INTERNATIONAL VISA SERVICE

NEW U.S. PASSPORT FOR TEENS AGES 16-18

Use this procedure if:

--You are 16-18 years of age
--If you never had a passport before (if you had a passport before valid for 5 years, please follow Passport Renewal For Teens)

STEP 1. GATHER THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS

• Original US birth certificate with both parents' names issued by the state, NOT the hospital
  

• Copy of applicant's driver's license or student ID (front & back)- original will be shown at the post office
  

• Copy of parent's ID (front & back) who will go to the post office with the teen (for applicants who are 16 or 17 old)- original will be shown at the post office
  

• One Application DS-11 (fill out online)- his form must be filled out online. All hand-written applications will be suspended
  

• Letter of Authorization (click here to download)- this form must be included inside your sealed envelope. If not, your paperwork will be suspended and it will take considerably longer to process your passport. This form must be signed by the teen, not the parent.
  

• Personal check for $190.00 if you are applying for a passport book only OR $220.00 if you are applying for a passport book AND passport card. Make check payable to "US DEPARTMENT OF STATE"
  

• Copy of itinerary showing international flights within 14 days of the post office appointment (must include the child's & at least one parent's name). If you do not have an itinerary, please email us: CS@IVSDC.COM
  

STEP 2. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND VISIT YOUR LOCAL POST OFFICE

• If the applicant is 16 or 17 years old, one parent must appear with the teen. Applicants who already turned 18, can go to the post office without parents.
  
• You will need to visit your local post office that can handle HAND CARRY PROCEDURES. CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. Appointments are required at most post offices due to Covid restrictions
  
• Bring all documents listed in Step 1 to the post office.
  
• When you arrive at the post office, ask for the clerk who deals with passports.
  
• Tell the post office clerk that you are doing a HAND CARRY PROCEDURE.
  
• A special post office clerk will to witness your signature and seal all of your documents in one envelope. You MUST ensure that letter of authorization AND itinerary are included INSIDE sealed envelope. If not, your paperwork will be suspended and it will take much longer to finish processing of your passport. You will be charged $35 or $50 (if you need to take photos) for this procedure.
  
• UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOW THE POST OFFICE CLERK TO MAIL YOUR ENVELOPE DIRECTLY TO THE NATIONAL PASSPORT CENTER. YOU MUST WALK OUT OF THE POST OFFICE WITH YOUR SEALED ENVELOPE!
  

STEP 3: FILL OUT ORDER FORM & CALCULATE FEES

• IVS order form (click here to download)
  

FEES (IVS Service Fee)

STEP 4: MAIL YOUR SEALED ENVELOPE & ORDER FORM TO OUR ADDRESS BELOW WITHIN 24 HOURS OF YOUR POST OFFICE APPOINTMENT

INTERNATIONAL VISA SERVICE
44081 PIPELINE PLAZA, SUITE 210
ASHBURN VA 20147
TEL: 703-726-0300

IMPORTANT NOTES:

--YOUR CHILD'S NEW PASSPORT WILL BE READY FIRST AND PASSPORT AGENCY WILL SEND IT TO YOU TO THE  MAILING ADDRESS LISTED ON THE 1ST PAGE OF APPLICATION DS-11. NEW PASSPORT WILL BE MAILED BY OVERNIGHT USPS EXPRESS OR UPS SERVICE (PASSPORT AGENCY'S CHOICE). YOUR MAILING ADDRESS CANNOT BE CHANGED ONCE YOUR PAPERWORK IS SUBMITTED.

--YOUR CHILD'S PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP DOCUMENT WILL BE MAILED BACK TO YOU SEPARATELY BY FIRST CLASS MAIL. THERE IS NO WAY FOR US TO ASK TO RELEASE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME OR TO MAIL YOUR CITIZENSHIP DOCUMENT BY OVERNIGHT MAIL.

--IF PASSPORT AGENCY REQUESTS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR SUSPENDS YOUR CHILD'S DOCUMENTS FOR INCORRECT PHOTOS, WRONG SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, MISSING LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION OR ANY OTHER REASON, YOU WILL RECEIVE A LETTER IN MAIL OR AN EMAIL STATING THE REASON AND REQUESTING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PLEASE EMAIL US A COPY OF THE LETTER AND WE'LL HELP WITH RE-SUBMITTING YOUR PAPERWORK FOR NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE.

--STATUS UPDATES: WE WILL NOTIFY YOU WHEN WE RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE AND BEGIN PROCESSING YOUR PAPERWORK. WE WILL NOT NOTIFY YOU WHEN YOUR PASSPORTS WILL BE SHIPPED BACK TO YOU AS THE PASSPORT AGENCY DOES NOT ALWAYS PROVIDES US WITH THAT INFORMATION.

--IVS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR PASSPORT AGENCY MAILING DOCUMENTS BACK TO YOU AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU "FIND" THEM IF POST OFFICE DOES NOT PROPERLY DELIVER OR IF YOUR MAILING ADDRESS IS LISTED INCORRECTLY ON THE APPLICATION.

*** The service fees are non-refundable. Due to the high volume of applications being processed, the processing times may be changed by the Passport Agency. INTERNATIONAL VISA SERVICE is not responsible for processing delays within US Department of State or shipping delays. INTERNATIONAL VISA SERVICE is NOT a government agency. By mailing your paperwork to INTERNATIONAL VISA SERVICE for processing, you confirm that you reviewed our website and agree to all rules and prices listed on our website.