When to Apply For a Passport in Person

Having a passport in this day and age is extremely important. Even if you are not planning on traveling abroad, having a passport is great to use as identification as well as being useful for many other purposes. Receiving yours is not too difficult, but it can be time consuming. Knowing what to expect beforehand will go a long way in assuring you do not have your well laid out plans ruined by not having what you need when you need it the most.

Applying for a passport can be accomplished by many means. However, there are times and circumstances where applying in person is essential. If you do not know when you need to apply in person, you may have a rude awakening when your timely acquisition of yours is delayed which will also delay any plans.

Take a look at a few times it is essential and necessary to apply for your passport in person.

Is this the first time you are applying for one?

If you are a first timer, you will need to apply in person. There are verifications and documents you must have on hand to insure the legality and accuracy of your passport. Even infants needs to have his or her own passport. Wow!

Was your last passport stolen, damaged, or lost?

This is a document that says a lot about you, and in the wrong hands, can ruin a life. If you lose, damage, or have yours stolen, report it immediately. Do not hope it will miraculously turn up in the following days or weeks. You will need to apply for a new on in person.

Did your lost US passport expire or was it issued more than 15 years ago?

You can renew yours if you do not wait until it is too late and you are over the age of 16 years old. If you wait too long or have not been in to apply in person for 15 years, you need to take a fresh visit to the local department to get a new one.

Did you recently get married, divorced, or have your name change for any reason?

When it comes to a name change, there is documentation you will need to provide to get that passport issued with your new name. This documentation must be delivered in person.

Is the passport for someone under the age of 16?

Minors are required by law to always appear in person to receive a new or renew a current passport. This is for many reasons including but not limited to the fact the image will change drastically from one year to the next. In addition, a guardian's signature is required.

Another fact to keep in mind is that if you owe back child support, have any type of warrant, or are out on bond, you may find it difficult to get a US passport. Remember, staying legal is important, and when you are ready to travel or just want to have the safety of having your own passport, there are viable options that make the process go smoothly.