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 two ways about getting your passport name changed if your name was changed legally (due to marriage or court order). What option is available to you is determined by the time when your latest passport was issued. Once you’ve determined that, you will need to submit the necessary documents that each option requires.
If your passport was issued over a year ago, you are required to apply for a passport name change through the mail. You will also need to submit the following requirements: your current valid passport, two recent color photographs of yourself, a certified or original copy of the document that proves your name change, as well as a completed DS-82 form. Take note that you will also have to pay an applicable fee for this kind of application.
Meanwhile, there’s another slightly different set of requirements if your passport is less than a year old. What you need to submit are: your latest passport, two copies of your recent ID picture, the supporting legal documents mentioned in the last paragraph, and the filled out DS-5504. This is the type of application you’ll fill in if you’re applying for a passport name change.
If your passport was issued less than a year ago, you will not be required to pay any fee whatsoever. You will, however, have to pay an additional fee if you take the expedited passport option. This is the option that you’re recommended to choose in case you need to leave the country within the next 10 weeks. Typically, expedited passports take two to three weeks to process.
The legal document that proves your name change is important when applying for a change in your passport name. However, in case you don’t have any of those documents, there’s an alternative way for you to apply for the change. This requires you to complete a DS-11 form, as well as submit your latest passport, two color photos, and pay the applicable fee. On top of these requirements, you will be required to provide three public records with your date and place of birth that shows you using your current name for at least the last five years.
When filing out a DS-11 form, the passport office requires you to submit this and the other supporting documents in person. And since the office might be far from where you live, it pays to ensure that you have filled in all the information and have all the documents you need before proceeding. This will save you a lot of time.
So, if you want to know how to get a US Passport 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 Pass Port application. Aside from that, be thorough in ensuring that you have all the necessary documents filled in or attached before mailing or submitting them.
