How to Not Ruin Your Passport Application in Kitsap County

The mistakes people make at passport appointments are almost always avoidable. I’ve seen enough of them to write this post.

First: are you even coming to the right place?

If you’re renewing a passport that’s recently expired and you aren’t needing any changes, you’re most likely needing to fill out a DS-82. We don’t process DS-82 renewals at the courthouse. You mail that directly to the federal processing center. Coming in for that appointment is a wasted trip — call us first and we’ll point you in the right direction.

For new applications, replacing a lost passport, updating a child’s passport, or a name change — that’s us. Form DS-11. Come in.

Fill out the form completely before you arrive

This sounds obvious. It isn’t.

Missed boxes, wrong information, mismarked fields — we see it constantly. A simple error is the difference between getting your passport and getting a rejection letter weeks later. We can help you figure out what information goes where, but the more complete your form is when you walk in, the faster your appointment goes. Do the work ahead of time.

If you have questions before your appointment, call us. That’s what we’re there for.

The payment situation

This is the one that surprises people most, and I get it — it’s a little archaic. But the federal government requires payment by check or money order for the passport fee itself. That’s not our rule. We can’t change it. So either bring a personal check or have your bank issue one.

Here’s where it gets specific: there are two separate fees. The federal government fee and our county processing fee are collected separately. We cannot accept a single money order or cashier’s check that combines both amounts.

The number of times someone has shown up with one check for the combined total — and we’ve had to send them away — would genuinely surprise you. Verify the amounts before you come in. Ask when you book your appointment if you’re not sure what to bring.

Bring your original documents — and copies

The federal government requires original or certified copies of supporting documents, front and back. Birth certificate, ID, whatever applies to your situation. You will get everything back. But we’ve had to cancel appointments because someone brought a photocopy thinking it would work.

It’s far better to have us flag a document issue at your appointment than to have your entire application rejected after it’s already been submitted.

Traveling soon?

If you’re leaving in a month or less, skip us and go directly to the Seattle Passport Agency. They can issue passports same-day for urgent travel situations. Our standard processing timeline won’t work for you. Search ‘Seattle Passport Agency appointment’ and book directly.

For everyone else: come prepared, call ahead if you have questions, and double-check your payment before you walk in. Most passport appointments go smoothly. The ones that don’t are almost always preventable.