How to Properly Apply for a Passport

       
 A passport has many great benefits.  Passports range in usage and can be the barrier in effective traveling or having valid proof of a photograph documentation to prove who you are legally. As you read this article my goal is to bring an awareness of What a passport actually is. Why you may need one? and How to properly obtain one in a timely manner.

The reason you may need Passport

It’s a legal ID

If you lose your driver’s license, your passport serves as a legal photo ID for any situation that might require one. (However, it does not prove your legal driving status, should you get pulled over on a driving violation.)

Adoptions

If you plan to adopt a child from another country, you cannot visit or pick up the child from their country without a valid passport.

Gives you a peace of mind in the time of emergency

Knowing that you have a valid passport can provide peace of mind. For instance, if there’s an emergency and a family member or friend needs your help, you know that you already have the documentation you need to board a plane to wherever they are. (Do keep in mind that some countries require visas, which you might need in addition to your passport.)

New job 

If you are hired for a new job, you need to complete employment verification forms and produce documentation. A passport is one of the best documents for establishing your identity and employment eligibility. With this photograph id you can obtain employment until the other forms of identification come in.

Process streamlining

If you might need to travel to a country that requires a visa, you have even more incentive to get your passport now. Obtaining a visa is a separate process, so if you already have your passport, there’s less paperwork to worry about. But if you have to wait at least six weeks to get a passport and then have to apply for a visa, it could be a very long wait.

International flights may require one

If you plan to travel by plane, even if it’s a domestic flight within the United States, you will need a passport to board starting in 2018 if your state driver’s license doesn’t meet federal requirements. Wait times for passport application processing will likely increase as we get closer to that looming deadline, so it makes sense to apply for your passport now.

 Things you  will need to help apply for a passport

. You will need to provide some basic information, most of which you should have readily available. This includes the applicant’s:
• full legal name;
• previous name(s), if any
• date and place of birth
• contact information
• mailing address and permanent residence
• parental or legal guardian information
• spousal information, if any
• emergency contact
• travel plans
• birth certificate
• social security card
• payment for passport (varies in different states)
• current picture in standard passport size (it’s best not take yourself but can be purchased at a local Walgreen's or Photo Lab)
Once you have finished obtaining these items, you are ready to download and print your application from a local printer. You must wait to sign the application until you are requested to do so by an authorized agent at the passport office. Again, be sure to thoroughly read through the entire application and instructions to ensure that you have met the necessary requirements. If you have additional questions, your application lists the phone number and email address you can use to contact the National Passport Information Center.
Review the following basic steps for the passport application process.

Steps to follow to complete application

Step 1: Fill Out Your Application

Use our application wizard to quickly enter the required information and we will fill out your application and attach any additional forms needed with all applicable instructions. If you are applying for a new passport, be sure to wait to sign it until you are with an authorized agent at your local passport office.

Step 2: Collect Supporting Documents

When applying for a new passport, you will need to attach proof of citizenship, proof of identity, a color photograph, and the correct fee amount. If you are renewing your passport, then you must include your most recent passport book and/or card, a recent color photograph, the correct fee amount, and supporting documentation if your name has changed. The detailed instructions included with the application explain how to properly provide all of this documentation.
We do not recommend that you attempt to take your passport photo yourself. Your application will be rejected unless your photo meets very specific requirements. When applying for a new passport, it will be easier to simply have the passport agent take your photo when you go to the agency to submit your application. Applicants renewing their passports may have their photo taken at a local passport photo service, often available at shopping centers and convenience stores.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

New passport applicants must go to a local passport agency to submit their DS-11 applications in person. Be sure to take all supporting documentation with you.
If renewing your passport, you may do so by mailing your completed application and all supporting documents to one of the addresses listed in the application instructions.

Step 4: Check Application Status Online

You can check your application status online at passportstatus.state.gov 7 – 10 days after submitting your application.

Step 5: Receive Your Passport

While the processing time varies throughout the year, most applicants receive their passports by mail 6 – 8 weeks after submitting. If you need to expedite your passport processing time, follow the instructions on your application and include the additional expedited processing fee.  Whether you desire to travel the world to an exotic island, or you have to a travel the world on a business trip to Japan, or you   just simply want to have this passport as immediate  proof of identification.