A passport is an established and widely accepted legal document of identity. It is also the most important travel document which enables a person to travel out of his country. It is issued by the national government and is regarded as a significant legal document across the world.

In the United States of America, passports are issued by the US Department of State. The American passport is an internationally recognized document which is compulsory for all American citizens planning a trip or stay abroad.

For first time applicants, the entire passport application procedure is extremely convenient and methodical. This makes it simpler for any new applicant to apply for passport. There are some requirements with regard to applications made for US passports. In simple terms, all applications for US passports have to be accompanied with identity proofs, two latest photographs, a social security number and the requisite application fee.

Applications for passports can either be made online or in person. There are however certain norms that are followed while processing the application of applicants under 16 years of age. Such applicants along with those who may have lost their passports need to apply for their passports in person.

People applying for a passport for the first time may ask how to get a passport and how long does it take for the department to issue the passports. To answer the second question, it has to be mentioned that there are two ways to receive the passport. These are the Routine Service and Expedited Passport Service. Applicants may choose any of these two options for receiving their passports.