22 U.S.C. § 213: Application for passport; verification by oath of initial passport

Before a passport is issued to any person by or under authority of the United States such person shall subscribe to and submit a written application which shall contain a true recital of each and every matter of fact which may be required by law or by any rules authorized by law to be stated as a prerequisite to the issuance of any such passport. If the applicant has not previously been issued a United States passport, the application shall be duly verified by his oath before a person authorized and empowered by the Secretary of State to administer oaths. Each passport application made available to potential applicants (DS–11) and each passport renewal application made available to current passport holders (DS–82) shall include a form that, if completed, indicates the applicant’s consent to the disclosure of information otherwise protected under section 552a of title 5 (commonly known as the “Privacy Act of 1974”) in the event such applicant is determined to be wrongfully detained by a foreign government. Declining to complete such form shall not affect the issuance of a passport to a qualified applicant or diplomatic efforts to secure the release of a United States national from the custody of a foreign government or entity. facilitate an increase in the number of companies certified to provide hand-carry courier services; increase the daily maximum number of applications for United States passports, by type, that such companies may submit to a passport agency of the Department [of State] (commonly referred to as ‘meeting slots’) as part of the hand-carry courier services of such company; and facilitate citizens’ awareness of the tools applicants may use to locate companies certified to provide hand-carry courier services, including adding contact information in the form of a weblink, phone number, or physical office address to the online list of registered courier companies. the transport of applications for United States passports to a passport agency of the Department for processing; and the retrieval of newly issued United States passports for delivery, directly or indirectly, to the passport holder.” Submitted for processing. In process at a lockbox facility. Awaiting adjudication. In process of adjudication. Adjudicated with a result of approval or denial. Materials shipped. the date on which his or her passport application was received; and the estimated wait time remaining in the passport application process. the online status tool required under subsection (a); passport travel advisories required under section 6103 [ 22 U.S.C. 211a note]; and passport wait times.” Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 23, 2022 ], the Secretary shall establish a procedure that provides, to any individual applying for a new United States passport or to renew the United States passport of the individual by mail, the option to have supporting documents for the application returned to the individual by the United States Postal Service through certified mail. The cost of returning supporting documents to an individual as described in subsection (a) shall be the responsibility of the individual. the retail price charged by the United States Postal Service for the service; and the estimated cost of processing the return of the supporting documents. details the costs included in the processing fee described in paragraph (2); and includes an estimate of the average cost per request.” Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Nov. 29, 1999 ], the Secretary of State shall issue regulations providing that before a child under the age of 14 years is issued a passport the requirements under paragraph (2) shall apply under penalty of perjury. Both parents, or the child’s legal guardian, must execute the application and provide documentary evidence demonstrating that they are the parents or guardian; or has sole custody of the child; has the consent of the other parent to the issuance of the passport; or is in loco parentis and has the consent of both parents, of a parent with sole custody over the child, or of the child’s legal guardian, to the issuance of the passport. The regulations required by subsection (a) may provide for exceptions in exigent circumstances, such as those involving the health or welfare of the child, or when the Secretary determines that issuance of a passport is warranted by special family circumstances.”