{"id":4838,"date":"2016-11-30T09:22:45","date_gmt":"2016-11-30T14:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/?p=4838"},"modified":"2023-01-03T14:45:25","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T14:45:25","slug":"how-to-get-a-passport-in-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/how-to-get-a-passport-in-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get a Passport in 2017 (an Insider&#8217;s Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>*The passport fees have recently changed. As of April 2nd, 2018, the passport acceptance fee has gone up from $25 to $35.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Need to get a passport? Not sure how to get started?<\/p>\n<p>At RushMyPassport, we&#8217;ve spent almost a decade making it easier and faster to get a passport for customers around the country. Now, we&#8217;re sharing our experience with you!<\/p>\n<p>Are you a total newbie applying for your first-ever passport? A seasoned traveler ready for a passport renewal? Either way, here&#8217;s everything you need to know to breeze through getting a passport in 2017.<\/p>\n<h2><img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4844\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step1.png\" alt=\"How to Get a Passport in 2017 step1\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step1.png 600w, https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step1-300x100.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2>How to Get a Passport in 2017, Step 1: Gather Your Documents<\/h2>\n<p>They don&#8217;t just hand out passports to anyone these days. You need the right documents to prove your eligibility. And what you need varies depending on your circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s the master list.<\/p>\n<h2>What You Need for a New Passport<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Proof of citizenship:<\/strong> Your certified birth certificate, naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship. You&#8217;ll need to send both the original and a copy. The proof of citizenship will generally be returned in a separate envelope from your passport.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proof of identity:<\/strong> \u00a0A driver&#8217;s license or state ID card is the obvious choice, but you can also use the following documents as long as they have your signature and a recognizable picture of you: certificate of naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, military ID, US passport or passport card or a government employee ID card.<\/li>\n<li><strong>One passport photo<\/strong>, taken within the past 6 months. See below for more details.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Form DS-11<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/help-center\/passport-forms\/\">available here.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4840 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Pro-Tip.png\" alt=\"Pro Tip\" width=\"105\" height=\"35\" \/><\/strong>Don&#8217;t have a copy of your birth certificate? Can&#8217;t make it to the Department of Vital Records where you were born? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitalchek.com\/\">VitalChek can send it to you quickly.<\/a><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>What You Need for a Passport Renewal<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-4857 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/us-passport-on-table-300x202.jpg\" alt=\"United States Passport\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/us-passport-on-table-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/us-passport-on-table-768x518.jpg 768w, https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/us-passport-on-table.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/h2>\n<p>Need to renew your passport? You may be able to renew by mail, as long as all of the following are true:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>You still have your old passport.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>It&#8217;s not been damaged.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>You were 16 years of age or older when it was issued.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>It was issued within the last 15 years.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Your passport was issued in your current name OR you can legally document your name change.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you answered &#8220;No&#8221; to even one of those questions, do not pass go. Do not attempt to renew by mail. You&#8217;ll use the same form and the same instructions as if you were applying for a new passport.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> In addition to the documents listed under &#8220;New passport&#8221;, you may need a marriage decree, divorce decree or court order if you need to change your name.<\/p>\n<h2>Documents Needed to Renew By Mail<\/h2>\n<p>If you are eligible to apply by mail, you&#8217;ll need:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Form DS-82, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/help-center\/passport-forms\/\">available here.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>One passport photo.<\/li>\n<li>Your old passport.<\/li>\n<li>If you&#8217;ve changed your name, include your marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Getting a Passport for a Child<\/h2>\n<p>Ideally, both parents should appear in person to apply for their children&#8217;s passports. \u00a0Bring the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0Proof of citizenship for the child.<\/li>\n<li>Proof of the parents&#8217; relationship to the child (birth certificate, adoption decree or court order for guardianship). If you have changed your name since this document was issued, bring proof of that as well.