PASSPORT - PROVIDING IDENTIFICATION

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The U.S. Passport agency has very strict requirements about proof of ID. They require a current U.S. Driver’s license issued over 6 months ago, that is valid for full term. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been driving for over 40 years. . . what matters is the issue date indicated on your current license.
   
 

If you do not have a driver’s license, or it was issued within the past 6 months the list below details what you will need to satisfy the proof of identification requirement to get a U.S. Passport. You will need to provide one of A, B or C.
   
A

Your current license and ANY old license issued under the same name. Note that if the name was changed legally (through the marriage, divorce or a court) then you can provide the Original Legal Name Change Documents (original marriage certificate, divorce certificate or court papers).
B

If you were Naturalized within the past 5 to 10 years, (that is you became a U.S. Citizen within the past 5 to 10 years), AND you still look like your naturalization photo then you will not need to show a license.

C If you cannot provide either A or B above you will need to have:
 

A witness who can come with you and verify who you are. That witness must have either a valid U.S. Passport (any issue date), a valid U.S. Green Card (any issue date), or a valid U.S. license issued over 6 months ago. It is always recommended that you use a blood relative as your witness, if one is not available then you will need a friend who has known you for over 3 years. You will need to have your witness with you at your local acceptance agent. AND
  Other forms of signature or picture ID. There is no set limit to how much ID you need, it is not a point system like the DMV, the more ID you have the more likely it is that you will be issued your passport. The following is a list of acceptable forms of ID:
   
  • Expired or valid drivers license
  • Expired U.S. Passport
  • Naturalization certificate
  • State ID (Non driver’s ID) or Learner’s permit
  • Social Security Card, signed
  • Valid or expired school id (high school, or college)
  • Transcript / bills showing current registration in college
  • Yearbook (junior high, high school, college)
  • Health Insurance card or Medicare card
  • Voters registration card, signed
  • Public assistance card with photo and signature
  • Military, City, State or Federal employee id, with a pay stub
  • Military discharged (DD-214) that contains the applicants signature
  • W2 forms and other tax documents
  • Current or past work ID (with current work ID they also want to see a pay stub)
  • Unemployment records
  • Credit Cards or ATM cards with signatures
  • Foreign Passport or Green Card
  • Magazines with your name / picture on them, also newspaper articles
  • Signature guarantee or signature verificataion from your bank
  • Long form certified marriage license that contains the seal from the issuing office and the applicant’s signature
  • Divorce decree

 
     
IMPORTANT NOTES:
 

Even if your local acceptance agent tells you that a witness, or a extra ID is not necessary INSIST that they allow you to use one. The acceptance agent does NOT issue your passport, the U.S. Passport agency does. If the acceptance agent will not include copies of the extra id in the "AA Sealed Envelope" just side them on the side to us and we will make sure the passport agency gets them.

 

You must have at LEAST one form of signature ID (that includes credit cards, ATM cards and social security cards).

 

If you intend on using a friend as a witness, you must have 4-5 pieces of ID and the high school or college yearbook.

 

If the applicant is under 18 years old, the witness should be a parent or older sibling.

 

If the witness is under 18 years old and has NO signature ID then the witness MUST be a parent.