If the entire passport belonging to an American citizen becomes filled up with visa entry and exit stamps to the point where it is not possible to legibly add more, they may apply for expedited American passport added pages. This applies only if the passport is still valid and it is in good condition. This may be done on only two occasions.

Complete Appropriate Form

To obtain new pages, A Form DS-4085 must be completed and signed. This form may be completed online and then printed or a blank form may be printed and completed by hand. Forms are available online at the US Government website or obtained from an Acceptance Facility or Passport Agency.

Printing and Completion

The form must be printed one page to a side. It must be completed in black ink and in neat handwriting. Failure to complete the form correctly, especially of the Social Security Number is omitted, will result in delays in returning your new visa pages.

What To Submit

The signed and completed Form DS-4085 must be sent to the American national processing center for passports, along with the currently valid passport and the appropriate fee. There are two addresses to which the documents must be sent, depending on whether the request is routine or requires more urgent delivery. They are distinguishable only by their zip codes, so care must be taken in addressing the envelope to make sure it goes to the correct office.

Expedited Delivery

Routine requests are processed in 4 to 6 weeks. Urgent requests are handled within 2 or 3 weeks. If the documentation is required within four weeks in order to obtain a foreign visa, or within two weeks if the holder is travelling internationally, an appointment must be made to apply in person at a passport agency. If the application has already been submitted but not yet received and the holder is due to travel internationally within one week or less, a Customer Service Representative at the National Passport Information Center should be contacted by telephone.

Overseas Requirements

If the holder is outside the United States at the time of application, the procedure is slightly different. In London, for example, Embassy staff members are not permitted to accept personal checks, cash or payments in excess of the exact fee. They are authorized to accept banker drafts, international money orders, credit cards and certain debit cards.

Additional Information

Submitting a correct new USA passport application is no guarantee that it will be granted and the new passport sent. The current one may be damaged or expire in transit. In this case, the fee is not refundable. American ex-patriots residing in Wales or England, in Scotland or in Northern Ireland must follow different instructions, depending on their nation of residence. Forms and instructions are available on the US State Department website. Application must be submitted in person if international travel is due to take place in less than ten days. Otherwise, it may be submitted by mail.