What is a Passport Acceptance Agent fee?

As part of the process to get your first passport, replace your lost passport, or get a passport for your child, you will need to visit a Passport Acceptance Facility.  There you will have your passport application reviewed by a trained government employee. These Passport Acceptance Facilities are often located in Post Offices or courthouses, and sometimes in other government buildings like public libraries.

At the Passport Acceptance Facility, the Passport Acceptance Agent will check that you have completed your passport application correctly and supplied the right supporting documentation. They will also verify your identity by looking at your current driver’s license or other official ID. Finally, they will seal your passport application documents into an envelope that may only be opened by State Department personnel. This process is called “execution.”

The US State Department sets the fee for this service. For many years, the Passport Acceptance Agent fee was $25, but it will soon increase to $35.

Why has the government increased the Passport Acceptance Agent fee?

The US State Department first proposed the $10 increase in execution fees for passports in 2016. They periodically compile a report called a “Cost of Service Model.” The most recent Cost of Service Model showed that it was costing more in labor and overhead to provide the Passport Acceptance service. The $10 fee increase is meant to cover the expense of providing this service, not to provide a profit.

What types of passport service require a Passport Acceptance Agent fee?

You will need to visit a Passport Acceptance Facility and pay the Passport Acceptance Agent fee if you are applying for any of these types of passport service:

• New Adult Passport – This service is for travelers age 16 or over, who either have never been issued a passport as an adult, or whose most recent passport was issued more than 15 years ago.
• Minor Passport – Travelers under age 16 must use the minor passport procedure and visit a Passport Acceptance Agent, whether or not they have been previously issued a passport.
• Passport Replacement – If you need to replace a lost passport or a stolen passport, or if your current passport has been badly damaged, you’ll need to go to a Passport Acceptance Facility as part of the replacement process.

My whole family needs new passports. Do we each have to pay the Passport Acceptance Agent fee?

Yes, the Passport Acceptance Agent fee is charged for each traveler, not per family. That means that if you are visiting the Passport Acceptance Facility because you and your wife and three young children all need new passports, you will be charged five Passport Acceptance Agent fees, one for each of you.

Can I go to the Passport Acceptance Agent now to beat the fee increase, and send my passport application to G3 later?

It’s definitely a good idea to have your passport applications executed now, before the fee increases! However, you must send your sealed envelope with the passport application to G3 as soon as it is executed. Your passport application must be submitted to the Passport Agency within 5 business days of your visit to the Passport Acceptance Agent. If you wait too long to send it to G3, you will have to go back to the Passport Acceptance Facility and have your application re-executed… and you’ll have to pay the fee again!

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Passports for Study Abroad

No matter what type of educational experience you’ll have overseas, there’s one thing for certain: you are going to need to have a passport!  Any time you travel internationally by air, you must have a valid passport book.  If you don’t have a passport yet, G3 Passports can help you get one quickly.  Students age 15 and under will need to get a minor passport.  This type of passport is valid for five years, and requires the formal consent of both parents or legal guardians.  If you are 16 or over, you can get an adult passport valid for ten years.  There are some special requirements for passport applicants who are age 16 or 17… if that applies to you, check out our article for all the details.

Types of Study Abroad

Before we begin our discussion of visas for study abroad, let’s consider the different kinds of educational trips you might make.

• Enrolling in a foreign school or university.  You are attending an accredited school for a full term or longer. You’ll be earning credits toward graduating from the school in the foreign country.
• Participating in an educational exchange program.  You’ll remain officially enrolled in your school in the US, but you’ll travel overseas and attend classes at an accredited school in the foreign country.  The credits you’ll earn will count toward your graduation from the US school.
• Doing a semester abroad program. Much like an educational exchange program, you’ll remain enrolled in and earning credits from your school in the states.
• Taking classes at a non-accredited school.  Going to India for yoga teacher training?  Or to Thailand to study Thai massage?  Spending a month in Costa Rica taking Spanish classes?  These educational trips are different because you won’t be earning credits toward a high school, college, or higher degree.
• Taking a school trip. You’re making a short trip overseas with a school or club group.
• Participating in an amateur sports competition or artistic performance overseas. Your team has been invited to participate in an event overseas, but you won’t be earning any money or school credit for your participation.

