The reasons for changing your name are many. You may do this as a result of a marriage or divorce, and it may also be as a choice regarding a career. No matter what the reason for changing your name, you will want to change all of your legal documents as well. This includes changing your name on your passport. A passport name change is simple, but the process will vary depending on how long you have had your passport.
A passport name change is just one of the legal documents that you will need to change. You will also need to change your licensee and your social security card. When doing this you will need to prove who you are and that you legally changed your name.
You may also want to hold onto some of your original documentation for future purposes. In some states if you relocate and change your license you will need to prove who you were and who you are. This will involve showing documentation that expresses the name change, such as marriage certificates and divorce documents.
There are a few different ways that a passport name change can occur. Which method you will need will be based on the time period that has elapsed since you originally obtained your passport. The length of this time period affects the fee required for the passport name change.
If it has been less than a year since you first received your passport, you will not need to pay a fee and the application you need will be different than if you have had your passport for a longer period of time. The proper form in this case is the DS-5504 form. This form will need to completely filled out and mailed in. You may also be required to provide two photos that are recent and meet passport specifications.
If it has been less than a year since you obtained your original passport then there will not be a fee for processing your passport name change. This information and documentation needs to be addressed to the National Passport Processing Center, Post Office Box 90107, Philadelphia, PA, 19190-0107.
In the case that it has been more than a year since you first obtained your passport, you will need to process the passport name change differently. The form for this purpose is the DS-82. This form will need to be completed and mailed in, along with the processing fee and the correct required documentation. You will also be required to send in two color pictures to the address listed on the back of the application.
It is absolutely necessary that your documents be certified copies, not notarized photocopies. If they are not certified copies they will not be accepted and you will have to do the process over again. You may need to acquire your documents, such as your marriage certificate, before submitting the necessary paper work.
In the case that you do not have this documentation, you can obtain your documents at the county clerk’s office in the county where you were married. Keep in mind that the typical processing period for a U S passport name change is 3 to 4 weeks. It you need this sooner you can pay a fee to speed it up a week or so. You may also contact the Congressional office in your state to get the new passport process expedited.