Passport Name Change Application - It Is Not A Pain

If you are a passport holder who has recently changed your name because you either got married or because of a court order, then you’ll need to have a passport name change. This is the kind of procedure you need to go through so that your new name will be reflected on your passport. In this article, we’ll show you the options that you have to get a US passport name change.

Before you apply for a passport name change, you first need to verify when your passport was issued. That’s because the type of procedure you’ll follow will depend on the date of issuance of your passport. To verify the date, all you need to do is check your passport where your personal details are found.

If your passport application was issued within one year, then you will be required to submit the following documents: your current and valid passport, two recent color passport photos, and the legal document that shows your change of name. This will either be your marriage contract or a court order. What you will submit naturally depends on what’s applicable to you. Along with these requirements, you’ll also need to accomplish Form DS-5504. This is the form you fill in when applying for a passport name change.

Keep in mind that there are no fees to have your passport processed if it is less than a year old. However, there will be applicable fees should you decide to have the process expedited. Expediting your passport application can cut your waiting time from four to six weeks in routine processing to just two to three weeks. So if you need to have your passport sooner than later, then have your passport name change expedited.

Meanwhile, if your passport was issued more than a year ago, then you will submit a slightly different set of documents. In this procedure, you will submit: your current and valid passport, two recent color passport photos, documents that prove your name change (i.e. your marriage contract or a court order). These are basically the same documents you submit in the previous option.

However, instead of the DS-5504, you will submit form DS-82. This is the form that you use when applying for a passport application by mail. Also, you will need to pay the applicable fees to have your passport processed.

There are times when those applying for a passport name change don’t have the legal documents to prove it. If you’re in a similar situation, you’ll need to submit a different set of requirements: your current and valid passport, two recent color passport photos, the completed Form DS-11, and pay the applicable fees. In place of the legal document normally required, you will need to submit three public records with your date and place of birth and that indicates the exclusive use of your new name for at least five years. You will then have to submit these requirements in person once you accomplish them.

When applying for a us passport name change, the ones we discussed above are the options available to you. Once you have determined them, you’ll then know what kind of option you have to choose.

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