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REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
U.S. Passports
U.S. citizens should have a valid passport before taking up
residence abroad. Once living overseas, Americans should continue
to maintain a valid passport.
Applying in Person for a Passport
In the United States, application for a U.S. passport may be
presented in person at a passport agency or at one of the several
thousand Federal or state courts or post offices which accept
passport applications. If you are overseas, you may apply at the
nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. U.S. citizens who cannot apply
by mail (see requirements below) must appear in person and need
to bring proof of U.S. citizenship such as a certified copy of
their birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of
a U.S. Citizen, a Certificate of Naturalization, or a previous
U.S. passport. This should be accompanied by a completed DSP-11,
Passport Application, two recent 2x2 inch identical photographs,
proof of identity (a valid driver's license or other valid photo
ID will suffice), and the appropriate application fee. Click
here to see a chart of passport fees.
For more information on obtaining a U.S. passport, obtain a
copy of the publication Passports: Applying for Them the Easy
Way. This brochure provides basic information on applying for
a U.S. passport, and is available for 50 cents from the Consumer
Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009.
Passports-by-Mail
You can apply for a passport by mail (without a personal appearance)
if you meet the following requirements:
-- You have had a passport issued within 12 years prior to the
date of a new application;
-- You are able to submit your most recent U.S. passport with
your new application; and
-- Your previous passport was issued on or after your 16th birthday.
For further information and to obtain Form DSP-82, Application
for Passport by Mail, contact the nearest U.S. passport agency
or, if you are overseas, consult the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Not all embassies and consulates abroad are authorized to accept
passport applications by mail or via a third party courier. Contact
the U.S. embassy or consulate in your consular district to find
out if it accepts passport applications by mail or via a third
party courier.
Your previous passport, two identical photographs (2"x2"), and
the appropriate passport fee must accompany your application.
Click
here to see a chart of passport fees. Since it may take several
weeks to prepare and mail your new passport to you, do not wait
until it expires to apply for a new one.
Visas
All governments require foreigners to have an appropriate visa
to reside in their country. This endorsement or stamp placed in
your passport by a foreign government permits you to enter that
country for a specified purpose. If you are planning to reside
in a country for an indefinite period of time, most countries
will require you to seek residence status. See the section on
Citizenship to learn what effect this may have on your U.S. citizenship.
Applying for a Visa
In most instances you must obtain the necessary visa before
you leave the United States. Apply for your visa directly from
the embassy or nearest consulate of the country in which you plan
to reside. A listing of foreign embassies and consulates in the
U.S. should be available at your local library or by ordering
the publication Foreign Consular Offices in the United States
from the U.S. Government Printing Office. You can write or call
them at Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, D.C. 20402; telephone (212) 512-1800 to check
pricing and stock information.
Work Permits
A work permit is usually required and is a separate document
from your visa or residency permit. It is necessary if you plan
on working in a foreign country. It may be obtained either before
you leave the U.S. or after you arrive in the foreign country,
depending on the laws of the particular country. It is usually
applied for at the same time as the residency permit or visa.
(Note: The Department of State cannot help you obtain visas or
work permits.)
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