Will You Need a Visa for Your Study Abroad?

Whether or not you’ll need a visa to study abroad will depend on a number of factors, including what country you’re going to, how long you’ll be there, and what kind of trip you’ll be making.  There’s no one-size-fits-all answer!  You may need a student visa, or a tourist visa, or possibly even no visa at all.  The visa experts at G3Visas.com can help you figure out if you will need a visa for your international educational adventure.

The post Get a Passport for Your Study Abroad appeared first on G3Passports.

How long will my new passport be valid?

Your new adult passport will be valid for ten years… or technically, ten years minus one day!  If your passport is issued on January 5, 2017, it will expire on January 4, 2027.

Although your passport will be valid for 10 years, we recommend that you don’t wait until the last minute to renew it.  Many countries require that you have at least six months validity remaining on your passport, so we suggest you renew your passport at least six months before it expires.

Do I have to submit my birth certificate to get a new passport?

An original copy of your birth certificate showing you were born in the US is a great way to prove your US citizenship when you apply for a new passport.  But there are other documents you can submit instead, such as your naturalization certificate or an old US passport.  Check out our article on proof of citizenship for more options and information.

Will I get my birth certificate back?

You might be worried about sending out your original birth certificate or naturalization certificate.  It is a valuable document!  But you will get it back when your new passport is issued.  One of the advantages of applying through G3Passports is that your original proof of citizenship will be sent back in the same FedEx package as your new passport.  If you apply for your passport directly through the Department of State, they mail back your birth certificate in a separate First Class envelope. You may need to wait a week or more for your proof of citizenship to show up!

What form is used to apply for a new passport?

You will use government form DS-11 to apply for your new passport.  This form is used for first-time applicants, minor applicants, and replacements of lost or stolen passports.  When you apply for expedited services through G3, you’ll need to fill out your DS-11 form online and print it out.  Check out our article to find out what information you’ll need to complete your application!

How can I get an appointment at a Passport Acceptance Facility?

Before you send your passport application to G3, you’ll need to go to a passport acceptance facility to have your new passport application sealed into an official envelope.  You can find locations near you at http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/.  This site will tell you whether the location you want to visit requires appointments.  If an appointment is needed, just call the phone number provided to schedule your visit.

Not all facilities require appointments.  In our experience, many acceptance facilities in government offices like Clerk of the Court offices provide walk-in service.  Most acceptance facilities in Post Offices do require appointments.

How quickly can I get a new passport?

With G3Passports.com, you can get a new passport in as little as two business days with our Mission Critical service!

Do you have any other passport questions?  Ask us below!

The post New Adult Passport Questions and Answers appeared first on G3Passports.

Birth Certificate Showing Birth in the US

For most travelers, the easiest way to prove US citizenship is to submit a birth certificate showing birth in the US.  Want to learn more?  We wrote a whole article about birth certificate requirements and how you can obtain an official copy of your birth certificate.

Expired US Passport

Are you going through the new adult passport process because your last passport was issued more than 15 years ago?  Good news — you don’t need to dig out your birth certificate.  Your expired passport can be used as your proof of citizenship!  Make sure you are still recognizable as the person in the passport photo on your old passport, though.  If you’re now 30 years old and your last passport was issued when you were 5, that’s not going to work.

Naturalization Certificate

Naturalized citizens can submit the original US naturalization certificate or a certified copy.  If you’ve lost your naturalization certificate or need to get a new copy, you can apply for a replacement using USCIS Form N-565. Replacement certificates cost $345… we recommend keeping yours in a safe place!

Certificate of Citizenship

Certificates of Citizenship are issued to people who were born overseas but acquired US citizenship through their parents.  This includes people who were born to US citizen parents abroad, as well as those who were adopted internationally by US citizen parents.  If you have a Certificate of Citizenship, you can submit your original certificate as proof of citizenship with your US passport application.  Replacement certificates can also be obtained by filing Form N-565.

Consular Record of Birth Abroad

Another proof of citizenship for people who were born to US citizen parents in a foreign country is the Consular Record of Birth Abroad.  The Consular Record of Birth Abroad is also known as the CRBA or Form FS-240. Your parents would have needed to register your birth at the US Embassy or Consulate in the location where you were born.  If you still have your original Consular Record of Birth Abroad, great!  If you need a replacement document, you can order one from the State Department for $50.

