If you want to get a passport and you live in Los Angeles, you’re in luck. Los Angeles is one of just 14 cities in the United States with a Passport Agency office of the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BCA), where you can apply for a passport and get it with a minimum of waiting time. To do this, you do need to make an appointment, but according to the BCA, you can expect to receive your passport in about two weeks. If you are not in a hurry to get your passport, you can also go to any of the designated public facilities that can accept passport applications, although the wait to get a passport in Los Angeles is longer if you do. Steps 1 to 4 describe get a passport in Los Angeles from the local Passport Agency office. Step 5 explains locate the public facility nearest you, if you choose to go that route.
Instructions
1. Gather the necessary documents. You will need proof of citizenship. For most people, this means a certified copy of their birth certificate or a previously issued passport. Alternate documents include a naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship. A driver’s license or other government-issued ID is also required. You must also provide a Social Security number. Finally, fill out an application (Form DS-11). The best way to do this is to use the Document Wizard (link below) and print out the form. However, DO NOT sign the form until the agent tells you to. (He must witness your signature.)
2. Have two prints of a recent (no more than six months old) color photo measuring 2"x2". Dress In normal street attire for the photograph, and don’t wear a hat. You must provide pictures and the documentation listed in Step 1 for anyone seeking a passport, including infants.
3. Make an appointment at the office of the Los Angeles Passport Agency. You can apply at this office only by appointment, and all persons applying must appear in person (including children). Call 1-877-487-2778 to make an appointment. The address of the office is 11000 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1000, Los Angeles, CA 90024-3615.
4. Pay the fees for the passports you order. A regular adult passport is $75. For a child 16 or under, the cost is $60. A passport card is $20 ($10 for children). In addition, there will be a $25 execution fee for each of these passport documents, regardless of type or the age of the recipient. Once you’ve completed the application process, allow about two weeks for your passports to arrive.
5. Avoid having to make an appointment or driving a long distance by placing your passport application at one of the alternative public facilities that are authorized to accept them. The application procedure is the same, so this is a convenient option if time isn’t an issue. To locate the facility nearest you, choose the “Office Locator” link below and use the search engine (it’s easiest just to input your zip code). If you choose to apply this way, allow at least four weeks for delivery.
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