Lanham MD Passport Guide: Steps, Facilities, Checklists, Fees

By GovComplete Team • Published on:

Location: Lanham, MD
Lanham MD Passport Guide: Steps, Facilities, Checklists, Fees

Obtaining a Passport in Lanham, MD: A Step-by-Step Guide

Lanham, in Prince George's County, Maryland, benefits from its location near Washington, DC, BWI, and Dulles airports, fueling demand from business travelers, University of Maryland students, exchange programs, and families during spring/summer vacations and winter breaks. High DC-area traffic means local facilities book up fast—plan 4-6 weeks ahead for appointments during peaks [1].

This guide provides tailored steps, decision tools, checklists, and local tips to navigate common pitfalls like photo rejections, form errors, and minor documentation gaps. Verify all details on official sites.

Which Passport Service Do You Need?

Use this table to decide between DS-11 (in-person) and DS-82 (mail renewal)—a frequent Lanham mix-up for business pros and students.

Scenario Form Method Common in Lanham?
First-time, minor under 16, passport >15 years old, lost/damaged DS-11 In-person at facility Yes—new residents, exchange students
Renewal: Issued ≥16 years old, <15 years ago, undamaged DS-82 Mail (no visit) Yes—frequent travelers
Lost/stolen (<15 years) DS-64 (report) + DS-82/DS-11 Mail or in-person Urgent business trips
Corrections/name change DS-5504 (minor, <1 year) or DS-11 Mail or in-person Post-marriage for locals

Confirm with State Dept wizard: pptform.state.gov [1][2].

Passport Acceptance Facilities Near Lanham

Book early via iafdb.travel.state.gov [7]—no walk-ins during peaks; expect 4-6 week waits. Facilities handle DS-11 (new/minors) and witness DS-82 if needed; mail renewals directly.

Lanham options:

  • Glenarden Post Office: 7800 Good Luck Rd, Lanham, MD 20706. (301) 459-7822. Photos on-site; appointments required [4].
  • UPS Store #2072: 8900 Annapolis Rd, Ste 100, Lanham, MD 20706. (301) 552-7288. Photos available; appointments preferred [5].

Nearby (5-20 min drive):

  • New Carrollton Post Office: 8600 Annapolis Rd, New Carrollton, MD 20784. (301) 459-4382 [4].
  • Prince George's County Clerk of Circuit Court: Upper Marlboro. Extra capacity in peaks [6].

What to expect: 15-45 min visit. Bring docs/photos/fees; staff verify, oath/sign, seal envelope (no passport issued). Busy: Mondays, noon-2pm, peaks (spring/winter). Early weekdays best. Track via receipt [12].

Urgent (≤14 days travel)? DC Passport Agency with proof [8].

Application Checklist and Steps

Pre-Appointment Checklist (DS-11 In-Person)

  • DS-11 completed (unsigned): Download eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds11.pdf [11]. Black ink; match names exactly. Pitfall: Pre-signing voids it.
  • Citizenship proof (original + photocopy): Birth cert (MD: health.maryland.gov [9]), naturalization cert. Full name/city; legal name change proof. Pitfall: No original or blurry copy.
  • Photo ID (original + photocopy): MD driver's license/REAL ID [10]. Matches citizenship name. Pitfall: Expired/mismatch.
  • 2x2 photo: Within 6 months (details below). Pitfall: Wrong size/smile/glasses.
  • Fees: Separate payments (table below). Pitfall: Wrong payee/method.
  • Minors: Both parents/DS-3053 notarized, IDs/proof [16].

Steps:

  1. Fill forms/book appointment [4][5].
  2. Photocopy docs (8.5x11).
  3. Get photo.
  4. Attend: Sign/oath/submit.
  5. Track after 7-10 days: passportstatus.state.gov [12].

DS-82 Renewal: Mail only [13].

Post-Submission Checklist

  • Photograph receipt/tracking #.
  • Check status after 1 week (routine 6-8 weeks; expedited 2-3).
  • Buffer for peaks/delays.

Passport Photos: Avoid Rejections (25-30% Local Rate)

2x2 inches, head 1-1⅜ inches, white/cream background, neutral expression, no glasses/hats/shadows [14]. Facilities/UPS/CVS ($15-20) best; avoid selfies. Tool: travel.state.gov/photo.

Fees and Payment

Service To "Postmaster" (Check/MO) Facility Fee (Cash/Check/Card)
Adult Book $130 $35
Adult Card $30 $35
Minor Book $100 $35
Execution (all) N/A $35

State Dept: Check/MO only (+$60 expedite). Total adult book: ~$200 [15].

Processing Times and Expediting

  • Routine: 6-8 weeks.
  • Expedited: 2-3 weeks (+$60).
  • Urgent (≤14 days): DC agency [8].

Lanham peaks (holidays/students): Apply 9+ weeks early [1].

Special Considerations for Minors

Under 16: Both parents or DS-3053 notarized + IDs/proof. Local pitfall: Missing school/group docs don't substitute [16].

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Same-day in Lanham? No—DC agency for urgents [8].
Routine vs expedited? 6-8 vs 2-3 weeks (+$60) [1].
Glenarden appointment? Yes, call (301) 459-7822 [4].
Renewal? Mail DS-82 [13].
MD birth cert? Vital Records, 4-6 weeks [9].
Old photo OK? No, <6 months [14].

Sources

[1] travel.state.gov/passports
[2] Apply in Person
[3] Lost/Stolen
[4] USPS Glenarden
[5] UPS Lanham
[6] PG County Clerk
[7] Facility Search
[8] Agencies
[9] MD Vital Records
[10] MD MVA
[11] DS-11
[12] Status
[13] DS-82
[14] Photos
[15] Fees
[16] Minors
[17] Abroad

AK

Aaron Kramer

Passport Services Expert & Founder

Aaron Kramer is the founder of GovComplete and a passport services expert with over 15 years of experience in the U.S. passport industry. Throughout his career, Aaron has helped thousands of travelers navigate the complexities of passport applications, renewals, and expedited processing. His deep understanding of State Department regulations, acceptance facility operations, and emergency travel documentation has made him a trusted resource for both first-time applicants and seasoned travelers. Aaron's mission is to make government services accessible and stress-free for everyone.

15+ Years Experience Expedited Processing State Dept. Regulations