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16 May 2009
New Passports for Minors Under 16 Years |
To apply for a child passport, applicant must meet the following requirements: . -Applicant is a US citizen AND; -Applicant is less than 16 years old . Note: Children's passports can not be renewed. Regardless of previous issuance, all children must go through the new passport application process. . New US Passport Process Overview -Applicant and both parents or legal guardian(s) must gather documents listed below and make a personal appearance in front of an Acceptance Agent. . -An Acceptance Agent is a government employee who will verify the identity of the applicant and parents or legal guardian(s). -Acceptance agents are at designated Post Offices, Court Houses, and libraries. Click here to find a convenient Acceptance Agent location. -Applicant must indicate that he/she is using an expediting service to "hand carry" the passport application. The Acceptance Agent will have the applicant and parent sign the application and seal all documents in an envelope and return the sealed envelope to parent or legal guardian. -Sealed envelope is forwarded to us for processing. . Note: If only one parent or legal guardian is available to appear in person, the government offers form DS-3053 which once executed allows for the parent or legal guardian to not appear in person. The consent statement must include the child's detailed information, the parent or legal guardians identification information (photo copies of identification are highly encouraged) and must be notarized. Only original copies are accepted. This requirement is strictly enforced to protect children. Click here to download Form 3053. |
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Items Required for Acceptance Agent (bring all with you) |
| .A. | Proof of Citizenship | |
You must have an original or certified copy of your child's birth certificate, naturalization papers or the old passport. If you do not have your child's Birth Certificate, you can obtain information about ordering a certified copy of your birth certificate here. | ||
| .B. | Parent's or Legal Guardian's Proof of Identity | |
In order to prove the parent's or guardian's identity to the Acceptance Agent, each parent or guardian will be required to show a current driver's license or state-issued identification. Official government or military picture identification, valid U.S. or foreign passport with photo, or an I.N.S. Alien Resident Card is also acceptable. | ||
| .C. | Passport Photos | |
You will be required to submit two (2) identical passport photographs. Photographs must be taken by a passport photographer with a size of 2"x 2". Homemade photos are not acceptable and most often cause a delay in passport issuance. | ||
| .D. | For Children Under 16 | |
For children under 16, you must be prepared to submit proof of parent's or legal guardian's relationship to the minor applicant. Note: Previous U.S. Passports are not acceptable as proof of relationship to the applying parent(s)/guardian(s). Parents or legal guardians applying for a child under 16 must submit an original or certified copy of one of the following: -Original or Certified U.S. Birth Certificate of the applicant (with parents' names); or -Certified Foreign Birth Certificate of the applicant (with parents' names and translation, if necessary); or -Report of Birth Abroad of the Applicant: Form FS-240 (with parents' names); or -Certification of Birth Abroad of the Applicant: Form DS-1350 (with parents' names); or -Adoption Decree of the Applicant (with adopting parents' names); or -Court Order Establishing Custody of the Applicant; or -Court Order Establishing Guardianship of the Applicant. NOTE: If the name of the parent/guardian is other than that on the document, evidence of legal name change is required. | ||
| .E. | DS-11 Application for a New Passport | |
Print two copies of the completed DS-11 form. Do not sign the DS-11 until you are instructed to do so by the Acceptance Agent. Give one DS-11 to the Acceptance Agent to be placed inside the sealed envelope. The second DS-11 is to be placed inside the shipping envelope to Us. | ||
| .F. | Government Fees | |
Please Be Prepared to pay two different fees, one to the U.S. Department of State for $140 and the second fee for, $25 payable to the courthouse or post office (the Acceptance Agent fee). Please include the parent or legal guardian's date of birth on the check. Do not use starter checks for new bank accounts. Although it is recommended that your check have your name pre-printed on it, if submitting a business check or someone Else's check, make sure to include your name, address and date of birth on the check. Money orders must contain your information on them. Please note: The fee for a passport for a child under 16 is $15 less than a passport issued for a person 16 or older. For persons under 16, the passport is valid for a 5 year period, whereas passports issued to persons 16 or older are valid for ten years.
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| .G. | Letter of Authorization (PRINT TWO) | |
Submit a Letter of Authorization giving Us the authority to submit your child's application and pick up your child's passport when issued. Provide two originally-signed Letters of Authorization - One copy should be inside the sealed envelope and one copy outside the sealed envelope. NOTE: Each copy MUST contain your original signature preferably in Blue Ink. Fax or photo copies of your signature are NOT acceptable - both letters must contain original signatures. | ||
| .H. | Proof of Departure | |
Submit a copy of your child's computer-generated itinerary or your E-ticket from an airline, travel agency, or online booking agency showing your child's departure date from the U.S. FAX or photocopies are acceptable. Please include one copy inside the sealed envelope and one copy outside of the sealed envelope. | ||
Order Form and Payment |
| .I. | Rush PVS Fees: | ||||||||||
Step 1.Please choose service below: NOTE: Please print out two (2) copies of purchase receipt. Keep one for your records and send one to us with all requirements.
Processing times are business days and do not include shipping time. Keep this in mind when placing your order. Orders are filled based on departure date. For example, a traveler leaving in 10 calendar days that selects 5 - 7 day service may experience fulfillment times of up to 11 calendar days including shipping. Step 2. CLICK HERE for Oder Form (Please include this order form with your documents as well for quick reference) | |||||||||||
Shipping Instructions |
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Only 10 min from the LA Passport Agency to expedite your application!!