Important: Processing times recently changed for both routine and expedited passport applications.

Comments for Passport Renewal and Name Change

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DS-82 or DS-11 for in-person appt.
by: Anonymous

Question: I recently was married and looking to change my name on my passport. I have an upcoming appointment in person at a passport agency and I'm confused if I should bring the DS-82 or DS-11 completed form with me?

Answer: The right application form for a passport renewal with name change is Form DS-82. Please do not forget to bring the original or a certified copy of your marriage certificate as proof of legal name change.

Question 9 on DS 82
by: Anonymous

Question: My current passport has my married name. I am renewing the passport and question 9 requests I list all other names I have used. Do I put my first and last (maiden name) in this section or just last maiden name?

Answer: Please enter your full maiden name.

Section 9
by: Anonymous

Question: On section 9, do I put my full name or do I just put my last name that was changed due to marriage ?

Answer: You should enter the full name.

Name changed by marriage
by: Anonymous

Question: My first passport was issued in January of 2019 and I got married in September of 2022. Do I fill out the form DS-82 or DS-11?

Answer: You should use Form DS-82 and submit the original or a certified copy of your marriage certificate as proof of legal name change.

Delayed Name Change After Marriage
by: Anonymous

Question: I got married in June 2015. My husband and I planned our honeymoon for November 2015. In preparation for our trip, I needed to get a new passport because my existing one was expired.

I did not have time to legally change my name with social security before our trip, so I renewed my passport in October 2015 in my maiden name. After our trip, I legally changed my name with social security in December 2015.

I now need a new passport to match my new legal (married) name. Can I apply for my new passport online, and if so do I need to submit a copy of my new social security card showing that my name legally changed after my current passport was issued, or is my marriage certificate sufficient?

Answer: The official date of name change is the date entered in your marriage certificate, not the date you changed your name with social security. Since the actual name change date (wedding date) precedes the passport issue date, you cannot apply for a renewal with name change. You need submit a new application in person at an acceptance facility.

You need the following:

1. Form DS-11
2. Evidence of U.S. citizenship
3. Proof of identity bearing your new legal name
4. One new passport photo
5. Payment for fees

Standard service currently takes 10-13 weeks while expedited service takes 7-9 weeks. These are just processing times and do not include shipping times on the front and back end. Please consider both processing and shipping times when making travel plans. We recommend making final travel arrangements only after you receive your passport.

As of this time, there is no available system by the Department of State for online passport applications. If you are applying through a third party, please make sure to hire a registered courier service to avoid problems.

Passport renewal name change signature
by: Sherri

Question: After getting married I am filling out the renewal for a new passport. Do I sign the application with my current legal name or my new married name?

Answer: You need to sign your application with your legal name at the time of submission. If you are sending in the application after your wedding, you need to sign with your new married name.

Name Change Docs
by: Anonymous

Question: I am mailing in my renewal application with the name change. I only need to send in my marriage certificate, old passport, and application right? Not any other documents like birth cert or Social security card?

Answer: You are correct. You need to mail in your old passport, application form and the original or a certified copy of your marriage certificate. You will also need to submit a passport photo taken in the last 6 months plus the check for the fees.

Please keep in mind that routine renewals currently take 10 to 13 weeks while expedited processing takes 7 to 9 weeks, excluding shipping times on the front and back end. I strongly recommend that you consider processing and shipping times when making travel arrangements.

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Name change
by: Anonymous

Question: I have my current passport under my original maiden name. It was issued under this name in 2020. I got married in 2019 but due to Covid, I did not legally change it to my new married name until 2022. On form DS-82, where it asks for place of name change and date, if I enter the place and date the marriage took place it denies the entry due to my passport date being later. What can I do?

Answer: Since the date of name change precedes the date the passport was issued, you need to apply for a new application instead of a name change renewal. Please use Form DS-11 and submit your application in personal at a local acceptance facility.

Name line 1
by: Anonymous

Question: Filling out Form DS-82. In line 1, do I put my new legal name since I changed it from marriage or do I put what my previous passport says? In the directions, it says the name should be consistent with your previous passport but then on the actual application it says LAST NAME (your name must match your previous passport or name change document)

Right now I have it as my married name in line 1 and out my maiden name in line 9. I’m wondering if that’s correct or if my new name change goes in line 9 instead.

Answer: You're on the right track. Line 1 should have your new legal name and line 9 should have your old name.

Other used names
by: Anonymous

Question: I am submitting as my maiden name Smith and changing to my married name Johnson. I am submitting proof of marriage. In the section "other names used" do I need to put down Smith again? OR, because I did not have names prior to my maiden name Smith, I leave it blank?

Answer: You may enter your old name in that section.

DS-82 with name change
by: TBA

Question: Hello - my wife is renewing her passport (the previous passport has expired but within the 15-year since issuance window). Question regarding section 9 - she took my last name and dropped her birth middle name (keeping her maiden name as her middle name). How do I list this in section 9 since she technically changed her middle?

Answer: You may enter the name she used before changing it by marriage.

