New Passport (16+)

• You are applying for a NEW U.S. passport because:
• this is your first time applying for a U.S. passport OR
• your expired U.S. passport is not in your possession OR
• your expired U.S. passport was issued more than 15 years ago OR
• your expired U.S. passport was issued when you were 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 person before the Acceptance Agent because you will be sworn in and will sign your application in front of the agent.  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 items in a sealed envelope.  THIS SEALED ENVELPOE 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

You must have an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, naturalization papers or old passport.  If you do not have your birth certificate, you can obtain a certified copy from the state where you were born.  You can also go to vitalchek.com to get information regarding ordering certified copies of birth certificates.

2. Proof of Identity

Acceptable forms of ID include:

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

3. State Department Application

The U.S. Passport Agency will not accept hand written applications.  You need to go to the State Departments website (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 APPLCATIONS 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 office can take quality passport photos for you.  Photo requirements are:

-White background

-Full face, front view

-photos must be identical and taken in the last six 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 be original 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 to Beltway Visa along with your other documents.  We will provide that 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 which 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 $170 for a new passport.  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 the 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 in step one above.  The first copy you provide 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 vie 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 which method they will be arriving.  We will look out for them and call with any questions upon arrival.