American Passport Name Change - It Should Not Be A Struggle

You need to apply for a passport name change if you've had a change of name after you received your current passport. This change of name could either be due to your marriage or a court order. The us passport name change will then have to be made so that your new name would be reflected on your passport. There are different procedures you can go through when applying for this, all of which will depend on the date your passport was issued, and the legal documents you have to prove your name change. More of this as we go along this article.

But first of all you need to consider when your passport was issued. This is important because those who have passports that are less than a year old need to go through a different procedure as those whose passports were issued more than a year ago. How do you know when your passport was issued? It is clearly indicated on your passport along with your personal details.

Now, onto the first option. If your pasport was issued within one year, here are the requirements you need to fulfill: present your current and valid passport, two recent color passport photos, as well as the legal documents that prove your name change. These will either be a court order or a marriage certificate, depending on what's applicable to you. Then finally, you also have to accomplish Form DS-5504, the form you fill in when applying for a passport name change.

You won't have to pay any fees when going through this type of application. This is unless you choose to have your application expedited, which does come with a fee. An expedited passport application is the option you need if you want to cut the processing time of your passport from four to six weeks to just two to three.

Now let's talk about the other option you have. If your passport was issued more than a year ago, here are the things you need to submit: your current and valid passport, two recent color passport photos, the legal document that shows your change of name (again, your marriage contract or a court order). You will notice that these are basically the same documents required in the first 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 instances where applicants cannot legally document their name change. If this situation applies to you, then you will be required to submit the following documents: your current and valid passport, 2 recent color passport photos, the completed Form DS-11, plus the applicable fees. On top of those requirements, you will also have to submit three public records that show your date and place of birth and that indicates the exclusive use of your new name for at least five years. Once you have accomplished these requirements, you will then need to submit them in person to your nearest passport office.


Basically, those are the options you have when it comes to applying for a United States passport name change. Once again, you need to verify the date when your passport was issued, and also be able to provide the supporting documents that may be required of you.
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