Certification of Report of Birth

Form DS-1350, the Certification of Report of Birth, is another proof of citizenship document that may be held by people born overseas to US citizen parents.  The US State Department stopped issuing these certificates in 2010, but if you still have your original DS-1350, you can submit it with your passport application to prove your US citizenship.

If you have an unusual citizenship situation, call G3 to talk to a Passport Specialist about what proof of citizenship you can use to get a passport!

The post Proof of Citizenship for Your New US Passport appeared first on G3Passports.

Parental Consent for Teenager’s Passports

Until your child’s 16th birthday, getting a US passport requires the specific consent of both parents.  You can give your consent for your child’s passport by accompanying your child to the Passport Acceptance Agent.  If both parents go in person to the Passport Acceptance Facility, great!  If one of you can’t go, you’d have to sign and notarize form DS-3053, the official Statement of Consent.

For teens age 16 and 17, full parental consent is not required.  What’s needed instead is called “parental awareness.”  16- and 17- year-olds need to show that their parents know that they have applied for a passport.  There are two ways to demonstrate parental awareness for your teenager’s passport request:

• Accompany your teen to the Passport Acceptance Agent.
• Write a letter addressed to “US Department of State, Passport Agency” stating that you wish for your child to be issued a passport.  This letter should be signed in ink.  Submit a copy of your passport or driver’s license along with the letter.

Under State Department regulations, teens age 16 or 17 only need to show parental awareness from one parent, but in our experience, it’s better to have it from both parents.  Some Passport Acceptance Agents are over-cautious and unwilling to execute passport applications from teens unless than have confirmation from both parents.

Identification Requirements for Teen Passport Applicants

When your teen goes to the Passport Acceptance Facility, they will need to show official identification. The following documents can all be used as proof of identity:

• State issued driver’s license
• State issued learner’s permit
• State issued non-driver ID
• Passport book (even if recently expired)
• Passport card (even if expired)

If your teen doesn’t have any of those official IDs, they will need to submit a combination of secondary forms of identification, such as a school ID card, Social Security Card, work ID card, health insurance card, or club membership card.

Passport Renewals for Teens

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a passport renewal for a teenager.  Even if your teen has a passport that was issued before he or she turned 16, it can’t be renewed.  Instead, the new adult passport process must be used.  Only passports that were issued after the applicant turned 16 can be renewed.

The good news is that you’ll only need to go through this once. By the time your teenager’s passport expires, he’ll be well over age 18 and able to get a new passport via the much simpler passport renewal process!

The post Teenager’s Passports: How to Get a New Passport for Teens Age 16-17 appeared first on G3Passports.

Birth Certificate Requirements for US Passports

You’ll need to make sure that the birth certificate you submit with your passport application meets all the following criteria:

• Issued by a US state, city, or territory.  You must submit a government-issued birth certificate.  Hospital-issued birth certificates or other commemorative certificates won’t work.
• Original document with a raised seal. When we say “original,” we don’t necessarily mean the very first copy that your parents got when you were a baby!  You need to submit a certificate issued by the government agency, with a raised seal.  Photocopies, scans, or photographs are not accepted.
• “Long Form” certificate showing your parents’ names.  Some states have an option for a “short form” or card-sized birth certificate.  These aren’t accepted for passport applications.  You need to have a “long form” certificate that shows your parents’ names.  (Don’t have a father listed?  That’s OK.  As long as the certificate has a space for the father’s name, it’s fine if that space has been left blank.)
• Shows birth in a US state, federal district, or territory. Yes, if you were born in Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands, you can use your birth certificate to get a US passport!

When you go to the Passport Acceptance Facility, the Passport Acceptance Agent will be checking your birth certificate to ensure it meets all these requirements.

How to Get Your Birth Certificate

It’s an important document… but that doesn’t mean it won’t get lost!  Many passport applicants have trouble locating their original birth certificate.  Luckily, there are a few simple ways to get an official copy.

