PASSPORT QUESTION

Someone recently told me that the only way for a U.S. citizen to obtain a
passport is through the mail, as opposed to getting it in person. Also, it's
now necessary to submit your birth certificate at the time of application;
it'll be mailed back you you when you get your passport in the mail. It just
seems like the potential for loss regarding an important document like a birth
certificate, is great. Is this the proper procedure?

http://www.travel.state.gov/passport_services.html


"Screenwriter135" wrote in message
...
Someone recently told me that the only way for a U.S. citizen to obtain a
passport is through the mail, as opposed to getting it in person. Also,
it's
now necessary to submit your birth certificate at the time of application;
it'll be mailed back you you when you get your passport in the mail. It
just
seems like the potential for loss regarding an important document like a
birth
certificate, is great. Is this the proper procedure?

On 09 Sep 2003 17:14:58 GMT (Screenwriter135) wrote:

:Someone recently told me that the only way for a U.S. citizen to obtain a
:passport is through the mail, as opposed to getting it in person.

Cheapest way.

: Also, it's
:now necessary to submit your birth certificate at the time of application;
:it'll be mailed back you you when you get your passport in the mail. It just
:seems like the potential for loss regarding an important document like a birth
:certificate, is great. Is this the proper procedure?

You can get another copy of a birth certificate.

--
Binyamin Dissen
http://www.dissensoftware.com

You can still get it in person at a passport office, but usually only if you
are traveling within the next two weeks. Full information is at the website
in the last reply, click on the office to see if they have the requirement
or not. Most, if not all offices, have gone to an appointment system for
applications and the rest, you can't just show up anymore.

There are still over 5,000 places you can present your application in
person, full list is at http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/ , post office, county
clerk, etc.


"Screenwriter135" wrote in message
...
Someone recently told me that the only way for a U.S. citizen to obtain a
passport is through the mail, as opposed to getting it in person. Also,
it's
now necessary to submit your birth certificate at the time of application;
it'll be mailed back you you when you get your passport in the mail. It
just
seems like the potential for loss regarding an important document like a
birth
certificate, is great. Is this the proper procedure?

Screenwriter135 wrote:

Someone recently told me that the only way for a U.S. citizen to obtain a
passport is through the mail, as opposed to getting it in person. Also, it's
now necessary to submit your birth certificate at the time of application;
it'll be mailed back you you when you get your passport in the mail. It just
seems like the potential for loss regarding an important document like a birth
certificate, is great. Is this the proper procedure?

Why not go to the State Dept website and see for yourself?
You must present yourself in person to an official location.
Where I live, it is the City Clerk's office. They are the ones the look
at the documentation.

oh, you CAN get it in person, but you probably would be saving time to have
it mailed. In those cities which have a passport office, you need to make
an appointment (and that can be longer than just mailing and waiting) - at
least that's the way it's done in Seattle

"Screenwriter135" wrote in message
...
Someone recently told me that the only way for a U.S. citizen to obtain a
passport is through the mail, as opposed to getting it in person. Also,
it's
now necessary to submit your birth certificate at the time of application;
it'll be mailed back you you when you get your passport in the mail. It
just
seems like the potential for loss regarding an important document like a
birth
certificate, is great. Is this the proper procedure?

Binyamin Dissen wrote:
On 09 Sep 2003 17:14:58 GMT (Screenwriter135) wrote:

:Someone recently told me that the only way for a U.S. citizen to obtain a
:passport is through the mail, as opposed to getting it in person.

Cheapest way.

The passport is mailed to you, but to apply for the first passport you
have to go to one of the agencies in person. Where you need to go
depends on the location. In some cities, it is a post office. Here it is
the City Clerks office.

while the link is explicit, I don't think that was what they meant - "apply
in person" means at "an entity authorized to submit the documents" - in my
case I applied at a city hall and had the clerk submit the paperwork. I
thought they meant "walk-up service"

"Steve" wrote in message
...
http://www.travel.state.gov/passport_services.html


"Screenwriter135" wrote in message
...
Someone recently told me that the only way for a U.S. citizen to obtain
a
passport is through the mail, as opposed to getting it in person. Also,
it's
now necessary to submit your birth certificate at the time of
application;
it'll be mailed back you you when you get your passport in the mail. It
just
seems like the potential for loss regarding an important document like a
birth
certificate, is great. Is this the proper procedure?

and IF you have an expired passport, you ndon't need to sumit the
certificate
"Binyamin Dissen" wrote in message
...
On 09 Sep 2003 17:14:58 GMT (Screenwriter135)
wrote:

:Someone recently told me that the only way for a U.S. citizen to obtain
a
:passport is through the mail, as opposed to getting it in person.

Cheapest way.

: Also,
it's
:now necessary to submit your birth certificate at the time of
application;
:it'll be mailed back you you when you get your passport in the mail. It
just
:seems like the potential for loss regarding an important document like a
birth
:certificate, is great. Is this the proper procedure?

You can get another copy of a birth certificate.

--
Binyamin Dissen
http://www.dissensoftware.com

On 09 Sep 2003 17:14:58 GMT, the evil clone of
(Screenwriter135) emitted:

Someone recently told me that the only way for a U.S. citizen to obtain a
passport is through the mail, as opposed to getting it in person. Also, it's
now necessary to submit your birth certificate at the time of application;
it'll be mailed back you you when you get your passport in the mail. It just
seems like the potential for loss regarding an important document like a birth
certificate, is great. Is this the proper procedure?

Go right to the source.

http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html