Government agency sources provide Foreign Entry Requirements and Passport Acceptance Agents with links to various forms for identification requirements, photo requirements, and applications. These sources also thoroughly examine the government's privacy policy and the security of applicants' personal documents. Additionally, these sources provide information about government-standard information and requirements.
Acceptance Agents
The Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Passport Services/Customer Service provides a site below that can help you locate the nearest acceptance agents in your area. You can perform a search by entering your Zip Code or your State and City.
Birth Certificate
If you need to obtain a copy of your Birth Certificate, VitalCheck Express is a simple, fast, secure, and authorized source for government-certified vital records. Please visit their site for more information. VitalCheck Express
Photo Requirements
Your photo plays a crucial role in your passport application. To avoid delays in passport processing, please review the information below on how to provide a suitable photo. However, please note that the U.S. passport agency has the final discretion on whether to accept your photo.
We highly recommend using a professional passport photo service to ensure that your photo meets all the requirements.
If you are applying for a U.S. Passport, you must submit one (1) photo. Your passport photo must meet the following criteria:
- It must be in color.
- Wearing glasses is not permitted (as of Nov 2016).
- Excessive makeup is not allowed.
- Hair must not cover the eyes.
- Both eyes must be fully visible.
- The photo must be printed on high-quality paper.
- The size must be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm).
- The head should be positioned between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (between 25 and 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. Please refer to the Photo Composition Template for more details on size requirements.
- The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months and accurately reflect your current appearance.
- The photo should be taken against a plain white or off-white background.
- The photo must be a full-face view directly facing the camera.
- You should have a neutral facial expression and both eyes must be open.
- Please ensure that you are wearing your everyday clothing in the photo. Note that uniforms should not be worn, unless they are religious attire that you wear daily.
- Do not wear any hats or head coverings that obscure your hair or hairline, unless they are worn daily for religious purposes. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering should not cast any shadows on your face.
- Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in the photo.
- Glare on the photo is not acceptable.
- Review the Photo Examples to see acceptable and unacceptable photos. Photos copied or digitally scanned from driver's licenses or other official documents are not acceptable. Additionally, snapshots, magazine photos, low-quality vending machine or mobile phone photos, and full-length photographs are not acceptable.
FAQS about Photo Requirements
Taking photos of your baby or toddler
When taking a photo of your baby or toddler, ensure that no other person is in the photo, and that your child is looking at the camera with their eyes open.
Tip 1: Lay your baby on their back on a plain white or off-white sheet. This will provide support for your baby's head and create a plain background for the photo. Make sure there are no shadows on your baby's face, especially if you are taking a picture from above with the baby lying down.
Tip 2: Cover a car seat with a plain white or off-white sheet and take a picture of your child in the car seat. This will also provide support for your baby's head.
Change of Appearance
Your passport may not be accepted at the border if you have experienced significant changes in your appearance or if you cannot be recognized from the photo in your current passport.
If you cannot be recognized from your current passport photo, you should apply for a new passport, even if your old one has not yet expired (appropriate fees required).
You may need to apply for a new passport if, since your last passport photo, you have:
- Undergone significant facial surgery or trauma.
- Added or removed numerous/large facial piercings or tattoos.
- Experienced significant weight loss or gain.
- Undergone a gender transition.
If you believe that you can still be recognized from the photo in your current passport, you do not need to apply for a new passport. For example, growing a beard or changing hair color would not be considered a significant change.
If the appearance of your child under the age of 16 has changed due to normal aging, you do not need to apply for a new passport for them.
Secondary U.S. Citizenship
Source: http://travel.state.gov/
If you cannot provide primary evidence of U.S. citizenship, you must submit secondary evidence of U.S. citizenship. Determine the most appropriate form of secondary evidence based on the descriptions provided below.
Early Public Records
If you were born in the United States and cannot provide primary evidence of U.S. citizenship, submit a combination of early public records as evidence. These early public records should be submitted along with a birth record or Letter of No Record. The early public records should include your name, date of birth, and place of birth, and preferably be created within the first five years of your life. Examples of early public records are:
- Baptismal certificate
- Hospital birth certificate
- Census record
- Early school recordFamily Bible Record
- Doctor's Record of Post-Natal Care
Early Public Records are not acceptable as standalone evidence.
Delayed Birth Certificate
If you were born in the United States and cannot provide primary evidence of U.S. citizenship because your U.S. Birth Certificate was not filed within the first year of your birth, you may submit a Delayed U.S. Birth Certificate. A Delayed U.S. Birth Certificate filed more than one year after your birth may be accepted if it meets the following criteria:
- It lists the documentation used to create it (preferably early public records),
- It is signed by the birth attendant or includes an affidavit signed by the parents.
If your Delayed U.S. Birth Certificate does not include these items, you should submit it along with Early Public Records.
Letter of No Record
If you were born in the United States and cannot provide primary evidence of U.S. citizenship because you do not have a previous U.S. passport or any certified U.S. birth certificate, you must present a state-issued Letter of No Record that includes:
- Your name,
- Your date of birth,
- The years for which a birth record was searched, and
- An acknowledgement that no birth certificate was found on file.
A Letter of No Record must be submitted with Early Public Records.
