Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Complete Form DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport (see Resources). Either fill it out before printing it, or print the blank form to fill out. Do not sign the form. You must sign the application in front of the acceptance officer when you turn it in. Save a copy to your hard drive or make a photocopy for your records. If you don't have a printer, get the application from your local library or post office. Call ahead to make sure they have it.
Gather your supporting documents, including proof of U.S. citizenship and proof of identity. All documents must be original, not photocopied. Proof of U.S. citizenship includes any one of the following: an original birth certificate, a consular certificate of birth abroad, a letter of naturalization, a certificate of citizenship or an undamaged, expired passport. Proof of identity includes any one of the following: a valid driver's license, a current military ID, a current government ID, a naturalization certificate or a previously issued and undamaged passport.
Photocopy the front and back of your identification. Use only standard-size copy paper, with images present on only one side of the paper. You can present a copy of the front of your ID on one piece of paper and the back of the ID on another. You can also enlarge the image, but you may not reduce it.
Get a passport photo taken. If you already have some on hand, they cannot be more than 6 months old. The rules regarding head size, lighting and shadows are strict, so it's best to use a professional passport photo photographer, if possible. Some passport acceptance facilities have photographers on staff. You need two identical color photographs, sized 2 by 2 inches.
Bring the completed, unsigned application, supporting documents and passport fee to your local passport acceptance facility (see Resources). Most U.S. post offices accept passport applications. In Wyoming, the Casper and Cheyenne offices of the U.S. District Court of Wyoming also accept passport applications, by appointment only (see Resources).
Present your identification and sign the application in front of the acceptance officer. You must mail your application, original documented proof of citizenship, ID photocopy and passport photos. Your proof of citizenship will be returned to you through the mail.
Pay the passport fee. As of October 2010, an adult first-time passport costs $110, plus a $25 execution fee. It costs an optional $60 to expedite the passport, and $14.96 if you'd like your passport sent to you overnight. Most acceptance facilities accept personal checks, money orders, exact cash or credit cards. Most do not accept debit cards. Call in advance to find out accepted payment methods.
Wait for the passport to be processed. It will be mailed to you, along with your proof of U.S. citizenship. Standard passport applications take anywhere from four to six weeks; expedited service takes two to three weeks, with overnight delivery.