How to Get or Renew a US Passport in the US and Abroad

Identity documents

Driver license

This is the most popular document of its kind. With its help, the identity of the owner is established, and not citizenship, because citizens of other countries can also have an American driver's license.

All US citizens have rights, even those who, for various reasons, cannot drive a vehicle. For almost any circumstances within the state, this certificate is sufficient, since it contains all the necessary information. The validity period of the document is from 4 to 8 years.

ID card

Source: uscis.gov
The ID card has the same capabilities as a driver's license, but without the right to drive. Both licenses are issued by local Departments of Motor Vehicles and the card is valid for 6 years. It is prohibited by law to have both a license and an ID card at the same time.

Green card

A green card is an identification document for a person who is not a US citizen, but permanently resides in the country, that is, has a residence permit. Citizenship and Immigration Services issues a green card after a certain procedure for a period of 10 years.

US Citizenship Certificate

Proof of U.S. citizenship may be a birth certificate for those born in the state, or a certificate of citizenship if the person was born in another country but acquired citizenship by descent or one of the parents is an American citizen. This law also applies to children adopted by Americans.

Diplomatic passport

This document confirms the diplomatic status of its holder and gives the right to diplomatic immunity and advantages when crossing the border of another state and staying on its territory.

Service passport

Source: pixabay.com
Issued to a US citizen performing a specific official task, used only for business travel and does not provide any benefits.

Seaman's passport

It is a proof of identity both in the United States and abroad. Issued to persons working on long-distance vessels: crew, technical and maintenance personnel, as well as those sent by the Ministry of Transport to perform official tasks.

Having one of the listed documents, immigrants can legally reside in America. However, many of them seek to obtain a US citizen passport in order to be able to travel abroad.

There are various reasons for this: there are relatives left in the homeland or unfinished business (for example, real estate or inheritance), the desire to visit the graves of ancestors, and simply nostalgia. In addition, many “new” Americans have the desire and financial ability to travel to different countries.

What does US citizenship provide?

The main advantages of American citizenship can be identified:

• Great job opportunities. United States citizens can take government jobs or jobs with access to classified information.
• Travel and live in almost every country in the world. A US passport provides visa-free entry into 170 countries. Even those countries that require a visa for Americans can enter by simply getting one at the airport.
• Social package. American citizens are entitled to all types of assistance from the state - cash benefits for the poor, preferential medical care for the disabled, and others.
• Suffrage. Citizens take part in presidential and local government elections. They assist in court cases by sitting on juries.
• Priority for immigration to the United States for relatives and relatives. The spouse and children of a national of the country receive an identification card faster than other categories of foreigners. Parents and brothers and sisters are also eligible to immigrate. Children of US citizens become citizens by birth, even if they were born in another country.
• Study in American educational institutions through scholarships and other types of government support.
• Grants for scientific research and business.
• No compulsory conscription into the army. The United States has a contract army, which is difficult to get into.
• Available bank loans. Low levels of lending rates make it easy to pay for the purchase of a home, a car, or start a business.

There are several disadvantages of American citizenship. One of them is the relatively high cost of obtaining status. It is more than $650. You need to be prepared to spend three business days on registration: to submit fingerprints, undergo an interview and take the oath. Some people don't like having to serve on a jury every two years. It is not uncommon to spend several weeks on court hearings. Migrants from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other CIS countries require a visa when entering these states. But only if they plan to stay for more than three months.

Do you want to get EU citizenship in 12 months? Take the free test and find out your chances.

Characteristics of a US passport

Source: hookupgbsingles.info
Currently, a passport of the 2007 model is valid in America. It uses a new, higher level of protection. The new design of the document is interesting: quotes from the Declaration of Independence and the national anthem, sayings of famous Americans are used on each page, accompanied by illustrations. Also quoted are six presidents, Martin Luther King, Thanksgiving message.

On the first spread are the first name, last name, date and place of birth, passport number, date of issue, validity period of the passport and gender of its holder.

Modern international passports are distinguished by illustrations of each page or spread. In the American passport, these are species ranging from the Atlantic coast to the Hawaiian Islands - from east to west. They contain images that represent the United States: the statue and Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Mount Rushmore with a presidential sculpture group, cowboys, farmers, a paddle steamer, an Indian totem and others. The illustrations are completed with a view of the United States from space.

17 pages are reserved for visas and date stamps. The second flyleaf contains an electronic chip that stores personal data and other necessary information.

How to Get a US Citizen Passport

Source: ria.ru
A prerequisite for obtaining a passport is the status of a US citizen. Persons living in America, but without citizenship, must undergo the procedure of naturalization - obtaining citizenship on the basis of long-term residence in the country.

Basic conditions

• continuous legal residence in the country (at least 5 years) and actual presence for the period established by law (at least 30 months);
• residence in one state or district for at least a specified period (3 months or more);
• high moral qualities, absence of serious criminal records, adherence to the principles of the Constitution, recognition of constitutional norms;
• knowledge of English, US history and the basics of government.

