How to Obtain a New Passport in Atlanta : visasupply.com

Editor's Note (UPDATED February 25, 2023) -- U.S. passports are taking up to seven weeks to process using the government's expedited service. It is possible to get a passport in less time by scheduling an appointment with the Passport Agency by calling 877-487-2778 and appearing in person at their office.

More Atlanta residents are obtaining U.S. passports as international travel grows in popularity across Georgia, increasing the importance of understanding how to obtain a passport locally.

The strong economy and expanding population combined to fuel higher demand for new passports in recent years. Metro Atlanta was the fourth-fastest growing region in the United States in the late 2010s, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Of Georgia’s 10.6 million residents in 2019, some 4.6 million lived in the Metro Atlanta region -- 72,500 more people than in 2018, according to the Atlanta Regional Commission. From 2013 to 2019, the number of Georgia passports issued by the U.S. State Department annually grew by more than 150% to reach 487,000.

Atlanta is also the economic engine driving Georgia’s economy to grow faster than the national average for seven years in a row. Aside from population increases, other factors in that growth include higher consumer spending, low interest rates, increased homebuilding activity, additional defense spending and a number of long-term economic development projects that are rolling out in the early 2020s. The stronger economy and population surge mean more Georgians are traveling for business and/or pleasure.

To travel abroad, adults (ages 16 and up) need a U.S. passport. The passport is good for 10 years, after which it must be renewed. To obtain a new passport, you will have to appear in person at an authorized passport acceptance facility. Employees at these government facilities will verify your identify and your documentation. You will also have to appear in person if:

You previously held a child’s passport (only good for five years);
Your passport expired more than five years ago; or
Your passport has been lost or damaged.

In Atlanta, there are three options to obtain a new passport: visit a passport acceptance facility; appear at the Passport Agency downtown; or, in certain circumstances, use a private passport service to expedite delivery.

(NOTE: If you already have an adult passport in your possession that is in good condition, and it expired less than five years ago (or has yet to expire and you wish to renew), click here to learn how to renew a passport in Atlanta: https://www.visasupply.com/passports-and-visas-101/post/passport-renewal-in-atlanta)

Option 1: Appear at an Acceptance Facility

The most common way to obtain another passport is visiting a passport acceptance facility. This link allows you to find the closest facility to your home or office: https://iafdb.travel.state.gov. For those located in Metro Atlanta, we recommend using the Dekalb County Clerk of Superior Court: https://dksuperiorclerk.com/passports/.

The basic form for a new passport (DS-11) is available online at https://pptform.state.gov/. You can complete the form online and then it print out, and take with you to the acceptance facility. (Do NOT sign the passport form in advance, as the government agent must witness your signature.) You may also fill out the DS-11 form by hand at the passport acceptance facility. No appointment is necessary at the Dekalb County Clerk of Superior Court, however, many other locations do require appointments.

You will submit supporting documentation along with form DS-11. The required documents (also listed at https://dksuperiorclerk.com/passports/) include:

Your long-form birth certificate or a government-certified copy of that certificate. {If you need to order a new copy of your birth certificate, we recommend using VitalChek (https://www.vitalchek.com), a private company with an easy-to-use process and less expensive rates.}
For naturalized citizens, their original certificate of naturalization.
State-issued driver’s license.
One photo that meets all passport image criteria, and properly attached to the application. (See https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html.)
A check or money payable to the U.S. Department of State. The basic passport fee is $130. Additional charges apply for expedited service and other options. For a full list of fees, please visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html
Another $35 payable via check, money order, cash or debit card to be paid to the passport acceptance facility for the identity verification process. (Check with the specific facility for the exact forms of payment they accept.)

Passport acceptance facilities are government offices but they do not actually issue the passport. These facilities will verify your documents and forward them to the State Department’s Passport Agency. The normal turnaround time for renewals by mail is eight to eleven weeks. Expedited service within seven weeks is available for an added fee. You can also pay extra for return delivery in two days (rather than the typical first class mailing).

Option 2: Apply in Person at the U.S. Passport Agency

If you need to travel within the next month, you can apply in person at the U.S. Passport Agency downtown (230 Peachtree St #1000, Atlanta, GA 30303). You can ONLY apply in person here if you can prove the need to travel within the next two weeks – or four weeks if you are traveling to a country that requires a visa. You will need to fill out Form DS-11 and make an appointment directly with the Atlanta Passport Agency. Note that the agency is busy during the summer travel season and around the holidays, so give yourself plenty of lead time.

For your appointment, bring the identification listed above, as well as:

Your appointment confirmation number
Proof of travel plans, such as your flight itinerary, hotel reservation or cruise tickets
One passport photo
Methods of payment. The agency takes major credit cards, debit cards, cash, checks and money orders. In addition to normal costs, there is an additional $60 expediting fee.

Contact information, directions and other details about the Atlanta Passport Agency are available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast/passport-agencies/atlanta.html

Visiting the Passport Agency is more expensive and may be less convenient than using an acceptance facility. However, if you need a passport quickly, it is worth the extra effort. Unlike a passport acceptance facility, the Passport Agency can issue your new passport – often on the same day or the following day.

Option 3: Use a Private Passport Service

The third option is to use a private passport expediter such as Visa Supply to speed up the turnaround time. For this option, you still need to visit a passport acceptance facility so a government official can verify your identity and documents. Normally the facility can only forward your documents to the State Department for processing. However, if you are using a courier service such as Visa Supply, the acceptance facility will seal your documents in an envelope and return them to you. You will then take that envelope back to our office so we can ship it to one of our couriers in San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, or Washington, D.C. so we can expedite your passport application.

Our office is conveniently located in Sandy Springs, just two miles outside of I-285 on the Roswell Road exit. If you want Visa Supply to help you, you must FIRST visit our office so we can take your passport photo; help you prepare your DS-11 application; plus review your documentation. You can take these documents to the Dekalb County Clerk of Superior Court, and then return the sealed envelope to Visa Supply so we can expedite your application with the Passport Agency.

Since Visa Supply is a private company, we charge a fee for our services (in addition to the government’s $190 expedite fee for a passport book). Beyond the convenience of using our office, we make sure your application form is filled out correctly. We also take your passport photo and will ensure that it meets the government’s specifications. Our basic service starts at $100. Customers receive their new passport (along with the old one) within seven weeks; for additional fees we can also get passports renewed in as fast as one week. Please call us for the latest details.

Atlanta and Georgia residents with questions about obtaining a new U.S. passport can schedule a telephone call through our website. Our free consultation will guide you through your options and each step in the process.