dumbest passport question ever!!!

[hAm53]

here yee, here yee. please gather around for the most ludacris, sillies, and by far the most stupid question about passports ever asked upon these boards:

when i'm at the post office mailing out my passport form to the state dept, should i bring an stamped & addressed envelope, or is there some sort of special "passport" envelope we will be given.

i told you it was a winner!!!

and on a side note, why do i have to mail my actual birth certificate in to get a passport. can't the person at the post office just confirm that yes, it is me and the paper does have a raised seal.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

My passport is six years old, but when I got it, they took all my info and forms at the post office and sent it in for me. I didn't have to bring an envelope.

I don't work for the State Dept., but I believe that whoever processes your passport needs to see the proof of citizenship and verify it, hence you need to let then have it. They send it back with your passport. The postal clerk just makes sure you have all the required documentation.

 

[jweiss]

I went in for a new passport for DD age 1, a new passp[ort for DD age 14, and a renewal for me......around 5 weeks ago (haven't received them yet). The postal worker took care of the mail, envelope, etc. They do demand all originals, and they swear it will all be returned. This was very hard for me, as my baby's adoption had only been final one week, and the court had only given me ONE copy of the raised seal adoption decree. They still insisted on taking it!!! I should get everything back any day now.....I'll let you know!!!

 

[Stinasmom]

And jweiss may be interested in this too...
There is a line for your signature that says it's not valid until signed.
What if your kids don't write all that well yet (or not at all!!)? should I sign their names or let them have a stab at it?
My DS4 can print his first name but that is it.
anyone know?
Thanks!

 

[djs113]

you can definitely sign there name, and initial next to with your initials, this lets everyone know you signed on their behalf

- David

 

[jlima]

I changed my name on my passport a few years ago & had to send my marriage license with the passport. Got it back with the original amended passport.

 

[CM_Mom]

The only truly DUMB questions are the ones you think of but never ask for fear of someone thinking you're dumb. If you don't know or aren't sure, then ask.

 

[RickW]

And jweiss may be interested in this too...
There is a line for your signature that says it's not valid until signed.
What if your kids don't write all that well yet (or not at all!!)? should I sign their names or let them have a stab at it?
My DS4 can print his first name but that is it.
anyone know?
Thanks!

From http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/faq/faq_1741.html#ca63:

My child is too young to sign his/her own passport. How do I sign my child's passport?
In the space provided for the signature, the mother or father must print the child's name and sign their own name. Then, in parenthesis by the parent's name, write the word (mother) or (father) so we know who signed for the child.

I actually just looked this up earlier tonight, since I needed to sign our 23 month old's passport.

 

[mmouse37]

Another interesting tidbit we found out......if someone else during the course of the day before you had requested expedited service....they put all the passport applications for that day (or however many will fit) in that same express envelope to be mailed.....so, you could possibly get yours back much sooner than the average. That is what happened to us. Of course the expedited service would only be to the passport office, not back (unless you paid for expedited service both ways). So technically you could pay the regular mailing fee but get express service one way.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Supporting documents must be ORIGINAL.
2) Birth certificates must have the raised seal.