Form DS-10: Birth Affidavit
If you were born in the United States and cannot provide primary evidence of U.S. citizenship, you may submit Form DS-10: Birth Affidavit as evidence. The birth affidavit:
- Must be notarized,
- Must be submitted in person with Form DS-11,
- Must be submitted with early public records,
- Must be completed by an affiant who has personal knowledge of birth in the U.S., and
- Must briefly state how the affiant acquired this knowledge.
We recommend that the birth affidavit be completed by an older blood relative. However, if an older blood relative is not available, it may be completed by the attending physician or any other person with personal knowledge of the birth.
Foreign Birth Documents + Parent(s) Citizenship Evidence
If you are claiming citizenship through birth abroad to U.S. citizen parent(s) but cannot provide a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth, you must submit the following documents:
- Your foreign birth certificate (translated to English),
- Evidence of your U.S. citizen parent's citizenship,
- Your parents' marriage certificate, and
- A statement from your U.S. citizen parent detailing their periods of residence or physical presence in the United States and abroad before your birth.
NOTES:
- Refer to Documentation of U.S. Citizens Born Abroad for more information.
- For information about foreign-born children adopted by U.S. citizens, see the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.
- Foreign language documents should be accompanied by an informal or formal English translation.
Unacceptable Documents
The following documents are not accepted as secondary evidence of U.S. citizenship:
- Voter registration card
- Army discharge paper
- Social Security Card
Secondary U.S. Identification
Source: http://travel.state.gov/
Combination of Identifying Documents
To verify your personal identity, you should present a combination of documents. These documents, when presented alone, are not acceptable as secondary identification.
For example: Social Security Card + Credit Card + Employee ID + Library Card
Identifying Witness
An identifying witness is someone who can vouch for your identity. To qualify, the person must:
- Be present during the application process
- Have known you for at least 2 years
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Have valid identification
The witnessing individual needs to fill out Form DS-71: Affidavit of Identifying Witness in the presence of a Passport Agent.
Please note that Form DS-71 can only be obtained from your local Acceptance Facility or a Passport Agency.
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Expedited Passport Services • 48-Hour Agency Processing
If you need fast passport help in San Jose, our Local Passport Specialists provide professional, expedited passport services for travelers with urgent international plans.
We assist applicants throughout San Jose and the greater Silicon Valley area with accurate application preparation and expedited submission to the U.S. Passport Agency, allowing qualified applications to be processed by the agency within 48 hours after submission.
Important: The 48-hour timeframe refers to passport agency processing time only and does not include shipping time.
Passport Services for San Jose & Silicon Valley Travelers
We help San Jose applicants with:
- New Passport – 48 Hour Service (Form DS-11)
- Passport Renewal – 48 Hour Service (Form DS-82, if eligible)
- Child Passport – Expedited Processing
Each service follows official U.S. Department of State requirements and is handled by experienced Passport Specialists.
Why San Jose Travelers Use Local Passport Specialists
San Jose and Silicon Valley travelers often face:
- Last-minute international business travel
- Family or emergency travel
- Tight project or corporate deadlines
- Unexpected passport issues
Our role is to ensure your application is:
- Completed correctly the first time
- Submitted without avoidable errors
- Delivered to the agency as quickly as possible
This helps reduce delays and protects important travel plans.
Local Passport Photo Assistance in San Jose
We work with trusted local passport photo partners in the San Jose area who have supported our passport clients for many years.
These photo professionals are familiar with U.S. Department of State photo requirements and help ensure photos are compliant, reducing the risk of delays caused by rejected photos.
Exact photo-partner details are provided after contact, so we can direct you to the most appropriate location for your situation.
How Expedited Passport Processing Works From San Jose
Step 1: Application Preparation
You complete the correct passport form online:
- DS-11 for new or child passports
- DS-82 for eligible renewals
Forms must be typed, downloaded, and printed, and must include the large barcode in the top left corner.
Step 2: Document Review
Your documents are reviewed for:
- Accuracy
- Completeness
- Compliance with agency rules
This review step helps prevent rejection or processing delays.
Step 3: Acceptance Appointment (If Required)
New passport and child passport applicants attend a passport acceptance appointment, as required by law.
Step 4: Overnight Shipping to the Passport Agency
Applications are sent using overnight shipping with tracking, ensuring secure and timely delivery to the passport agency.
Step 5: Agency Processing (48 Hours)
Once received and logged, the passport agency processes the application within 48 hours, excluding shipping time.
Step 6: Passport Return
Completed passports are returned using overnight shipping with tracking, delivered directly to your mailbox or front door.
Tracking Your Passport Status
San Jose applicants can track their passport in real time at the official government website:
👉 https://passportstatus.state.gov
Typical status updates appear in this order:
- Processing
- Approved
- Shipping
- Tracking Number Issued
- Delivered
Who This San Jose Service Is Best For
This service is ideal if you:
- Live or work in San Jose or Silicon Valley
- Have urgent international travel
- Prefer professional guidance over guesswork
- Want to avoid common passport application mistakes
If you’re unsure which service applies to you, our specialists help determine eligibility before submission.
Start Expedited Passport Service in San Jose
If you need fast, accurate passport processing from San Jose, begin with the service that matches your situation:
- New Passport – 48 Hour Service
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- Child Passport – Expedited Processing
Reserve Your Courier Appointment Passport Agency.
Our Passport Specialists are available on weekdays from 6 am to 5 pm PST and on Saturdays from 7 am to 5 pm PST.