Regardless of your country of origin, it is always a good idea to have a valid passport. For non-US citizens, a passport is imperitave for travel to the United States. For US citizens, a passport is required for foreign travel, but also serves as a valid form of identification. There are many passport services - here we present some common questions and answers, as well as links to valuable passport related resources.
- Where can I apply for a passport? You can apply for a passport at over 6,000 passport acceptance facilities nationwide that include many Federal, state and probate courts, many post offices, some libraries and a number of county and municipal offices. These designated acceptance facilities are usually more convenient because they are near your home or workplace
- When do I have to apply in person? You must always apply in person if you are not renewing a previous passport by mail.
- Where can I get passport forms? Passport acceptance facilities stock passport forms.You can also download forms online here
- When should I apply for a passport? Apply several months in advance of your planned departure. If you will need visas from foreign embassies, allow more time
- What should I do if my passport is lost or stolen? If your still valid passport is lost or stolen, you can report the loss when you apply for a new passport. In addition to Form DS-11, you will need to complete a Form DS-64, "Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport." You may also call 202-955-0430, which has voice mail for nonbusiness hours, Eastern Time. If you are abroad, immediately report the loss to local police authorities and the Consular Section of the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
- Do I need to get a passport for my child? Yes. All persons, including newborn infants, are required to obtain passports in their own names.
- How can I expedite the process of getting my passport.
If you are leaving on an emergency trip, apply in person at the nearest passport agency, presenting your tickets or airline-generated itinerary, as well as other required items listed in this publication. To ensure that customers with imminent travel receive their passports in time for their trips, many passport agencies are now operating by appointments and are generally serving only those leaving in less than 14 days. If you do not live near a passport agency, but your overnight delivery service is reliable, departures within 7 to 10 business days may often be accommodated by appointments at a nearby passport acceptance facility. You will need to pay the additional $60 fee for expedited service and include a self-addressed, prepaid, two-way, overnight delivery envelope. (We have found that for states not densely populated and/or far from our Pittsburgh, PA cashiering facility, overnight service is not always reliable.) For all those customers leaving within 6 or fewer business days, apply at a passport agency. Whichever way you apply, be sure to include your departure date and travel plans on your application.
Passport Agencies:
Boston Passport Agency
Thomas P. O'Neill Federal Building
10 Causeway Street,
Suite 247
Boston, MA 02222-1094
Chicago Passport Agency
Kluczynski Federal Building
230 S. Dearborn Street,
18th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604-1564
Connecticut Passport Agency
50 Washington Street
Norwalk, CT 06854
Honolulu Passport Agency
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Suite 1-330
Honolulu, HI 96850
Houston Passport Agency
Mickey Leland Federal Building
1919 Smith Street
Suite 1400
Houston, TX 77002-8049
Los Angeles Passport Agency
Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 1000
Los Angeles, CA 90024-3615
Miami Passport Agency
Claude Pepper Federal Office Building
51 SW First Avenue
3rd Floor
Miami, FL 33130-1680
New Orleans Passport Agency
One Canal Place (corner of Canal and North Peters Streets)
365 Canal Street, Suite 1300
New Orleans, LA 70130-6508
New York Passport Agency
376 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
Philadelphia Passport Agency
U.S. Custom House
200 Chestnut Street
Room 103
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2970
San Francisco Passport Agency
95 Hawthorne Street
5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105-3901
Seattle Passport Agency
Henry Jackson Federal Building
915 Second Avenue
Suite 992
Seattle, WA 98174-1091
Washington Passport Agency
1111 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