• Visit the Vital Statistics Office in your state of birth. If you are still in your state of birth, you can go in person to the Vital Statistics Office.  For a small fee, they will print out original copies of your birth certificate for you.  You’ll need to have proof of identity, such as your driver’s license.  While you’re at it, you might as well get two copies of your birth certificate — most places give a discount if you get two copies, and both will be completely official original documents.
• Write to the Vital Statistics Office. Most locales allow you to order your birth certificate by mail.  Processing may take a while, so this is not the best option if you’re in a hurry to apply for your new passport!  Make sure to check the ordering instructions closely.  You may need to pay via money order, or submit a photocopy of your valid ID.
• Order your birth certificate online. You can order your birth certificate right now, without even leaving your chair!  VitalChek.com is a reputable website that works with US government agencies to get you your official birth certificate quickly and easily.

What If Your Name Has Changed?

Your birth certificate was issued when you were a newborn baby.  You’re applying for your first passport as an adult.  It’s quite likely that your legal name has changed!  If your name has legally changed through marriage, divorce, or court order, you’ll need to submit an original copy of the marriage certificate, divorce degree, or court order to prove your new legal name.

The post Get Your Birth Certificate for Your New Passport appeared first on G3Passports.

The fees for your new passport will be made up of several different parts:

• Execution Fee
• Passport Book Fee
• Government Fee for Rush Passport
• G3Passports Service Fee

Execution Fee

One of your first steps in getting a new passport will be to go to a Passport Acceptance Facility to have your application reviewed by a Passport Acceptance Agent.  Your passport application and supporting documents will be sealed into an official envelope that can only be opened by Passport Agency personnel.  This process is known as “executing” the application.  You’ll need to pay a $25 fee for this service, directly to the Passport Acceptance Facility.

Passport Book Fee

The main part of your passport fees is the government fee for your passport book.  For applicants age 16 and over, the US government charges a base fee of $110.  This actually contains two separate fees: $70 for the passport book fee and $40 for the Passport Book Security Surcharge.  This surcharge goes towards all of the enhanced security features that have been added to passports since 2006.  Those extra security features include RFID chips and the shiny polycarbonate coating over your passport information page.

Government Fee for Rush Passport

If you’re getting your passport with G3Passports.com, you’re getting your passport in a hurry!  The government charges an extra $60 for all passport books that need to be issued in less than three weeks.  Every service that we offer is a rush service that we hand-carry in to the Passport Agency for quick processing.  This is why the government passport book fee you see listed on our site is $170, because it includes the $60 government rush fee.

G3Passports Service Fee

When you apply through G3Passports.com, you’ll have three options for passport processing speed – fast, faster, and fastest!  We call these three speeds Expedited, Priority, and Mission Critical.  The service fees you’ll pay to G3 depend on what processing speed you choose:

• Expedited Service will have your passport completed in 7-10 business days, and has a service fee of $95.
• Priority Service will have your passport completed in 4-6 business days, and has a service fee of $185.
• Mission Critical Service will have your passport completed in no more than 2-3 business days, and has a service fee of $245.

You’ll also need to include a shipping fee in your payment to G3 — this covers the cost of sending your new passport to you via secure Federal Express delivery.

How to Pay Passport Fees

• Execution Fees are paid at the Passport Acceptance Agent.  Some locations accept credit cards, but most require that you pay by check.
• Government Fees of $170 are paid by check or money order payable to “US Department of State.”  You’ll need to have this check with you at the Passport Acceptance Agent.  Your check for government passport fees will be sealed in to your official envelope.
• G3 Service Fees are paid by credit card when you submit your order online.  Easy!

The post Understanding Passport Fees for New Passports appeared first on G3Passports.

You’ll need to complete your passport application online, on the State Department’s official application website. This will produce a PDF of your passport application that you can print out, with all your answers neatly typed in.  The application will also have a barcode that helps the Passport Agency process your application swiftly after G3passports.com carries it to the agency for you.  Once you start filling out the application online, you can’t stop and save a draft.  You’ll need to be prepared with all the required information!

