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Re: Seeking access to passport application from 1926
Lisha Penn
Jan 22, 2020 8:37 AM
Dear Ms. Williams,
Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!
The State Department has custody of passport applications dated after 1925. For information on how to request an application, please visit their website at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/passport-records.html. All requests for passport records issued after 1925 to the present should be mailed to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Law Enforcement Liaison, FOIA Officer, 44132 Mercure Circle, P.O. Box 1227, Sterling, VA 20166.
We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your research!
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Re: Seeking access to passport application from 1926
Do you have any suggestions for how I should be asking for the record...it's my great grandfather's application? In the outline, it mentions proof of authorization. It looks like a lot of forms and I just want to be sure I'm filling out properly. Thank you!
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Re: Seeking access to passport application from 1926
Hi Marie,
Proof of authorization would normally be something in writing from the "owner" of the passport, giving you permission to make the request. I imagine that your great-grandfather is likely deceased by now. In that case, you should be able to provide a copy of his death certificate instead.
This question - "obtaining a copy of an ancestor's passport" - was asked on the State Department site and covers the same situation as yours. The page gives more information that may be helpful, if it's not out of date! Double-check the address where you should be sending your request. I believe the Dulles, Virginia address on that page is not current. The address Lisha Penn listed in her response is the one you should use.
https://www.us-passport-service-guide.com/obtaining-a-copy-of-an-ancestors-passport.html
Best of luck!
[Edit: I just realized the link is not the State Department web site, so you may have to confirm with the proper authorities that a death certificate is an acceptable document to submit with your request. This page on FamilySearch, which I would trust more than a private site, says the same - that you need a death certificate. Note the address to send to is different. https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/United_States_Passports ]
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