New Requirements For Passport Applications

Online, November 1, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs has recently announced new birth certificate requirements for all United States citizens who are looking to apply for a passport. As of April 2011, all birth certificates must be certified and meet a list of requirements to be considered valid forms of primary evidence of citizenship. Regardless of an applicant's age, a certified birth certificate must list the full names of their parents. If this information is missing, the certificate will not be acceptable as evidence of citizenship. This new requirement is in effect so as to ensure an applicant's U.S. citizenship.

Along with the new requirements that were put into effect in April, United States birth certificates must meet a list of other requirements for an applicant to apply for passport travel documents. A United States passport must be issued by an office of the state, city, or county of birthplace. It must not only have the full names of both parents, but the full name of the applicant. A certified birth certificate should show the date and place of birth. It must be an original, certified document. Photocopies and notarized copies will not be accepted. It should have the signature of the issuing authority embossed, multi-colored, impressed, or in a raised seal. A certified birth certificate should also have the registration or filed date within 1 year of the birth.

Applicants today who are trying to get a passport must be certain that certified birth certificates meet all these requirements. Having full names of applicants' parents is the newest standard for all United States citizens that needs to be met. The United States Department of State is enforcing this newest and latest policy to determine valid citizenship. This makes it more difficult for non-citizens to try to get American passports.