US citizen travel and passport renewal information

Q. I am a US citizen living in Jamaica. My passport has recently expired. What can I do?

This is a great question. First, you can no longer travel on an expired passport. You need a valid US passport to travel to America. See the following link for more details: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html.

Please renew your US passport well in advance as you can never know when it will be needed for urgent travel.

Passports should also be renewed before they expire, and before you make travel plans, in the event of unexpected delays. Be aware as well that many countries won’t allow you entry if you have less than six months of validity on your passport; you can check the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website at https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country.html for specific countries’ entry requirements.

Though Jamaica will allow you to enter with your Jamaican passport, you will not be allowed to enter America without a valid US passport.

Q. I am a naturalised US citizen. Can I travel on my naturalisation certificate?

Excellent question. First congratulations on becoming a US citizen. You must apply for a US passport after you have naturalised. This is done by you and information on how to apply will be provided below. You also can not travel on your naturalisation certificate. That certificate does not replace a US passport. Though you possibly can leave America on another passport or travel document, you will only be allowed to enter America on a valid US passport.

See the following link for more details: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html.

Though Jamaica will allow you to enter with your Jamaican passport, you will not be allowed to enter America without a valid US passport, even if you have a driver’s licence, state ID, or your naturalisation certificate.

Q. Are there any special procedures for renewing our passports?

All applicants must make an appointment and appear in person for their interview at the embassy in Kingston or the US consular agencies in the Cayman Islands and Montego Bay.

Information on passport applications for those living in Jamaica, including how to schedule an appointment for passport services, is available on the embassy’s website at: Services for US and Local Citizens – US Citizen Services – US Embassy in Jamaica (https://usembassy.gov).

Q. Which form is needed for a passport application?

There are two kinds of forms commonly utilised by US citizens to apply for a US passport. The correct form depends on if the applicant is an adult and if the application is for a renewal:

Form DS-11: All US citizens must apply using the form DS-11 if they are applying for a passport for the first time, if they are under age 18 or if they intend to replace a lost or stolen passport.

In addition, all applicants who use form DS-11 must submit:

• Evidence of US citizenship (such as a US birth certificate, certificate of citizenship, certificate of naturalisation, or consular report of birth abroad)

• Proof of identity (We accept government-issued identification such as a passport, driver’s licence, or voter registration card)

• A new passport size picture (which shows a full-frontal view of the face, is 2×2 inches in size, has a white background, and is taken without glasses.)

• Form DS-3053 (for applicants under the of 18. Please check the website for more information regarding this form jm.https://usembassy.gov)

• Fees (Please visit our website at travel.state.gov for current fees)

• Form DS-64 (for applicants whose passports are damaged, lost or stolen)

• Form DS-82: This form is used only for passport renewal. Meaning you are currently in possession of a US passport.All US citizens must apply using the form DS-82 if they are an adult whose most current passport is valid for 10 years and it is still in their possession. The last passport must have been issued within the past 15 years when the applicant was age 16 or older.

Hence, all applicants who use form DS-82 must submit:

a) Current passport (submit both passport book/card if valid and you are applying for both.)

b) A certified copy of a marriage certificate or a court order if the applicant’s name has changed

c) Recent passport size picture (which shows a full-frontal view of the face, is 2×2 inches in size, has a white background, and is taken without glasses.)

d) Fees (Please visit our website at travel.state.gov for current fees.)

We would like to point out that it is now possible for many individuals using the DS-82 renewal to use an online payment option and mail the application in using DHL. Please see our Passport Renewal webpage (Passport Services – US Embassy in Jamaica – Use our new wizard: (https://jm.https://usembassy.gov/passports/##) to determine if you are eligible for online fee payment.

As a reminder, it is not possible to travel on a naturalisation certificate. If you are a naturalised US citizen, you cannot travel back to the United States on your certificate and will need a valid US passport to return to the United States.

If you travel to Jamaica without a valid US passport you will have to apply for one at the embassy in Kingston, with no guarantee that you will make your return flight back to the United States.

That passport will be a limited validity passport and you will have to apply again in the states for a new passport once you return.

You can find more information about how to travel to the US on our website jm.https://usembassy.gov.