There is a protocol you will have to follow if you are applying for a new passport. It is better to apply for the passport in person by filling the form DS-11 in these following cases:
- If this is the first time you are applying for a passport
- If you are below 16
- If your previous passport was issued to you when you were below 16
- If your previous passport was stolen, lost or damaged
- If your previous passport was issued to you more than 15 years ago
In case you don’t follow any of the aforementioned points, you can apply for a renewal of a passport online by filling DS-8 form.
Steps and requirements for applying for a new passport
Application form
You can download the DS-11 application form online from the travel.state.gov website. There are important terms you should follow while filling the form. It is important to read them carefully and do as directed.
There is an acceptance agent you should wait for before she/he tells you to sign the form post filling it. You also need to provide a social security number if you have been issued one. In case you do not have a social security number, you can submit a statement which is signed and dated, and which includes the phrase “I declare under the penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the following is true and correct: I have never been issued a Social Security Number by the Social Security Administration.”
You may have to apply for a larger passport that has 52 pages, however, there is no additional cost. To apply for a 52 pages passport, you can check the box ’52 pages’ which is at the top of the DS-11 form.
Evidence for citizenship
Whatever evidence you decide you present, it must be an original or a certified copy of the document. You must also carry a copy of the original document. Here are the requirements to prove your citizenship while applying for a new passport.
- US passport that is valid and not damaged
- The birth certificate that is issued by the city, state of birth, or county, list of your parents’ names, your name, date, and place of birth, mention of the date filed with registrar’s office, the signature of the registrar, issuing authority’s seal
- Certificate of naturalization
- Certificate of citizenship
Photocopy of the evidence of your citizenship
You need to submit the photocopy of the front and back of the evidence you are submitting. It is important that the photocopies you submit are legible, taken on white standard paper with 8.5″x11″, in the black and white font, and single sided. The requirements have to be adhered to while applying for a new passport.
Another important requirement for a new passport is the fees you have to pay for the passport. For children, the fee is approximately $120, and the fee for adults is approximately $165.
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Tips on choosing the right desk for your kids
Read moreWhile you are setting up your kid’s study space in the house, ensure that you make the space comfortable and fun. This will encourage your child to inculcate good homework habits. So, you need to choose an appropriate kids’ desk with adequate space and storage capacity. If your child knows that it is just for them, they will enjoy sitting down and studying there.
There is a multitude of brands manufacturing kids’ desks of a variety of styles. You can also purchase from online furniture and kids’ accessories stores. If you are planning to buy one, keep the following tips in mind.
Choose the appropriate size
You may be tempted to use an adult desk for your kid. However, it is certainly wiser to choose a kid-sized desk for your child so that they can be comfortably seated. Comfort ensures better concentration and productivity. So, you must ensure that the desk is of the right height. There should be sufficient leg space for your child as well. The drawers should be well within reach.Buy a desk with storage
It is important that you buy a kids’ desk that ensures maximum convenience while studying. It’s a good idea to buy a desk that comes with storage spaces like drawers. Besides fostering convenience, it will teach your kid to organize their study materials and accessories properly. There are desks that come with a display space as well. If your budget is a little higher, you can buy one of these so that your kid can display their art, craft, globe, and other decorative items.Buy a comfortable chair
Buying only a kids’ desk is not enough. The chair has to be just as comfortable. The chair must suit your kid’s size and height as well as the height of the desk. Maintaining the correct posture while sitting is important. Your child’s feet must touch the floor while they are seated on the chair. You can also purchase a chair with an adjustable height so that your child can use it for a long time.Check out brands like Toys”R”Us and Wayfair for the most comfortable and appealing kids’ desks. You can avail of the best deals, discounts, and offers by shopping online. Compare the products and the prices before making the purchase. While choosing one, make sure you have your kid in the decision-making process.
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Rest easy: Draw up your last will and testament online
Read moreLast will and testament spells out who will be the beneficiaries of your assets in the event of your death. Drawing up a last will and testament is a fairly intricate task. Sometimes it can bother on cumbersome as well since it involves a certain form of legalese and requires familiarity with state laws. It is quite common to take the assistance of a legal expert to ease the process of writing a last will and testament. However, these days you will find a number of online templates and programs that provide you with ready-made forms to write your last will. These online forms makes it easier and simpler for you to create your own last will and testament.
These forms are pre-formatted and just require you to fill in the necessary details. Before filling in the details, you need to acquaint yourself with some basic legal terms that will come up in the last will and testament form.
- Beneficiary: This term is used for anyone who receives a gift or benefits from a trust.
- Bequest: This term is used for testamentary gift (that is, a gift made by a will). This can be personal property, which traditionally can anything other than money.
- Testate – This term refers to the person who is deceased and had created a will before death.
- Testator – This term refers to the person who signs the will, that is, the person whose will it is.
- Executor: This term is used to refer to the person who is responsible for the execution of the will. Generally, the testator nominates an executor in the will.
- Legacy: This term is used to refer to a testamentary gift of money.
- Legatee – This term refers to the person who is a beneficiary of a legacy.
- Specific legacy (or specific bequest) – This term refers to a testamentary gift of a specific object.
Some of these terms may differ in different forms. Make sure to verify that you correcting understand the meaning of each and every term that occur in the form you have chosen to use. You will also have to ensure that your chosen form complies with the laws of the state you reside in. Making sure that you will is correct according all legal requirements avoids the hassles of your requests from becoming invalidate in the court of law. Although, the online last will and testament forms let you make your own will without a lawyer, it is advised that you consult a legal expert to ensure that your online will and testament meets all the necessary legalities.