Travel Tips

If you are the current holder of a valid passport and either got married or had your name changed legally, then chances are you want to know to get a passport. This is the type of procedure needed by anyone who has a passport and had a change of name recently. This procedure is done to let the passport reflect such a change.

You have several options when applying for a passport name change. The first two are based on the issuance date of your passport. If your passport has been issued less than a year ago, you will go through a different procedure from those who had their passports issued over a year ago. So to find out what procedure suits you, check the date of issuance on your current passport.

Now let’s talk about the first type of procedure. In case your passport was issued over a year ago, you are required to apply for a new one by mail. There are several requirements that will enable you to do this. The following requirements are: your current passport, two recent color photographs of yourself, the DS-82 form that you have filled in, plus the original or at least a certified copy of the legal document that proves your name change. Depending on your case, it will either be your marriage contract or the court order on your change of name. Also, you will be required to pay a certain fee for this type of procedure.

There are other requirements if your passport was issued within the last year. Make sure you check the date your passport was issued before proceeding. If it was indeed issued within the last year, you will need to submit the following requirements: your latest validated passport, two recent color photos of yourself, the form DS-5504 for your application of a passport name change, and then the supporting legal documents that evidence your name change.

You don’t have to pay any fee if you’re applying for a passport name change if your passport is only a year old. However, there will be an applicable fee should you choose to have your application expedited. This is recommended to anyone who needs to leave the country in less than 10 weeks. So if this situation applies to you, have it expedited.

There are instances where applicants who apply for a name change do not have the required documents needed, such as the marriage contract and the court order. If this situation applies to you, you shouldn’t worry because you still have an alternative option. This third option requires you to submit a DS-11 form for a passport application, two ID pictures, and your latest passport, as well as pay the applicable fee. Aside from these requirements, you will also need to present three public records with the date and place of birth that indicate the use of your current name for the last five years.

Since you are filling in form DS-11, you will be required to submit in person the last set of requirements we mentioned. It therefore pays to ensure that you have all the requirements ready before going to the passport agency or acceptance facility nearest you. Doing this will help you save a lot of time.

So, if you want to know how to get a US Pass Port Name Change, then we’ve covered that in this article. Just make sure you find out what your situation is before you proceed with your American Passport application. Aside from that, be thorough in ensuring that you have all the necessary documents filled in or attached before mailing or submitting them.

Comments are closed.