Place of Name Change
by: Anonymous

Question: I was married in Jamaica, but under the place of name change it says (City/state). What do I write since my marriage license is from Jamaica?

Answer: You may write "City Name, Jamaica".

Place of Name Change
by: Anonymous

Question: On my marriage license the county office put the name of our venue rather than the name of the city our wedding was in. Do I put the name of the venue on the application to match the license or do I put the name of the city?

Answer: Please enter the city and state you were married in.

Name Change DS82 form
by: Anonymous

Question: I legally changed my name and will need a new passport. On the DS82 form, "Name of Applicant" section (top section and next to DOB on page 2), which name should I use? my former name or my new legal name? I would like to know please so it won't be rejected. Thank you!

Answer: Please enter your new legal name.

Courthouse married, changed my name really late
by: Anonymous

Question: I got courthouse married (July 2017), got a passport with my maiden name because I hadn't legally changed my name yet (Sept. 2017), had an actual wedding (2018), and then legally changed my name in 2021.

I have zero ideas what to put for city/state or date. Do I put July 2017 since that's what it says on my marriage certificate? In that case, it'd say that my name was changed before my current passport was issued with my maiden name. Or do I put the date of my legal name change in this case?

Answer: If by a legal name change, you mean that you petitioned the court for it, then enter the date on the court order. Otherwise, please enter the date and place indicated on your marriage certificate.

SECTION 11 DS-82
by: Anonymous

Question: In section 11 it asks for the Place of Name Change city/state. My marriage license puts the county as the place of marriage, not the city/state. So do I put the city and state I was married in like the passport application requests and they can see that the city is in the county on the marriage license? Or do I put the county like the marriage license lists?

Answer: You may use either city/state or county/state.

Place of Name Change
by: Anonymous

Question: Is this the city I got married in or the city I received my marriage certificate?

Answer: It's the city where your wedding took place.

Permanent Address on Page 2
by: Anonymous

Question: If my permanent address is the same as my mailing address, should I list it again on Page 2 of form DS-82? Or keep that blank since I listed it on Page 1?

Answer: Yes, list it as well so they can match it in case the pages get separated.

Date of name change
by: Anonymous

Question: In section 11 of Form DS-82, is the "date of name change" my wedding date (Nov 18th) or the date the certificate was filed (Nov 21)?

Answer: It's the date of your wedding.

Date of name change
by: CC

Question: In the section of the application where it says "date of name change," is that the date I got married or the date that it says on my new SS card with my new married/hyphenated name?

Answer: Please enter the date your marriage was solemnized (wedding date).

Proof of name change was included yet they say otherwise
by: Anonymous

Question: I included my marriage certificate when renewing my U.S. passport via mail yet they sent me a letter saying I did not include it and must send all these other documents for the proof of name change. Please advise.

Answer: Please call the NPIC at 1-877-487-2778 regarding your concern.

Passport Renewal and Name Change
by: Anonymous

Question: I got married in Florida and am now trying to renew my passport with my married name before traveling. My Florida Marriage Certificate only shows my maiden name, and I'm concerned my passport renewal will fail using form DS-82 because of this. If I have my new SSN and driver's license with my married name, will my passport renewal be accepted despite my Florida Marriage Certificate only showing my maiden name?

Answer: There is no need to submit your IDs. Your marriage certificate will be sufficient as proof of legal name change since it also lists your spouse's name which I assume you are taking.

Maiden Name on Marriage License
by: Anonymous

Question: I am applying for a name change to my current passport. My marriage license lists my maiden name and my name was legally changed a few months later. Will my marriage license suffice for form DS-82 if my new name is not listed? If not, what document do I need to share? I already have my new social security with my new name and new driver's license.

Answer: Your marriage license will not suffice. You need to submit the original or a certified copy of your marriage certificate. It will be accepted as proof of legal name change since it will have both yours and your spouse's name.

Name Change
by: Name Change

Question: My expired passport (issued within 15yrs) has my name from my first marriage. Since then I returned to my maiden name, then was married for the second time. My marriage certificate shows my maiden name, I changed my name on my SS card 3 months later. Can I renew online or do I need to go in person and fill out a new application? Either way, what paperwork do I need to submit?

Answer: You may complete the renewal form online but you need to print it out and mail it with the rest of the requirements. Here's a list of what you need:

1. Form DS-82
2. Expired passport
3. Original or certified copy of divorce decree and most recent marriage certificate
4. One new passport photo
5. Payment for fees

Please note that standard service can take up to 16 weeks, 12 weeks if you expedite. We strongly recommend waiting for the new passport to arrive before making any final travel arrangements.

If you need the passport sooner than the times mentioned, you may contact a private courier like Rush My Passport to get your passport in more or less 4.5 weeks.


Married Outside the U.S.
by: Marisa

Question: I was married outside the U.S. What do I put in the Place Where Name Change occurred since it is not the typical City/State information?

Would I put the Parish that I was married in?

Answer: You may enter the City and Country where you were married.

Name change
by: Nadine

Question: On the application regarding a name change, it asks "Place of name change" (City/State). What does this refer to? The city where the marriage took place or the city where Social Security changed my name legally?

