US Passport Name Change – Changing The Name On Your Passport Can Be Easier Than You’d Think
Learning how to get a passport name change is important if you want your passport to reflect the change in your name since your most recent passport. A name change applies when you get married (and have taken on a different surname), or your name has changed through a court order. In both instances, you will have to go through the passport office for this passport.
You have several options when applying for a passport name change. The first two are based on the issuance date of your passport. If your passport has been issued less than a year ago, you will go through a different procedure from those who had their passports issued over a year ago. So to find out what procedure suits you, check the date of issuance on your current passport.
The first option is when your passport was issued more than one year ago. If this is the case with your passport, you will have to apply for a new passport by mail. To do that, you will need to mail the necessary requirements: your latest validated passport, two recent color photographs of yourself, the fees that cover this application, the completed DS-82 form so you can apply for a passport by mail, and finally, the original or at least a certified copy of the document that proves your name was changed legally (a marriage contract or a court order, depending on your case).
Meanwhile, there’s another slightly different set of requirements if your passport is less than a year old. What you need to submit are: your latest passport, two copies of your recent ID picture, the supporting legal documents mentioned in the last paragraph, and the filled out DS-5504. This is the type of application you’ll fill in if you’re applying for a passport name change.
If your passport was issued less than a year ago, you will not be required to pay any fee whatsoever. You will, however, have to pay an additional fee if you take the expedited passport option. This is the option that you’re recommended to choose in case you need to leave the country within the next 10 weeks. Typically, expedited passports take two to three weeks to process.
There are instances where applicants who apply for a name change do not have the required documents needed, such as the marriage contract and the court order. If this situation applies to you, you shouldn’t worry because you still have an alternative option. This third option requires you to submit a DS-11 form for a passport application, two ID pictures, and your latest passport, as well as pay the applicable fee. Aside from these requirements, you will also need to present three public records with the date and place of birth that indicate the use of your current name for the last five years.
Filling in the Form DS-11 requires you to submit your application plus the supporting documents in person. Because of this, it’s very important that you check whether you have fulfilled every requirement even before you leave for the passport office. This saves you a lot of time.
If you want to know how to get a US Pass Port Name Change, it’s simple and straightforward. First, you’ll have to determine the age of your United States Passport, as well as the legal documents that you have with you. Once you have those, choose the appropriate procedure that suits you and proceed from there.
