PASSPORT REGULATIONS
Passports are issued only to citizens of the United States, upon application, supported by proof of citizenship. Citizenship is acquired by birth, by naturalization and by a tion of territory. An alien woman who marries a citizen of the United States thereby becomes a citizen. Minor children resident in the United States become citizens by the naturalization of their father.
When the applicant is a native citizen of the United States he must transmit his own affidavit of this fact, stating his age and place of birth, with the certificate of one other citizen of the United States to whom he is personally known, stating that the declaration made by the applicant is true. The affidavit must be attested by a notary public, under his signature and seal of office. When there is no notary in the place the affidavit may be made before a justice of the peace or other officer authorized to administer oaths; but if he has no seal, his official act must be authenticated by certificate of a court of record.
A person born abroad who claims that his father was a native citizen of the United States must state in his affidavit that his father was born in the United States, has resided therein and was a citizen of the same at the time of the applicant’s birth. This affidavit must be supported by that of one other citizen acquainted with the facts.
NATURALIZED CITIZENS.
If the applicant be a, naturalized citizen, his certificate of naturalization must be transmitted for inspection (it will be returned with the passport), and he must state in his affidavit that he is the identical person described in the certificate presented. Passports cannot be issued to aliens who have only declared their intention to become citizens.
service does not of itself confer citizenship. A person of alien birth, who has been honorably disfrom military service in the United States, who has not been naturalized, should not transmit discharge paper in application for a passport, but should apply to the proper court for admission to citizenship, and transmit the certificate of naturalization obtained. The signature to the application and oath of allegiance should conform in orthography to applicant’s name as written in the naturalization paper, which the department follows.
Every applicant is required to state his occupation and the place of his permanent legal residence, and to declare that he goes abroad for temporary sojourn and intends to return to the United States with the purpose of residing and performing the duties of citizenship therein.
The wife or widow of a naturalized citizen must transmit the naturalization certificate of the husband, starting in her affidavit that she is the wife or widow of the person deseribed therein. The children of a naturalized citizen, claiming citizenship through the farther, must transmit the certificate of naturalization of the father, stating in their affidavits that they are children of the person described therein and were minors at the time of such naturalization.
The oath of allegiance to the United States will be required in all cases.
APPLICATIONS.
The application should be accompanied by a description of the person, stating the following particulars—viz.: Age: years. Stature: feet, inches (English measure). Forehead: . Eyes: . Nose: . Mouth: . Chin: . Hair: . Complexion: . Face: .
If the applicant is to be accompanied by his wife, minor children or servants, it will be sufficient to state the names and ages of such persons and their relationship to the applicant, when a single passport for the whole will suffice. For any other person in the party a separate passport will be required. A woman's passport may include her minor children and servants.
FEE REQUIRED.
By act of Congress approved March 28, 1888, a fee of one dollar is required to be collected for every citizen's passport, That amount in currency or postal note should accompany each application. Orders should be payable to the Disbursing Clerk of the Department of State. Drafts or checks are inconvenient and undesirable.
A passport is good for two years from its date and no longer. A new one may be obtained by stating the date and number of the old one, paying the fee of one dollar and furnishing satisfactory evidence that the applicant is at the time within the United States. The oath of allegiance must also be transmitted when the former passport was issued prior to 1861.
Citizens of the United States desiring to obtain passports while in a foreign country must apply to the chief diplomatic representative of the United States in that country, or, in the absence of a diplomatic representative, then to the consul-general, if there be one, or, in the absence of both the officers last named, to a consul. Passports cannot be lawfully issued by State authorities, or by judicial or municipal functionaries of the United States. (Revised Statutes, §4075.)
To persons wishing to obtain passports for themselves blank forms of application will be furnished by this department on request, stating whether the applicant be a native or a naturalized citizen, or claims citizenship through the naturalization of husband or parent. Forms are not furnished except as samples, to those who make a business of procuring passports. Applications for forms should state whether for native or naturalized citizens or persons claiming citizenship through naturalization of parent—the form being different in each case.
Communications should be addressed to the Department of State, endorsed "Passport Division," and each communication should give the post-office address of the person to whom the answer is to be directed, Professional titles will not be inserted in passports.