<\/li>\n<li>If only one parent can make it, you need a \u00a0notarized copy of\u00a0Form DS-3053 signed by the other parent.<\/li>\n<li>Is the other parent\u00a0not available? Bring their death certificate, proof they&#8217;ve been declared incompetent, a court order granting one parent sole custody, or a birth certificate or adoption decree with only one parent&#8217;s name on it.<\/li>\n<li>A copy of Form DS-11<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Replacing a Lost\/Or Stolen Passport<\/h2>\n<p>Is your passport lost, stolen or damaged? You&#8217;ll need everything listed for a new passport AND a copy of form DS-64 explaining what happened to it.<br \/>\n<img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step2-finally.png\" alt=\"How to Get a Passport in 2017 step2 finally\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step2-finally.png 600w, https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step2-finally-300x100.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>How to Get a Passport in 2017, Step 2: Get Your Photo Taken<\/h2>\n<p>Time to say cheese! Or, maybe not. Smiling for a passport photo is out. Facial recognition software is in.<\/p>\n<p>If your photo doesn&#8217;t meet Department of State guidelines, your passport application will be delayed or denied. Here are the\u00a0rules:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>No selfies. Don&#8217;t say we didn&#8217;t warn you!\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Use a recent photo from within the past six months.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Photo must be in color, background must be white.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>No uniforms.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>No hats, headphones or head coverings unless they&#8217;re needed for religious reasons.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>The photo must be in focus, with no shadows on your face.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Face forward, and use a &#8216;neutral&#8217; expression.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>New Rule for 2017:<\/strong> Glasses are out, too, even if you normally wear them.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4840 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Pro-Tip.png\" alt=\"Pro Tip\" width=\"105\" height=\"35\" \/><\/strong>Here&#8217;s our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/how-to-take-a-passport-photo-like-prince\/\">taking a passport photo that doesn&#8217;t look like a mug shot.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4851\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step3.png\" alt=\"How to Get a Passport in 2017 step3\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step3.png 600w, https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step3-300x100.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2>How to Get a Passport in 2017, Step\u00a03: Fill Out Your Application<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>If you&#8217;re applying by mail, fill the form out completely and legibly, and then sign it.<\/li>\n<li>If you&#8217;re applying in person, fill it out completely and legibly, but DON&#8217;T SIGN IT. It must be signed in front of a passport agent.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4840 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Pro-Tip.png\" alt=\"Pro Tip\" width=\"105\" height=\"35\" \/><\/strong>If you travel frequently, check the box for the larger 52-page passport book. The Department of State no longer allows you to add pages without getting a new passport.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4840 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Pro-Tip.png\" alt=\"Pro Tip\" width=\"105\" height=\"35\" \/><\/strong>We recommend filling the forms out on your computer and printing them. If this is not possible, use a BLUE or BLACK ink pen. Other colors are not acceptable and will be rejected.<\/p>\n<h2><img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4852\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step4.png\" alt=\"How to Get a Passport in 2017 step4\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step4.png 600w, https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step4-300x100.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>How to Get a Passport in 2017, Step 4:\u00a0Submit Your Application<\/h2>\n<p>Now that you have everything together, it&#8217;s time to submit your application. If you&#8217;re renewing by mail, just mail it . . . but make sure to request tracking!<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re applying in person, you can<a href=\"https:\/\/iafdb.travel.state.gov\/\"> find the nearest passport acceptance facility here. <\/a>Some places do require an appointment for passport services, so plan ahead.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4840 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Pro-Tip.png\" alt=\"Pro Tip\" width=\"105\" height=\"35\" \/><\/strong>Is your local post office always busy? Check with other places nearby that might offer passport services! Here are some examples of unexpected places you might be able to apply for a passport:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Public Libraries\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Clerks of Court\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Colleges and Universities<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Municipal government buildings\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4853\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step5.png\" alt=\"How to Get a Passport in 2017 step5\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step5.png 600w, https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/How-to-Get-a-Passport-in-2017-step5-300x100.