Just Seal The Deal? Don't Put Off Applying For Your Passport Name Change!

It is absolutely necessary to have a passport to travel abroad. This applies to adults, teens, kids, and even babies. Procrastinating this task is easy, but it is long and complicated and should be taken care of as soon as possible. Once a passport is received, at some point, it may be necessary to change a person's name for a plethora of different reasons. You should understand that US passport name change has many steps of its own that need to be followed.

The reason why an individual changes their name is a critical factor in obtaining a passport name change. For instance, a person who changes their name after committing crimes will not be looked at the same as another who was married. The date at which a previous passport was issued also has affects in the process.

If you need to change your name, new identification and passports are necessary. If your current travel document was issued in the same year as your application for a new one, it won't cost anything. The government will ask for a marriage certificate, the old passport, and a DS-5504 form to be completed and submitted. In cases of legal name change, a court order for the name change is required.

If the current passport was issued more than a year previous to the name change, some different steps must be taken. The Postal Service also can assist with this process. In this case, one must send their old passport with a correctly filled out DS-82 form to the government. They will also need to supply legal documents proving the change in identity and two recent photographs with payment costs.

For people who cannot produce legal documents a new set of rules and regulations apply. When documents are not present, a person must go to the agency in person. They will need to bring along their current passport with the old name and prove to officials that this was their former identity. Once in this office they will be asked to complete a DS-11 form and will have to pay for the new passport.

Not having the correct legal documentation of a name change will cause other consequences. A person who needs a new passport must have 3 documents showing the use of the assumed name. You will also have to show that the name you're trying to switch to has been used for at least five years. Also two current photographs must be provided or taken at the passport facility.

If someone under 18 has their name changed, the parents or guardians must adhere to certain regulations. When going to your local passport agency, be sure to remember that both parents and the minor must attend. A birth certificate with both parents names on it or adoption decree must be provided. Along with a DS-11 form, parents must supply their own legal documents to prove a relationship exists between children and guardian.

There are a ton of varying reasons to get your name changed, as there are a ton of varying regulations for obtaining a new passport in each of those occurances. The whole process can take as long as it took to get the passport you currently have. A person who uses their passports with another name on it will not make it through customs, especially when trying to enter the United States.