Persons who have reached the age of 18 can undergo naturalization. Legal permanent residents of America who have received a permanent residence permit due to marriage to a US citizen must remain in this status for at least 18 months (actually present) and continue to live together.

Continuous residence and physical presence requirements do not apply to military personnel and certain other categories.

To complete the naturalization process, you must submit an application on Form N-400 to your local immigration office. The applicant is checked for a clean criminal record and invited for an interview.

To do this, a list of questions with answers is issued two months in advance; there is a trial test on the official website of the Department of National Security. So passing the interview is nerve-wracking, but not that difficult.

If the result is positive, the applicant for citizenship must take an oath of allegiance to America. Once you become a US citizen, you can apply for a passport.

There are different types of naturalization certificates:

• N-550 – who has undergone the naturalization process;
• N-578 – for recognition of a US citizen abroad;
• N-570 – in case of damage or loss of the certificate;
• N-560A – who received citizenship after birth;
• N560AB – who received citizenship at birth;
• N-645 N-645A - to the family of a serviceman who received injury or injury incompatible with life while on duty;
• N-561 – to replace the Certificate of Citizenship.

Naturalization

Green Card holders can apply for citizenship and all related privileges, including obtaining a passport. After living in the States for at least 5 years, you need to go through the naturalization procedure.

This requires a good knowledge of the language of American history and culture, as well as taking an oath of allegiance to the United States.

Requirements for applicants

• Those who have received a green card by marrying an American can apply within 3 years.
• The waiting period is waived for military spouses serving in combat overseas.
• For those who have lived outside the United States for more than a year, the period is calculated again from the date of arrival.
• Voluntary service in the US military makes it easier to become a citizen.
• The candidate must be in the states for at least half of the required period.
• Live in one place for at least 3 months before submitting the application and stay in the same place to take the oath.
• Must be 18 years of age at the time of citizenship acquisition.

Procedure for obtaining a US passport

Source: nileslibrary.org
In recent years, the number of Americans seeking a passport has been increasing. There are several reasons for this.

• Since 2007, the rules for traveling abroad have become more stringent. If before this it was possible to travel to Canada or Mexico using internal ID cards, now this requires a passport or a special plastic card.
• Rising prosperity and low-cost budget airlines have made travel to other continents less expensive and affordable for middle-class Americans.
• The number of people wishing to visit other countries is increasing every year.

The passport is issued by the Department of State and meets the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

To obtain a standard American passport, you will need to pay a state fee of $110 and check on the US State Department website which documents are needed in each specific case.

First of all, you must provide a document of citizenship: a birth certificate that meets all the requirements or a certificate of naturalization (originals), as well as any identification card with a photo:

• driver license;
• State issued identification;
• federal ID card;
• military ID;
• student ID;
• work ID.

To obtain a U.S. passport, applicants must submit an application to the Department of State or an approved passport issuing agency: Passport Acceptance Facility or Passport Agency. If the applicant is located outside of America, the application must be submitted at the US consulate or embassy abroad. First-time passport holders and children must apply in person.

Collection of the necessary package of documents

In order to acquire citizenship and obtain a passport, the applicant must collect the following documents:

• green card (certified photocopy);
• two 5x5 color photos, which must be printed on special paper, and the person’s portrait must be made on a white background;
• a receipt confirming that the applicant has paid the state fee;
• An applicant under 75 years of age must provide a bank payment confirming payment of the fee for the fingerprinting performed.

The collected list of papers is submitted to the Information Processing Center, where the authenticity of each document and the reliability of all provided data are checked. Based on the results of the inspection, a decision is made to issue an American passport or refuse to issue it.

Interesting facts about the American passport

Source: pixabay.com

• On February 3, Presidents' Day, naturalization ceremonies take place in the country, at which applicants for citizenship swear allegiance to the United States of America and receive a certificate entitling them to receive an American passport.
• The photo in an American passport must be changed with every change in appearance: plastic surgery, piercing, tattoo, and even weight loss or, conversely, weight gain.
• A US passport is issued even to minors, but its validity is 5 years, while an adult's passport is valid for 10 years.
• The town of Stanstea is located simultaneously in two countries - the USA and Canada. To get from one part of the city to another, you will definitely need a passport.
• When making an American passport, 60 types of different materials, 30 protective equipment are used, and the unique font cannot be repeated.
• American child support workers are not issued or reissued passports if their debt is more than $2,500. This law applies in all states.
• In 2010, British authorities refused to admit an American lacrosse team because the players presented “Iroquois passports” rather than officially approved US documents.
• Persons over 50 years of age who have resided in the United States for 20 years or more are exempt from proof of proficiency in English, both written and spoken.

Having an American passport, US citizens can freely move around the world, especially since more than 170 countries have established a visa-free regime for Americans.

Source: viplawyer.ru

Even minors can have this document, but its validity period is 5 years, while adults may not change their passport for 10 years.