Your passport may be renewed because of its due expiration date or because you might have lost it. Regardless of your purpose, there is a wide range of forms that you need to submit together with the main form.
As a United States citizen, it is legal to have two passports at a time. One of these passports will be your valid passport, and the other one will be considered a potentially valid passport. However, if the applicants cannot provide any of these passports, they need to fill out and file the DS-11 Form and DS-64 Form. These forms are the Application for a US Passport and the Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Valid US Passport.
In addition, if you are going to apply for a passport renewal because of the due expiration date of your passport or all your pages are full, you need to fill out the US Passport Renewal Application for Eligible Individuals.
The stolen or lost passport applications will be recorded on the Consular Lost or Stolen Passport System. This will prevent any misuse of the stolen or lost passports, so the owner may not suffer additional charges because of any possible crimes or violations.
If you find your stolen or lost passport after the application, you need to report this to the relevant authorities and request the cancellation of your passport. Unfortunately, you cannot use this passport since it will be invalidated.
Looking for a way to change your name on your passport? Check out the Passport Name Change article to learn how to change your passport name.
What Do You Need to Renew Your US Passport?
Renewing your passport is quite straightforward. All you need to do is provide the required documentation and photos to complete your application. These include:
- Filled and signed the required forms.
- One color photo, 2×2 inches in size.
Keep in mind that the United States has a different photo size requirement compared to most countries. In addition, the photo must be taken in the last six months, and your head must be 1 – 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of your photo. Additionally, your head must directly face the camera.
No eyeglasses or anything that may cover your head will be accepted. Moreover, you cannot wear any uniform or accessories. The only exception is head coverings, which are the traditional religious attire, for which you need to provide a signed statement.
Moreover, if you have a head covering for medical reasons, you need to provide a signed statement from the doctor to verify that the head covering is for daily use and medical purposes.
If you cannot remove your eyeglasses because of eye surgery or similar medical conditions, then you also need to provide a signed statement from your doctor.
What Are the Printing Requirements of Passport Files?
Depending on your renewal reason, you may have to use different forms and access them through the federal website of the United States. Regardless of which form you are going to print, make sure that you are going to print it on standard A4-sized paper. In addition to this, there are other requirements that you need to follow.
For example, the paper color should be white, the print is in portrait orientation, and only black ink should be used. It does not matter whether you print single-sided or double-sided prints. However, it is important to pick the options such as fit to page and/or printable area while printing.