet.

Now I am planning to apply for US passport book and passport card for me & my son once my naturalization will be completed by Sep 2011 without applying for my son's naturalization/ N-600. Here is how I am planning to do it -

1. Fill up two forms of DS 11, one for me and one for my son.

2.(a) Supporting Documents for my application:

Attach the copy of my Naturalization certificate, driving license, state ID with my application ( copies only, not original )

2.(b) Supporting Documents for my son's application:

Attach the copy of my Naturalization certificate, my son's green card, my son's state ID ( copies only, not original )

3. Take my son with me to the following passport agency to submit the application in person and sign on the application in front of an agent:

Philadelphia Passport Agency

U.S. Custom House

200 Chestnut Street,

Room 103

Philadelphia, PA 19106-2970

4. We have to present or show our original ID & Naturalization Certificate to the agent in order to verify the copies are attached with our application.

5. Make the payment by two bank checks for each application separately ( $ 140 + $ 25 ) $165

Is there anything else I need to do or add or change with our US passport application? Please put your suggestions in reply.

Your helps will be highly appreciated.

[ginimerlo 0]

I became a citizen on March and got my passport expedited a week before going outside the US. I believe you dont need to send the documents, you can fill the app online and then go to the post office or a special center if you need it expedited (additional charge for that). The green card will be destroyed when you get the Naturalization certificate and you need to present the original, they will keep it and then send it back to you so make sure you have copies! Im not sure how minors work since here at the age of 16 you have certain priviledgies...

I hope this helped and didnt make it worse! Congratulations on becoming a citizen.

[CC90 90]

I became a citizen on March and got my passport expedited a week before going outside the US. I believe you dont need to send the documents, you can fill the app online and then go to the post office or a special center if you need it expedited (additional charge for that). The green card will be destroyed when you get the Naturalization certificate and you need to present the original, they will keep it and then send it back to you so make sure you have copies! Im not sure how minors work since here at the age of 16 you have certain priviledgies...

I hope this helped and didnt make it worse! Congratulations on becoming a citizen.

Unless you're renewing within a certain time period after a previous passport has expired, you must always appear in person for the first application.

For the OP: In addition to submitting it to the agent, you will actually have to send the original naturalization certificate with your passport application, meaning that you and your son probably cannot apply at the same time. But check with the processing agent on that; you might be able to combine them. You don't need to send the original of the state ID though.

Edited August 23, 2011 by CC90

[NickD 203]

Check on your agent, our clerk of court has been doing this for over twenty years, the guy at the post office, only six months. If both were poor, could have gone to the next town. Wondered about this, they make extra money from the DOS, but do this while they are being paid in their respective jobs.

Do think you should be able to apply at the same time as your certificate is required for both you and your kid, plus proof you are the parent, with married name change, previous divorce and new marriage certificate, birth certificate of your son. Its all in the instructions that you may have to read three times. Think its a lot easier if your son is over 16, doesn't require proof from biological parent. But kind of skipped over that section as didn't apply to us.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Pretty much.

You'll need 2 checks, perhaps even 4: the post office ("passport office") gets a cut for the work (forgot how much it is), and the rest goes to the DoS. They'll tell you exactly when you are showing up in person, which you'll have to do.

I lately had a case where the DoS first mailed the passports, and then mailed back not only the CoN but also the child's Green Card.

[NickD 203]

Pretty much.

You'll need 2 checks, perhaps even 4: the post office ("passport office") gets a cut for the work (forgot how much it is), and the rest goes to the DoS. They'll tell you exactly when you are showing up in person, which you'll have to do.

I lately had a case where the DoS first mailed the passports, and then mailed back not only the CoN but also the child's Green Card.

Had to make out a check directly to the agent for 25 bucks, DOS depended on what service you requested, either super slow expedient or even slower standard. What about these same day dozen or so DOS service centers, do they charge an extra 25 bucks? Do they even take checks? Crazy with these foreign consulates, won't take any money, send you to a bank five miles away to make a deposit in their account, then have to go back with a receipt for that deposit to get your foreign passport that you need because your US passport has your place of birth on it.

Interesting that the DOS sends back the kid's green card, also interesting that at the oath ceremony, your kid is a US citizen, but walks out with his green card. If you even politely ask these agencies why do they things this way, they say, we don't know, congress makes the laws. If you ask congress these same questions, don't have time for that, we are fighting six wars that is taking up all of our time fighting for other peoples freedoms. What about our freedoms?

[msobol 0]

Dear VJ members,

I am from philadelphia & currently in final stage of my naturalization. As I will apply for US passport in few days, I have been preparing all the documents and information for that. Here is my case details below to have a clear idea:

I & my son had entered in US at August 2006 on F-IV immigrant visa. My son will be 18 in next May, 2012. Thus I have applied N400 for myself only not for my son as he is under 18 yet.

Now I am planning to apply for US passport book and passport card for me & my son once my naturalization will be completed by Sep 2011 without applying for my son's naturalization/ N-600. Here is how I am planning to do it -

1. Fill up two forms of DS 11, one for me and one for my son.

2.(a) Supporting Documents for my application:

Attach the copy of my Naturalization certificate, driving license, state ID with my application ( copies only, not original )

2.(b) Supporting Documents for my son's application:

Attach the copy of my Naturalization certificate, my son's green card, my son's state ID ( copies only, not original )

3. Take my son with me to the following passport agency to submit the application in person and sign on the application in front of an agent:

Philadelphia Passport Agency

U.S. Custom House

200 Chestnut Street,

Room 103

Philadelphia, PA 19106-2970

4. We have to present or show our original ID & Naturalization Certificate to the agent in order to verify the copies are attached with our application.

5. Make the payment by two bank checks for each application separately ( $ 140 + $ 25 ) $165

Is there anything else I need to do or add or change with our US passport application? Please put your suggestions in reply.

Your helps will be highly appreciated.

I work for a passport expediting service and can help you clear up a couple of things:

1. You CANNOT apply at the Philadelphia Passport Agency in person unless you intend to travel within two weeks, can provide proof of the planned travel, AND call to make an appointment. Also, if you do apply there, they will automatically require an additional $60 for each application (the expedite fee). Instead, go to Where to Apply to find convenient locations where you can apply in person. They will send your applications into the national processing center, and return the new passports to you in 4 to 6 weeks. If you add $60 to each application, they will return them to you in 3 to 4 weeks. For service faster than that, you can attempt to apply directly at the Passport Agency, or you can use an expediter (but you probably don't need one-- they help best in emergency circumstances and for people who do not live near a Regional Passport Agency).

2. Your fees will be $110 for your adult DS-11 application paid to US Department of State by check or money order and $25 paid directly to the passport acceptance facility (post office or other municipal office where you are applying). The fees will be the same for your son, if he is 16 or older. If he is younger than 16 on the day you apply, his passport fee will be $80 AND you will be required to obtain his father's consent for a passport to be issued if the father is listed on the naturalization cert, unless you have court documents that show the father is not involved.

3. You must submit your original naturalization certificates - no copies will be allowed. Make copies to keep in your own files, and the originals will be returned to you later.

NickD was right that different agents will give you different answers based on their experience. I am often on the phone educating post office staff about the regulations! Let me know if you have additional questions, or feel free to click here: Same Day Passport, to look at our FAQs. Our new US Passport site is coming online soon.

Best Regards,

Mike

888-727-0617