New Passport (Under 16)

 You are applying for a NEW U.S. passport because:

-this is your first time applying for a U.S. passport

-you are a minor under age 16

---

#1 – Collect documents for the Acceptance Agent

Your first step will be to collect the necessary documents for submission to an Acceptance Agent.  Many U.S. Post Offices, courthouses, and public libraries act as an Acceptance Agent for the U.S. Passport Agency.   Click here for a list of Acceptance Agents closest to your location.  Be sure to call the location for specific hours and procedures for each facility.

The items you must bring to the Acceptance Agent are listed below.  You must appear in personbefore the Acceptance Agent because you will be sworn in and sign your application in front of the agent.  Also, BOTH parents or legal guardian MUST appear in person with the child.  You must inform the Acceptance Agent that you will be using an expediting service who will hand deliver your expedited application to the U.S. Passport Agency in Washington, D.C.  They will authenticate your documents, have you sign in their presence and place all the items in a sealed envelope.  THIS SEALED ENVELOPE CANNOT BE OPENED!  Please be sure to take the sealed envelope with you when you leave the Acceptance Agent.  This is what you will ship to us to submit on your behalf at the U.S. Passport Agency.

 

Required Documents:

1. Proof of Citizenship

In order to prove your child’s citizenship, you must have an original or certified copy of his/her birth certificate, or naturalization papers.  If you are unable to obtain your child’s birth certificate, you may obtain a certified copy from the state where he/she was born, or you can go to www.vitalchek.com  to obtain information about ordering a certified copy of their birth certificate.

 

2. Proof of Identity

Each parent or legal guardian MUST appear with the child in person to submit the required documents and passport application.  Both parents are valid ID.  Acceptable forms of ID are:

1. Valid State issued Driver’s license (with photo)
2. State issued ID (more than 6 months old)
3. Military ID
4. Official Government ID

 

The Acceptance Agent will witness the signature of both parents or legal guardian and the child.  The parents name MUST appear on the birth certificate.  If you are the child’s legal guardian, you must bring the required, notarized court-ordered, original documentation that grants you permission to act on the child’s behalf.  If only one parent can appear before the Acceptance Agent, the absent parent must submit a written, signed and notarized Statement of Consent DS-3053.  This notarized statement gives authorization (from the absent parent) to issue the child a passport.  This authorization is strictly enforced for the protection of the child.

3. State Department Application

The U.S. Passport Agency will not accept hand written applications.  You need to go to the State Department’s website ( www.travel.state.gov ), enter your information onto the application (DS-11) and click “Create Form” which prepares the application for printing.  You will print two (2) copies of the application.  The form has a 2-D barcode which the State Department can scan into their database.  DO NOT SIGN THE APPLICATIONS AFTER YOU PRINT THEM.  You will sign the application in front of the Acceptance Agent.  CLICK HERE for the DS-11 application.

4.  Passport Photos

You must submit two (2) identical passport sized (2” x 2”) photos.  Please do not attempt to take your own passport photos.  They can be rejected for many reasons.  Most pharmacies, photo studios or FedEx offices can take quality photos for you.  Photo requirements are:

-white background

-full face, front view

-photos must be identical and taken in the last 6 months

-do not wear a head covering unless for religious reasons (please provide explanation)

-wear normal daily attire (No uniforms, costumes, etc.)

-if you normally wear a wig or glasses you may wear them for the passport photo

 5. Proof of Departure

You will need to submit a copy of your travel itinerary or airline tickets showing the date you will be departing the U.S. for international travel.  Omit if you have no current travel plans.

 6. Beltway Visa and Passport – Passport Authorization Form

This form gives Beltway Visa and Passport permission to submit, on your behalf, the sealed envelope at the U.S. Passport Office in Washington, D.C. for expedited service.  It must beoriginal signature in blue ink!  Please CLICK HERE and fill out two (2) copies.  Give one to the Acceptance Agent to put inside your sealed envelope.  You will ship the second copy to Beltway Visa and Passport along with your other documents.  We will provide it to the U.S. Passport Office when we submit your application materials.

#2 – Ship Documents to Beltway Visa and Passport for service

Once you have completed your visit to the Acceptance Agent and you have been given the sealed envelope, you are ready to proceed.  You should ship the following to us:

 

1. Beltway Visa and Passport – Passport Order  Form

This is a one page form you should include with your documents.  It should NOT be given to the Acceptance Agent and should NOT be put inside the sealed envelope.  It is your opportunity to let us know exactly what type of service you need, provide travel dates, special instructions, shipment information and payment information.  The U.S. Passport Office will charge a fee of $140 for new passports for minors under age 16.  Some Acceptance Agents collect U.S. Passport fees from you directly and some expect us to pay on your behalf at the U.S. Passport Agency.  Either method is acceptable.  Please indicate on your order form whether your fees were collected by the Acceptance Agent so we don’t pay a second time.  CLICK HERE for our Order Form.  Please note that our service fee for our agent to expedite your passport request is in addition to fees collected by the U.S. Passport Agency.  Beltway Visa and Passport expediting fees are:  $150 per passport for 5 day service and $200 per passport for next-day service.

 

2. Beltway Visa and Passport – Passport Authorization Form

You have already printed out two (2) copies of the Passport Authorization form.  The first copy you provide to the Acceptance Agent who will put it inside the sealed envelope they provide to you.  The second copy you provide to us to submit when processing. Please CLICK HERE to fill out the authorization form.  

 

3. Sealed envelope from the Acceptance Agent

Please DO NOT open the sealed envelope!  Ship it to us as you receive it from the Acceptance Agent.

 

4, Shipping Address

Beltway Visa and Passport, LLC

3421 Wake Drive

Kensington, MD 20895

Please ship to us by a means that is traceable.  We suggest FedEx, UPS, or Express mail.

It is not advisable to send your passport or vital records through regular service via the U.S. Postal Service.

 

5. Call Us

Please call us at 1-888-698-1703 to let us know your documents are on the way and by what method they will be arriving.  We will look out for them and call with any questions upon arrival.