Answer: Please enter the date and place where the marriage (wedding) took place.

Change name (adopted) and Renew Stolen passport
by: Josh

Question: My passport that was issued with my birth name expired last year. I was adopted and have legally changed my name so I need to also change my name. My passport was recently stolen by an angry ex. I’m not even sure where to begin but I need to process ASAP because I have an international flight booked a week from now that’s an emergency trip. How do I go about this?

Answer: Since you no longer have your most recently-issued passport, you need to submit a new application.

The process should be pretty straightforward even with the name change as long as your IDs are already in the new name.

You need to submit the following requirements in person:

1. Form DS-11
2. Amended birth certificate (original plus photocopy)
3. Government-issued ID bearing new name
4. One new passport photo
5. Payment for fees

The only entity that can issue a passport in your required time is a regional passport agency. Unfortunately, appointments are extremely limited at the moment.

If you are in a qualified life-or-death emergency, you may call 1-877-487-2778/ 1-888-874-7793 (TTY/TDD) for an appointment. Live agents are available Mondays through Fridays, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time. Make sure that you have all your requirements, proof of the emergency (medical/death certificate in English) and proof of urgent international travel (itinerary, ticket, reservation) specific to the emergency when you go to your appointment.

If your trip is not related to a life-or-death emergency, you may still try to secure an appointment here. Your appointment date must be 3 business days before your scheduled trip.

Did not get back naturalization papers
by: Vin

Question: I sent out my naturalization papers along with my passport application months ago. I received my passport but not my naturalization papers, what do I do or who do I go to to try and get it back?

Answer: Hi, Vin. You may contact the NPIC at 1-877-487-2778 regarding your concern.

Adoption name change
by: Jerry

Question: I adopted my step daughter. She became a citizen because her mom other became a naturalized citizen. My daughter has a US passport with her old last name. I have court documents from the adoption with her new last name and birth certificate from state of Florida, however there is no reference to her old last name on any of them. I did change her SS card already.

Answer: Your daughter will not need to present proof of name change because she will be submitting a new application anyway. Just present the new documents with the new name.

Adoption name change
by: Jerry

Question: I adopted my step daughter. She became a citizen because her mom other became a naturalized citizen. My daughter has a us passport with her old last name. I have court documents from the adoption with her new last name and birth certificate from state of Florida, however there is no reference to her old last name on any of them. I did change her ss card already.

Answer: If she is a minor, she will not need name change documents since she will submit a new application. Just submit the new documents with the new name.

How will a name change affect my renewal?
by: Anonymous

Question: My passport expires in 2 years; however I need to make a name change. Will my passport renew for 10 years from now or will it still expire in 2022?

Answer: You will be issued a new passport that will expire 10 years after issuance.

Name correction
by: Lupe

Question: I'd like to correct my name "Lupe" to my birth name "Guadalupe". What form do I fill out and what is the cost?

Answer: If you cannot present proof of legal name change, you need to submit a new application in person. Please prepare the following requirements:

1. Form DS-11 (must be signed in front of a passport agent)
2. Evidence of U.S. citizenship plus photocopy
3. Proof of identity plus photocopy
4. One passport photo
5. Payment for fees

You may find the closest passport office and schedule an appointment here: http://usps.com/scheduler

Change my name on my passport
by: Harwinder Singh

I have my passport but the person who processed it entered "Singh" as my surname. It is not my surname, "Khurmi" is. On my Adhaar card or my bank copy, I changed my name "Harwinder Singh Khurmi". I applied for a passport name change but she said my last name should still be "Singh" unless it's published in a gazette. She said they will issye the passport thereafter. What can I do ? Please help me.

Answer: Do you have a U.S. passport?

renew/name change
by: Anonymous

Question: Need to renew passport also make a name change (married). I'll be doing this at my local library. Which passport application do I fill out?

Answer: If you are eligible to renew your passport by mail, you will send a completed form DS-82. Otherwise, use form DS-11. Click the link below to verify your eligibility.

Passport Renewal Requirements

Section 11 ds-82
by: Brianna

Question: In section 11 of form DS-82, are they looking for the city, state and date of the marriage or the city, state and date of the social security office when I legally changed my name two months later?

Answer: Please enter the information from the official marriage certificate issued by the county where you were married.

Renewing an amended passport
by: Anonymous

Question: I need to renew my passport. It was originally issued in my maiden name but it was later amended to my married name. I am now requesting a renewal passport. I assume that because my first passport was already amended that I do not need to provide a copy of my certified marriage certificate. Is this correct?

Answer: That is correct. You do not need to send your marriage certificate.

Unreturned Documents
by: Anonymous

Question: I recently renewed 3 passports but did not receive my original documents (birth certificates, marriage certificate & original passports) back. How do I obtain them?

Answer: Supporting documents are mailed separately from the passports. They usually arrive within a few days after the arrival of the passport. If more than 10 days has passed since the arrival of your new passport, call 1-877-487-2778 to speak with a customer service representative.

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