If you have had your name legally changed, you will need to apply for a United States passport name change. The procedure for this will depend on several factors, including how long ago your current passport was issued. Depending on your situation, there may or may not be a fee and you may or may not be able to make your application by mail.
If the issue date of your current passport is less than a year ago and your name has been changed legally through marriage or a court order, your passport will be reissued without a fee. The passport in your former name, along with a certified copy or original of the proof of name change and the application must be mailed in together. You also need to include two photos which are no more than 6 months old.
If your existing passport in your old name was issued more than one year ago, an alternative form must be used. It too can be mailed if you have the legal proof of your name change. However, in this case, you must also send in a fee along with the legal proof and the recent photos.
If you are unable to supply legal proof of your change in name, you must make your application in person. This situation is treated similarly to applying for a new passport. You will be required to show at least three forms of public records which detail your assumed name along with your birth place and date. They must show use of the name for at least five years.
Children who are less than 16 years of age must also apply in person for their passports and provide the same documents. They must be accompanied by their parents or guardians as well who will need to show legal proof of their relationship. The general requirements for passports for minors should be reviewed so that you have all the necessary documentation when you arrive at the agency.
Receiving your new passport can take four to six weeks or, at times, as many as ten. If you have to have it before then, you may want to have your United States passport form expedited. If you choose to do this, you will need to submit an extra fee for the rush service. It is possible to request this with any application for a passport.
Expedited passports can still take two to three weeks to arrive. If you have an emergency that requires getting your updated passport sooner, you will need to call the National Passport Information Center to make an appointment, or contact a passport expediting service.
If you are able to mail in your pasport name change application, package all the documentation in a secure manner. It is recommended to send it via a method that you can trace. It is also a good idea to make your life a little less stressful and send in your passport application when you change your name instead of waiting until you plan to travel.
