How Valuable is Your US Passport?

So, you’ve decided to finally get your first passport, or are already the proud owner of one and used it to travel the world. Congratulations. Since 2005, over ten million US passports have been issued every year, yet only about a third of Americans have one.

 

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How Valuable is Your US Passport?

The US Passport is certainly in the top twenty out of the 200+ national passports in existence, offering access to 155 countries without a visa. Granted, this number changes year by year; in 2012, Americans could visit 166 countries visa free. Yet there are a few countries giving its citizens greater access to the world. Germany, for one, can visit a number of South Pacific island nations without a visa – though Americans can generally get ones on arrival.

These statistics are only used to determine accessibility by tourists. When working visas become part of the equation, we see a different picture. Take the United Kingdom. Citizenship to the UK includes EU citizenship – for now, anyway – giving the British the ability to work in 28 countries across Europe without a permit. US passport holders have working holiday visa (WHV) relationships with certain countries, but in this regard, other nationalities also have greater access, with Canada, Australia, and New Zealand leading the pack. Americans can work in only five countries with a WHV: Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, and Ireland.

One of the Most Wanted Passports in the World!

Despite these shortcomings, however, being a US citizen is clearly more conducive to traveling without restrictions than those in developing nations and even some European countries. Our economic status and reciprocal relationship with tourists affords us that right.

When do I sign my application?

If you are filling out a DS-11 you can only sign the letter when instructed to do so by the Acceptance Agent at the time of execution. Please do not sign it beforehand or else you will have to fill out another application.

For all other forms applications (DS-82, 5504, etc.) you can sign them at any time. They do not have to be signed in front of any specific government agent.

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What do I put as the courier company on the authorization letter?

Our company, Travel Visa Pro, is the courier company that you are authorizing to submit your application. Please do not leave the line blank or write ‘FedEx’, ‘UPS’, etc. otherwise you will have to send in another letter. We cannot write in the courier company for you as the letter MUST be completed by the applicant and the applicant only. The State Department does not accept scans, faxes, or photocopies of the letter and take the authorization very seriously.
 

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Who fills out and signs the authorization letter?

If the applicant is 16 years or older then they must complete and sign the letter themselves. Only the applicant is allowed to fill out the letter, it cannot be filled out for them.

If the applicant is 15 years or younger then the parents must complete the letter. Both parents must also sign it, even if you are using a DS-3053 statement of consent.

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I have or am in the process of changing my gender, how do I get a passport?

If you are in the process of or have had clinical treatment for a gender transition, please note that you must apply using the DS-11. Your supporting documentation should include the following, in addition to the normally required documents:

  • ID that resembles your current appearance
  • Passport photo that resembles your current appearance
  • Proof of legal name change (if applicable)
  • A physician statement that validates that you have either completed or are in process of treatment for gender transition

Physician’s Statement

The signed original statement from the attending medical physician must be on office letterhead and include:

  • Physician’s full name
  • Medical license or certificate number
  • Issuing state or other jurisdiction of medical license/certificate
  • Address and telephone number of the physician
  • Language stating that he or she is your attending physician and that he or she has a doctor/patient relationship with you
  • Language stating you have completed or are in process of appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition to the new gender (male or female)
  • Language stating “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the forgoing is true and correct.”

Description of specific treatments is not required. However, the certification from a licensed physician, who has treated the applicant or reviewed and evaluated the medical history of the applicant regarding the change in gender, shall be based on the physician’s judgment regarding the applicant’s treatment needs, and made in accordance with standards and recommendations of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), recognized as the authority in this field by the American Medical Association (AMA).

If you have completed your transition, you will be issued a fully valid 10 year passport. If you are currently in process of transitioning, you will only be issued a limited validity 2 year passport, which can be extended once your transition is complete.

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What if I can’t provide my birth certificate?

  • If this is your first time applying for a passport you must contact the Vital Statistics office in the state where you were born to order a birth certificate.
  • If you were issued a passport in the past, you can use the old passport as proof of citizenship
  • If you were issued a passport in the past but you cannot provide the old passport, you can pay the State Department an additional $150 for a File Search. The File Search fee must be made with a separate check or money order.

 

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Do I have to provide proof of travel?

In order to expedite any passport applications, the State Department requires proof of travel within two weeks or four weeks if you need a visa. Proof of travel includes a flight itinerary, hotel reservation, cruise ticket, etc. You can also provide a letter from your employer if you need a passport expedited for work. If you are renewing your passport or are applying for a second passport, we can process your application without proof of travel. If you have to have your application executed by an Acceptance Agent (i.e. New, Lost, or Child Passports), you MUST show proof of travel to the Agent or else they will not execute your application per their regulations. If you cannot proof of travel or cannot book anything without a valid passport number, there is a letter of explanation found on our website that you can fill out to explain your current circumstance and need for expedited processing.

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I have a passport card, but have not been issued a passport book, how do I apply for a book?

  • If your card has ten year validity you can apply for a book with a DS-82 and instead of providing a book to be renewed, you would use your passport card. Both will be returned when the new book is issued.
  • If your card has only five year validity, you will have to apply for a book with a DS-11 and have your documents executed by an Acceptance Agent as outlined in our New Passport section.

 

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I applied for a passport card, why wasn’t it returned with my new passport?

Passport cards take an additional 2-3 weeks to process and will be sent directly from the State Department to the mailing address provided on your application.

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Will I receive back any original documents that were provided with my application (i.e. birth certificate, marriage certificate, court order, divorce decree, expired passport, etc)? Why can’t I just provide copies?

The State Department does not accept photo or notarized copies of any official, government, or court issued documents. They must be certified copies issued by the appropriate authority. All original documents will be returned along with your new passport. Any previous passports must be submitted in order to be officially cancelled. The old passport will be returned along with the new one.

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