Personal Information for the DS-11 Passport Application

You probably already know that you’ll need to fill in your full legal name and your birth date.  Here are other personal details you’ll need to submit:

• Your place of birth – city and US state, or state and country if you were born outside the US.
• Your email address and at least one phone number – you may list either a home, work, or mobile phone number. You can include several numbers if you like.
• Your Social Security Number – under a new federal law, you must include your Social Security Number or your application will automatically be rejected.
• Any former legal names, such as your maiden name or previous married name.  Do not list any nicknames, pen names, or religious names.
• Your home address – please note that although this will be listed as “mailing address” on the printed passport application, G3passports.com will be shipping your completed passport to whatever address you provide when you complete your order online.
• Your height, hair color, and eye color. We get a lot of questions about how to answer the hair and eye color questions!  The online application only gives you a small set of options on a drop-down menu for hair color and eye color, so you’ll have to choose whichever color seems the most appropriate.  Don’t worry too much about this question — we’ve never seen it cause a problem for travelers.
  • Your hair or eyes are an in-between color. Choose the color that seems the closest. For instance, if you have auburn hair, you can select either brown or red as your hair color.  The State Department will not reject your application if you say your hair is red and they think it looks more brown in the photo!
  • Your hair is currently dyed. You can list either your current dyed color or your natural color.  If your hair is an unusual color like pink or green, which isn’t offered as an option, select your natural color.
  • You’re bald. Select the hair color that matches your eyebrows or beard.
  • Your eyes are two different colors. List the color of one of your eyes.

Family Information for Your Passport Information

You’ll need to provide the following information about your family:

• Your father’s full name, place of birth, and date of birth.  Not sure of these details?  Check your birth certificate, they should be listed there.
• Your mother’s maiden name, place of birth, and date of birth.
• Information about your spouse.  If you are currently married, fill in information about your current spouse.  If you are widowed or divorced, you’ll need to provide the information about your most recent spouse. Of course, this information isn’t needed if you’ve never been married!
  • Your spouse’s full name
  • Spouse’s date of birth
  • Spouse’s place of birth (city and state, or city and country if your spouse was born overseas)
  • Whether or not your spouse is a US citizen
  • Date of your marriage
  • Date you were widowed or divorced, if applicable

Travel Information and Emergency Contact

Since you’re applying for expedited passport service through G3passports.com, you will need to fill in the details of your upcoming trip.  You’ll need to list the date you plan to travel and the countries you will visit.  If your plans aren’t firm, that’s OK — just list the earliest date you think you may travel.

You will also need to provide the contact information for a friend or relative who is not traveling with you.  This person will be listed as your emergency contact in the State Department’s records.  You’ll need to fill in the following details for your emergency contact person:

• Full name
• Home address
• Telephone number
• Relationship to you

Having trouble gathering all the details you need, or do you have more questions?  Reach out to one of our passport specialists, or ask us in the comments!

The post What Information Do You Need for Your New Passport Application? appeared first on G3Passports.

Resdesigned Information Page

Next Generation passports will feature a number of high-tech upgrades to the information page. The information page is the page that displays your photo, name, and other details. On Next Generation passports, it will be covered with a strong polycarbonate coating. This clear plastic coating will protect your passport from water damage. (Water damage to the information page is one of the top causes of passport mutilation.) The polycarbonate will also protect an embedded electronic chip. This chip will contain the same basic data as your information page. If your passport is ever stolen, it will prevent thieves from modifying your passport so someone else could use it.

If the polycarbonate coating and electronic chips aren’t enough, the State Department will also use lasers to customize the Next Generation passports. Each passport will have the passport number laser-engraved on the photo page and visa pages.

Upgraded Visa Pages

The State Department has promised upgraded artwork for the visa pages on Next Generation passports. Pages will be watermarked to prevent forgery. Some images on the pages will be printed with “tactile” ink that is raised up from the page. You’ll be able to feel the image if you run your fingers across the page! Other images will include “optically variable” ink that will change colors if you look at it from different angles.

The new Next Generation passports will also return to having page numbers printed on the visa pages. This is good news, and will make it easier to keep track of how many blank pages remain in your passport.

The State Department will continue to offer passports in two sizes: the standard 27 page book and the large 52 page book. There is no additional fee for the large book, but they are issued at State Department discretion and may not always be in stock at every Passport Agency.

We’re excited to get our first look at the new Next Generation passports. Are you?

The post “Next Generation” Passports to Launch This Summer appeared first on G3Passports.