Tight deadlines require perfect applications to reduce critical issues, consider adding the following services to avoid costly delays:
Applicants requesting a New US Passport must meet at least one of the following criteria:
If you meet one or more of these requirements you must apply for a new US passport and Passport & Visa Advisors is here to help.
New Passport Expediting Services consist of three main steps:
Proof of Citizenship
The applicant must provide one of the following documents. The document must be original or a certified copy (not notarized). A certified copy is a document that bears a seal or stamp of the official issuing authority.
Note: “short form” birth certificates are not admissible for new passport applications
Proof of Identification
The applicant must have valid proof of identification, issued more than six months prior to the US passport application. Acceptable forms of identification include:
If primary proof of identification has been issued less than six months previous to the passport application plan to provide secondary identification documents found here.
Photos
The applicant must provide one recent passport photo with their application.
Click here for passport photo guidelines.
Letter of Authorization
All hand-carry applications must include Letter of Authorization (LOA) granting permission to submit the passport documents on the applicant’s behalf.
PVA will assign a Letter of Authorization to the applicant once their order has been placed. Please call us at 704-246-6373 with your order number after your order is placed.
The Letter of Authorization must bear the original signature of the applicant. Photocopies, scans and any other facsimile of an original LOA aren’t accepted by the US Passport Agency.
Fill out and originally sign two Letters of Authorization. One will be submitted to the Acceptance Agent and the other will be sent to PVA alongside of the official, sealed envelope.
Proof of International Travel
The US Passport Agency requires proof of travel within 2-4 weeks depending on the traveler’s destination. Acceptable proof of international travel includes:
Note: Letters of explanation are accepted at the discretion of the US Passport Agency.
Application
The applicant is required to submit a DS-11 application.
The DS-11 application must be filled out online via the US Passport Agency’s website. Hand-written applications are not allowed.
Fill out the application, if the application is done properly, a barcode will appear in the upper left hand corner and the bottom right hand corner of the pages.
Print TWO COPIES of the application, SINGLE-SIDED and DO NOT SIGN the application until instructed to do so at the Acceptance Agency.
Click here to fill out and print the DS-11 application.
Government Fees
The US Passport Agency charges $170 for expedited adult passports and $35 charge for the Acceptance Agency execution services. Both fees are paid at the Acceptance Agency.
The $170 Expedited Passport Fee is paid to the U.S. Department of State and must be paid by:
The $35 Execution Fee is paid to the agent directly and can be paid by:
Note: Please verify acceptable payment methods with the acceptance facility ahead of time.
PVA Fees
Passport processing days are counted in business, not calendar days and unless special arrangements are made in advance, the day the documents are received by PVA is not counted as a processing day.
Government Fees are paid by the applicant at the Acceptance Agency and are not collected by PVA.
Execution Process
Once the applicant has collected all documents listed above, they are prepared to visit the Acceptance Agency.
Please contact PVA for more detailed instructions regarding the Acceptance Agency process and what happens next.
Documents required:
The local Acceptance Agencies are usually by appointments so check using your local zip code and determine if an appointment is required.
Note: Not all Acceptance Agencies takes passport photos or accept every form of payment, check with your selected Acceptance Agency to determine the method of payment they accept.
PVA's Responsibility
Once the documents are received at PVA’s office:
Once the passport has been received by the applicant:
The applicant must submit a PVA order form which provides contact information, service request and payment information. Upon completion of the order form, PVA will provide Receipt, Letter or Authorization and Delivery Instructions.
The applicant must contact PVA at 704-246-6373 before going to the Acceptance Agency and PVA will assign a specific Letter of Authorization to fill out before going to the Acceptance Agency
After visiting the Acceptance Agency the applicant will drop off the package as indicated in the Delivery Instructions and PVA will take care of the rest.