U.S. Passports

How can I have an amendment made to my passport?

As announced by the Department of State on September 19, 2005 and also conveyed through the Embassy’s warden system, effective September 26, 2005, as an additional security enhancement, all U.S. passport offices will no longer amend valid passports.  Instead, customers requesting name changes, extension of validity for limited passports, or correction of a printing error will apply for replacement passports.   These applications may be submitted at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz or through the U.S. consular agencies in Santa Cruz and/or Cochabamba.

If the change is within one year after issuance, customers will submit an Application for a U.S. Passport Form (DS 5504), together with the passport that needs the change, the documentation required, and new passport pictures.  There will be no charge for routine processing.  Please note that this form may be used only for passports to be printed in the U.S.  Emergency passport requests must be submitted on form DS-11 or form DS-82; please read and follow the instructions on those forms to ensure that the proper form is used.

If the change is more than one year after issuance, customers will need to submit an Application for Passport By Mail (DS-82), together with the passport that needs the change, the documentation required, and new pictures.  The cost includes the $55 application fee and $20 security surcharge, for a total of $75 for routine processing.  Because minor children are not eligible to use this form, changes in children’s passports will need to be submitted using the DS-11 form and paying the related consular fees. Of course, if the requested data change is due to a printing error by Passport Services, there will be no charge.

Those only needing to add visa pages to their passports will submit an Application for Additional Visa Pages (DS-4085).  This service is always free of charge when routine. For more information please consult the Department of State, Consular Affairs, website at http://www.travel.state.gov/.

All of these forms are available online at http://www.travel.state.gov/.  The Passport Amendment/Validation Form (DS-19), previously used to amend passports, will no longer be valid.  For more information on applying for a U.S. passport, forms, and a wealth of other international travel information, please visit the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://www.travel.state.gov/.

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