Passports must be applied for at certain North Carolina post offices, public libraries, clerk of courts, and state, county, or municipal government offices which are appointed to accept passport applications as representatives of the Department of State.
The passport office closest to your city or town in North Carolina can be found on the Department of State's website (see Resources). Or, check the U.S. Passport Service Guide's website (see Resources) to find a list of North Carolina passport offices by county. If you don't want to use Internet sources, local post office employees can provide passport agency information.
A DS-11 form must be filled out in black ink prior to the time of the application. This form can be found on the Department of State's website, the website of your local passport agency or picked up from the passport agency in person. Proof of U.S. citizenship must be shown by providing one of the following documents: a prior, undamaged passport; a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state; consular report of birth abroad or certificate of birth; naturalization certificate; or certificate of citizenship. A valid driver's license or government-issued photo ID, Social Security card and two passport photos must accompany the proof of citizenship. Passport photos must be 2-by-2 inches which may be taken at a passport office or another non-nongovernmental agency such as the American Automobile Association (AAA).
The cost of an adult passport is $100, and the cost of child passport is $85. The charge for a passport to be expedited is $60. You should allow approximately four to six weeks after application to receive your passport in the mail. If you are traveling within two weeks and need a passport quickly, the regional office for North Carolina in New Orleans may process the required passport the same day of application. A North Carolina resident applicant may travel to Washington, D.C., to have a passport processed the same day as well.
You must call ahead to the passport office of your choice to make an appointment. All documentation must be gathered and presented with all of the appropriate fees at the time of application. The DS-11 form should be completed, but not signed before the appointment. The government employee should witness the applicant's signature during the scheduled appointment at the passport agency. Although passport agencies state the processing time of four to six weeks, it is wise to allow at least six weeks, if not longer, for any unseen complications that may delay the processing of your passport.
