If you still have passport or citizenship questions after reading through this page, please contact the Consulate General serving your area.

Questions on this page:

• My passport is still valid, but its pages are all fully stamped. Could I have extra pages added to it or should I apply for a new passport?
• How soon should I renew my passport before it expires?
• My passport has already expired. I do not wish to get a new one. Can my passport be extended?
• Where can I obtain passport application forms?
• Do I submit my passport application to the passport offices in the United States?
• Do I need to submit my passport application in person or may I submit it by mail?
• Will the passport I have to submit with my application be returned to me? What happens to the foreign visas in my old passport?
• My current U.S. passport is not a machine-readable one, can I still use it to travel, or should I apply for a new machine-readable passport?
• I want to apply for passports for my children. Do I have to bring them to the Consulate General for their applications?
• My children and/or I have both U.S. and Australian passports. Can we travel to the United States with only our Australian passports and enter on the Visa Waiver Program?
• My child was born in Australia. How do I register my child as a U.S. citizen, and obtain a U.S. passport and Social Security number card?
• My mother and I were born in Australia and my maternal grandfather is a U.S. citizen. Can I obtain U.S. citizenship through him?
• My son was born in Australia. Is he entitled to Australian citizenship? If yes, how does it affect his U.S. citizenship? Does he have to choose either citizenship when he turns age 18?
• What is the U.S. policy on dual nationality?
• I am unsure whether I am up-to-date with my child support payments. Will this affect my ability to obtain a new passport?

Q: My passport is still valid, but its pages are all fully stamped. Could I have extra pages added to it or should I apply for a new passport?

A: Please refer to our application for additional visa pages. There is a fee for adding additional visa pages to a passport. If your passport expires in the next few months, you may consider applying for a new passport. If you are a frequent traveler, you may wish to submit an application for additional visa pages at the same time as you apply for a new passport.

Q: How soon should I renew my passport before it expires?

A: You may renew your passport any time before or after it expires. However, some countries require at least 6 months validity beyond your stay, so you may wish to renew your passport before it expires. Also, please be aware that if your passport was issued 15 years or more prior to your application for a new passport you may require additional supporting documents and fees, and will also be required to apply in person. (Refer to passports for further information.)

Q: My passport has already expired. I do not wish to get a new one. Can my passport be extended?

A: No. You must apply for a new passport. Please refer to passports for further information.

Q: Where can I obtain passport application forms?

A: All passport application forms and instructions can be found in our passports section.

Q: Do I submit my passport application to the passport offices in the United States?

A: No, you should submit your application to the Consulate General serving your area. If you submit your application directly to the United States, you will delay processing of your application. Please refer to passports for further information.

Q: Do I need to submit my passport application in person or may I submit it by mail?

A: It depends on your situation. Please refer to passports for further information.

Q: Will the passport I have to submit with my application be returned to me? What happens to the foreign visas in my old passport?

A: Yes, your old passport will be cancelled and returned to you with the new passport. You may have to re-apply for your foreign visas that are currently in your old passport. Please contact the relevant foreign embassy or consulate for information.

Q: My current U.S. passport is not a machine-readable one, can I still use it to travel, or should I apply for a new machine-readable passport?

A: Visas requirements for some countries may be dependent on whether your passport is machine-readable or not. (Contact the relevant foreign embassy or consulate for information). For travel to the United States, provided your passport is valid and in good condition at the time of entry to the United States, it does not matter whether your passport is machine-readable or not.

Q: I want to apply for passports for my children. Do I have to bring them to the Consulate General for their applications?

A: Children under the age of 14, or if their previous passport was issued when they were younger than 16 years of age, must appear in person. Please refer to passports for further information and to make an appointment.

Q: My children and/or I have both U.S. and Australian passports. Can we travel to the United States with only our Australian passports and enter on the Visa Waiver Program?

A: No. The U.S. regulations require all U.S. citizens to enter and depart the United States at all times on their valid U.S. passports, regardless of their ages or how many foreign passports one may have. There is no guarantee of entry to the United States without a valid U.S. passport. Please refer to Dual Nationality for further information. (For travel to other countries please contact the relevant foreign embassy or consulate.)

Q: My child was born in Australia. How do I register my child as a U.S. citizen, and obtain a U.S. passport and Social Security number card?

A: Certain citizenship transmission requirements must be met by the U.S. citizen parent(s) before a child can be documented as a U.S. citizen. Please refer to Consular Report of Birth Abroad for further information.

Q: My mother and I were born in Australia and my maternal grandfather is a U.S. citizen. Can I obtain U.S. citizenship through him?

A: Please see Possible Derivative Claim to Citizenship and Expeditious Naturalization for Children Born Outside the United States.

Q: My son was born in Australia. Is he entitled to Australian citizenship? If yes, how does it affect his U.S. citizenship? Does he have to choose either citizenship when he turns age 18?

A: Generally, a child born in Australia on or after August 20, 1986, is an Australian citizen provided at least one of the parents is an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the time of the child’s birth (refer to Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for further information). If your son does acquire Australian citizenship by birth, it does not affect his U.S. citizenship. (See the U.S. policy on dual nationality.)

Q: What is the U.S. policy on dual nationality?

A: Refer to Dual Nationality.

Q: I am unsure whether I am up-to-date with my child support payments. Will this affect my ability to obtain a new passport?

A: If you are in arrears of more than USD$2500.00 then you may not be eligible to have a full-validity passport issued. For more information please see the information on child support on this page.