Getting a Passport for the First Time

A passport is a document which allows a person to travel abroad and re-enter his own country. A passport gives you an identity as a citizen of a particular country. This makes the passport an important document which is needed not just by adults, but also for newborns whose parents want to take them abroad. However, many people get confused when it comes to applying for a passport because there are many forms to be filled and many documents to be attached. This is true, especially if the person has not applied for a passport before. To get over this dilemma, it is important to understand the process of getting your first passport.

How to Get a Passport for the First Time
If you are applying for a US passport for the first time, it is mandatory that you should do so in person. Also, people whose passport has been issued more than fifteen years ago have to go in person to get a passport. Apart from this, if the person's passport has been damaged, stolen or lost, it is important for him/her to reapply for it directly. This also applies to people who had applied for their passport before they turned 16. Nevertheless, if one is renewing their passport, it can be easily done through the Internet. So, if you are getting your passport for the first time, here are the steps that you have to follow.

Step #1
The first step of getting your first passport is to fill the passport application form which is also called Form-DS 11. You can find the passport application form at any passport agency or also at the post office. Another option would be to download the passport application form from the Internet. Once you get the form, complete the whole thing carefully without making any mistakes. If you make any mistake while filling the form, you will have to repeat the whole process again.

Step #2
The next step is to collect documents which prove that you are the citizen of the country. For this, you will require your birth certificate as well as certificate of citizenship. If you were born in another country and acquired citizenship of the US later, you have to produce the records of birth abroad as well as the certificate of naturalization. Apart from these documents, you may also need to produce a valid photo identity card like driver's license, Military ID or maybe Government ID. However, if you do not have any of the above identity cards, you are allowed to produce your social security card, library card, or credit card. In this case, you have to bring a person with you who has known you for at least two years. This person should be a citizen of US and also should have a relevant ID card.

Step #3
Once you have gathered all the necessary documents, the next step you have to do for obtaining a passport for the first time, is to get two photographs of yourself. The photographs required for passport application should be 2x2 inches in size and has to be identical. The photographs should not be older than six months and should have the view of your entire face. The background of the photo should be nothing but white or off white. Though you should avoid wearing a hat while taking a passport photo, you should wear your eye glasses, if you use them regularly.

Step #4
After you have submitted the required documents, you have to pay the fee for getting your passport for the first time. The total fees for getting a passport can be anywhere between 80 USD to 100 USD. Actually, the fees for a person who is above the age of 16 is 96 USD, while for one who is below the age of 16, the fee for getting a passport is 82 USD. However, you will have to pay extra 60 USD for getting a passport quickly. Another thing that you have to remember is your social security number. Though you do not need to provide this at the passport office, if you are not able to provide it when asked, you may have to pay 500 USD as fine.

Once you have completed the application process, you are likely to get your passport within two weeks. However, sometimes, unexpected delays occur and due to this, it may take more than 6 weeks for you to get your passport. Hence, if you are planning to go for a vacation abroad, it would be better to apply for your passport several months before the actual day of your departure to avoid the problems caused by the delay of obtaining your passport.