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Read This if You Want to Know How to Get a USA Passport Name Change

Last Updated on Wednesday, 31 December 1969 15:59 Written by Ben Pate Friday, 01 January 2010 10:31

Learning how to get a American 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 name change.

Learning how to get a American 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 name change.

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.

Now let's talk about the first type of procedure. In case your passport was issued over a year ago, you are required to apply for a new one by mail. There are several requirements that will enable you to do this. The following requirements are: your current passport, two recent color photographs of yourself, the DS-82 form that you have filled in, plus the original or at least a certified copy of the legal document that proves your name change. Depending on your case, it will either be your marriage contract or the court order on your change of name. Also, you will be required to pay a certain fee for this type of procedure.

Now what if your passport was issued within one year? You will have to fulfill a slightly different set of requirements in that case. These requirements are: your latest passport, two recent photos, the supporting legal documents such as the ones mentioned in the last paragraph, and the DS-5504 form for your passport name change.

In the case of passports that were issued less than a year ago, applicants are not required to pay any fee. If, however, you choose to have your application expedited, then you will have to pay an additional fee. The US Department of State recommends expedited passports for anyone who intends to leave within the next 10 weeks. Currently, it takes around two to three weeks to process an expedited passport.

There are instances where applicants who apply for a Pass port 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.

When filing out a DS-11 form, the passport office requires you to submit this and the other supporting documents in person. And since the office might be far from where you live, it pays to ensure that you have filled in all the information and have all the documents you need before proceeding. This will save you a lot of time.