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service@48hourpassport.com
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Call Us!
833-220-0002
Email Us!
service@48hourpassport.com
Call Us!
833-220-0002
Call Us!
833-220-0002
Many passport delays begin with small application errors that could have been caught before submission.
The passport process is very specific. The correct form, supporting documents, signatures, photograph, payment, and application procedure all have to match the applicant’s situation.
Here are some of the most common passport mistakes and how to avoid them.
One of the easiest ways to delay a passport application is to use the wrong government form.
The most common forms include:
Do not assume that having previously held a passport automatically means you can renew it.
Your age when the previous passport was issued, how long ago it was issued, its condition, and whether you still possess it can all affect which form you must use.
Do not sign Form DS-11 before your Acceptance Agent appointment.
The Acceptance Agent must witness the required signature.
Signing DS-11 before the Acceptance Agent instructs you to sign can create unnecessary problems and may require the application to be completed again.
This rule does not apply to every passport form. For example, an eligible DS-82 renewal applicant signs the renewal application before submission.
Not every previous passport can be renewed.
A traveler may need Form DS-11 instead of Form DS-82 when, for example:
Confirm renewal eligibility before preparing the application.
An eligible DS-82 renewal requires the applicant to submit the qualifying previous passport with the renewal application.
Leaving the passport at home is not a minor omission. The previous passport is part of the renewal application.
Applicants using Form DS-11 must provide acceptable evidence of U.S. citizenship.
Depending on the applicant, this may include:
Bring the original or certified document, not a digital image or ordinary copy.
Not every document that looks like a birth record qualifies as citizenship evidence.
A hospital birth record or souvenir birth certificate is not the same as a certified government-issued birth certificate.
When a birth certificate is being used as citizenship evidence, make sure it is the proper certified document.
Passport photos are a frequent source of application problems.
Common mistakes include:
Use a current photograph that meets State Department requirements.
Government passport fees depend on the applicant’s age, application type, requested document, and optional services.
Common payment mistakes include:
For DS-11 applications, the government passport fee and the Acceptance Facility fee are separate payments.
Check the current amount before the appointment or submission.
These are two different parts of the passport system.
An Acceptance Agent reviews and executes certain passport applications, including DS-11 applications.
A U.S. Passport Agency is part of the U.S. Department of State and adjudicates passport applications.
The Acceptance Agent does not issue the passport.
Before leaving for a DS-11 appointment, make sure you have everything required for your particular application.
Depending on the case, this can include:
Missing one important document can mean another trip to the Acceptance Facility.
When an Acceptance Agent executes an application for Courier submission, the required documents are placed into a Sealed Government Envelope.
Do not open it.
Opening the Sealed Government Envelope can invalidate the execution and may require another Acceptance Agent appointment.
Follow the shipping instructions provided with your current order and keep the envelope sealed.
Children under age 16 cannot renew a passport. They apply again using Form DS-11.
Parental consent requirements are also different from adult passport requirements.
Common problems include:
Child-passport cases involving custody, guardianship, adoption, or an unavailable parent should be reviewed carefully before the appointment.
Passport rules change at age 16.
Applicants age 16 or 17 use Form DS-11 for a first adult-validity passport, but the parental requirements are different from those for children under 16.
Do not automatically follow the under-16 procedure for a 16- or 17-year-old applicant.
A valid passport that has been lost or stolen must be handled differently from an ordinary renewal.
The applicant must provide the required lost-or-stolen information as part of the replacement process.
Once a valid passport has been reported lost or stolen and canceled, it cannot be used again even if it is later found.
A police report is not required simply to replace a lost or stolen passport. If one was already filed, provide a copy when appropriate.
A passport that is already expired generally should not be reported lost or stolen merely because you cannot locate it.
The lost-or-stolen reporting process is intended to cancel a passport that is still valid.
If you are unsure how an unavailable previous passport affects your application, determine the correct procedure before filing a lost-passport report.
Differences between names on the passport application, identification, citizenship evidence, legal name-change documents, and travel reservation can create problems.
Check names carefully before submission.
If your legal name has changed, determine which passport procedure and supporting document apply before preparing the application.
Passport applications can be delayed because of:
Review the entire form before submission.
Paper passport forms should be printed properly.
Avoid:
When using the State Department Form Filler for DS-11 or DS-82, download and print the completed form as instructed.
Do not wait until the day before departure to discover that your passport:
Check your passport when you begin planning international travel.
Urgent Passport Agency processing normally applies when international travel is within two weeks.
If your destination requires you to obtain a foreign visa before travel, qualifying travel may be within four weeks.
Most travelers do not need the four-week exception.
Passport Agency processing time and shipping time are not the same thing.
48HourPassport.com’s urgent service is designed to achieve approximately 2–3 days of Passport Agency processing, plus return shipping time.
Application preparation, Acceptance Agent appointments, overnight transportation to the Courier, government requests for additional information, and return shipping occur outside the Passport Agency processing period.
The State Department may place an application on hold and request:
Respond promptly and follow the instructions in the government’s letter or email.
Ignoring the request will delay the passport.
Using the wrong application form is a major problem because the proper procedure depends on the applicant’s age, previous passport, passport condition, and other circumstances.
No. Sign Form DS-11 only when instructed by the Acceptance Agent.
A child under age 16 cannot renew a passport. A new DS-11 application is required.
No. A passport that is lost or stolen cannot be submitted with a DS-82 renewal application.
No. A police report is not required simply to replace a lost or stolen passport. If you already filed one, keep a copy.
The State Department may place the application on hold and request a replacement photo, delaying processing.
No. Keep the Sealed Government Envelope sealed. Opening it can require the application to be executed again.
Sometimes, but correcting a problem after submission can delay the application. It is much better to identify mistakes before the documents are submitted.
Take a final look at:
A few minutes of careful review can prevent days of unnecessary delay.
If you are unsure whether your application is correct, call before sending it.
833-220-0002
A Passport Specialist can help identify the correct passport procedure for your situation.
48HourPassport.com is a division of Legal Passport LLC.