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>How to Get a Passport in 2017, Step 5: Pay the Fees<\/h2>\n<p>Next up: time to pay the fees. Here&#8217;s a breakdown of what you&#8217;ll likely owe:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Passport books for adults<\/strong>: $135 total ($110 application fee plus a $25 execution fee).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Adult passport card:<\/strong> $55 total ($30 application fee plus a $25 execution fee).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Adult passport book and card:<\/strong> $165 total ($140 application fee plus a $25 execution fee).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Child passport book<\/strong>: $105 total ($80 application fee plus a $25 execution fee)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Child passport card:<\/strong> $40 total ($15 application fee plus a $25 execution fee).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Child passport book and card:<\/strong> $115 total ($95 application fee plus a $25 execution fee).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Passport Renewal by Mail<\/strong>: $110 for the book, $30 for the card and $140 for both.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can pay the application fee by check, money order, credit card, bank draft or cashier&#8217;s check. The execution fee is paid separately, so check and see what payment methods the office will accept.<\/p>\n<p>Other fees: There is a $60 fee to expedite your passport application if you need it in less than six weeks. Priority Mail Express Delivery is $20.66.<\/p>\n<h2>Getting a Passport in 2017? Apply Early to Beat The Rush!<\/h2>\n<p>The Department of State expects record numbers of passport applications in 2017, which could lead to longer wait times, especially during busy seasons. \u00a0Save yourself a headache and apply early!<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re concerned, you can check their <a href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/passports\/en\/passports\/information\/processing-times.html\">current average processing times here.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Need to Get a Passport in a Hurry?<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4859 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/us-passport-boarding-pass-226x300.jpg\" alt=\"17403714872_ff68583d76_b\" width=\"226\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/us-passport-boarding-pass-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/us-passport-boarding-pass-768x1021.jpg 768w, https:\/\/d2qea59vi8or.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/us-passport-boarding-pass.jpg 770w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px\" \/><\/h2>\n<p>For an extra $60, you can request expedited service at the post office or by mail. Normally, this will get \u00a0your passport back \u00a0in your hands within 2-3 weeks, depending on how busy the passport office is.<\/p>\n<p>If you need it sooner, you have two options: make an appointment at the nearest Regional Passport Agency (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/find-your-closest-regional-passport-agency\/\">see here<\/a>), or use a third-party expediter like RushMyPassport.<\/p>\n<p>If you aren&#8217;t eligible to apply by mail, you&#8217;ll still have to go to the post office to get your signature witnessed and your documents &#8220;sealed.&#8221; But instead of getting your passport back in 2-3 weeks, you can get your application processed in as little as one business day.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4840 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Pro-Tip.png\" alt=\"Pro Tip\" width=\"105\" height=\"35\" \/>If you don&#8217;t have a moment to spare and you can&#8217;t (or don&#8217;t want to) make it to a Passport Agency office, an expediting service can be a lifesaver! \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re in a hurry, we can help. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/\">Check out our passport services<\/a> or contact us today!<\/p>\n<p>Photo credits:\u00a0<span class=\"ccIcn ccIcnSmall\"><a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\"><\/a><\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" title=\"Attribution License\">Some rights reserved<\/a> by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/damian613\/\">Damian613<\/a>,\u00a0<span class=\"ccIcn ccIcnSmall\"><a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\"><\/a><\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" title=\"Attribution License\">Some rights reserved<\/a> by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/diversey\/\" id=\"yui_3_11_0_3_1480515992716_328\">Tony Webster<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>*The passport fees have recently changed. As of April 2nd, 2018, the passport acceptance fee has gone up from $25 to $35. &nbsp; Need to get a passport? Not sure how to get started? At RushMyPassport, we&#8217;ve spent almost a decade making it easier and faster to get a passport for customers around the country. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":25823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[408,409,89,274,6],"class_list":["post-4838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to","tag-how-to-get-a-passport","tag-how-to-get-a-passport-in-2017","tag-new-passport","tag-passport-applications","tag-passport-renewal"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4838"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4838\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42159,"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4838\/revisions\/42159"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}