Lamesa TX Passport Guide: Facilities, Checklists, Timelines

By GovComplete Team • Published on:

Location: Lamesa, TX
Lamesa TX Passport Guide: Facilities, Checklists, Timelines

Getting a Passport in Lamesa, TX

Lamesa residents in rural Dawson County (pop. ~5,700) often apply for passports to visit family in Mexico, take Caribbean cruises from Galveston, or fly internationally from Midland Airport—patterns driven by West Texas's proximity to the border and seasonal escapes. Peak demand hits during spring break, summer road trips, and holidays, overwhelming small-town facilities. With drives to Dallas Passport Agency exceeding 4 hours, plan ahead to avoid delays from appointment shortages or rural mail lags. This guide, sourced from U.S. Department of State data, offers Lamesa-specific checklists, timelines, and tips to streamline your process.

Determine Which Passport Service You Need

Use the State Department's wizard [2] to confirm your form—Texas applicants commonly err here, refiling DS-82 as DS-11 and losing 4-6 weeks.

Scenario Form Method Key Eligibility Notes
First-time, minor under 16, lost/stolen/damaged, or issued before age 16 DS-11 In person at acceptance facility Never mail; sign at interview.
Renewal (issued age 16+, undamaged, <15 years old) DS-82 Mail or in person Simplest/fastest if eligible; no in-person needed unless adding pages.
Lost/stolen (valid passport) DS-64 (report) + DS-82 or DS-11 Mail/in person Police report strengthens theft claim.
Name/data correction (<1 year old) DS-5504 Mail Free; no fee if eligible.
Minor under 16 DS-11 In person Both parents or notarized consent required.

Decision tip: If unsure (e.g., passport >15 years old or damaged), default to DS-11—safer than rejection. Lamesa applicants: Factor in 30-60 minute drives to backups like Seminole PO if primary slots fill.

Required Documents and Eligibility

Core items: U.S. citizenship proof (original/certified + photocopy), valid photo ID (photocopy front/back), passport photo. Texas birth certificates from Dawson County Clerk are ideal for locals [3][4].

Comprehensive Preparation Checklist (print and check off):

  1. Run eligibility wizard [2].
  2. Citizenship: Long-form birth cert (Dawson County Clerk or Texas DSHS [3][4]), naturalization cert, or old passport. Order early—2-4 week rural delivery common.
  3. ID: Texas DL (DPS-issued), photocopy both sides on 8.5x11 paper [1].
  4. Form: Download from travel.state.gov [1]; DS-11 unsigned until interview; single-sided print.
  5. Photo: 2x2", white background, <6 mo

nths old, head 1-1⅜" from bottom/chin. Avoid Texas pitfalls: glare, shadows, smiles, headwear (unless religious), glasses reflections [5]. Get at Lamesa Walgreens (904 W Hwy 80) or CVS (~$15). 6. Fees: See table below. Two payments: State Dept (check/money order), facility (cash/check/card). 7. Minors: Both parents' IDs/presence; DS-3053 notarized if one absent; court order for sole custody [1]. 8. Photocopies: 1 per doc page, standard paper. 9. Optional: Travel itinerary for expedited proof.

Current Fees (as of 2024; verify [1]):

Applicant Type Application Fee (to State) Execution Fee (to Facility) Expedited (+$60)
Adult Book (DS-11) $130 $35 Yes
Adult Renewal (DS-82) $130 N/A (mail) Yes
Child Book (<16, DS-11) $100 $35 Yes
Passport Card (land/sea only) -$30 Same Yes

Common mistake: Forgetting separate execution fee—delays submission.

Passport Acceptance Facilities in Lamesa and Nearby

Lamesa's two facilities handle DS-11; book 4-6 weeks ahead for peaks. No walk-ins; rural demand from oil workers and families spikes slots. Use locator [7] for real-time availability. Nearby: Seminole PO (35 min north), Brownfield PO (45 min east); Dallas Agency (4+ hrs) for life-or-death urgent.

  • Lamesa Post Office (606 N 1st St, Lamesa, TX 79331; (806) 872-2841)
    Book USPS appointment or call. Mon-Fri by appt [8].

  • Dawson County Clerk (409 N 1st St, Lamesa, TX 79331; (806) 872-2583 x222)
    Courthouse; also birth certs. Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM; call for appts [4][9].

**What to ex

pect**: 15-30 min appt; agent reviews docs, witnesses DS-11 signature. Arrive early with everything.

Application Process: Step-by-Step Checklist

  1. Book appt via links/phones above.
  2. Double-check checklist (above).
  3. Arrive 15 min early; expect security check, doc verification.
  4. Sign form on-site; pay fees.
  5. Get receipt/tracking # [10].
  6. Track weekly online [10].

Latest Processing Times (State Dept, verify [10]):

Service Time (from receipt) Notes for Lamesa
Routine 6-8 weeks +1-2 weeks rural mail.
Expedited (+$60) 2-3 weeks Still peaks delays.
Urgent Life-or-Death (<14 days) 3 days or less Dallas Agency only; proof required.
1-2 Day Delivery (+$21.36 USPS) Add to above For receipt, not processing.

Renewals: Mail DS-82 to PO Box 90155, Philadelphia, PA 19190-0155. Use Priority Mail; track USPS.

Common Challenges and Tips for Lamesa Residents

  • Rural hurdles: 30-60 min to alternates; stock up on photocopies (no Kinkos nearby).
  • Peak crunches: West Texas Mexico trips/bookings fill slots—book at wizard confirmation.
  • Mistakes (20-40% return rate): Wrong form (use table), poor photos (head size/shadows), missing minor consent, no photocopies.
  • Expedited myth: Speeds processing, not appts/mail—apply 10+ weeks early.
  • Birth cert delays: Dawson Clerk 10-15 days; rush via Texas DSHS [3][4].

Pro tip: For oilfield workers' sudden trips, prep docs yearly.

Tracking and Receiving Your Passport

Online tracker [10] (need last name, DOB, tracking #). Arrives USPS Priority (signature rural areas); 1-2 week delivery. Lost? Report [1]. Agent delivery option for urgent.

FAQs

Current processing from Lamesa? 6-8 weeks routine [10]; check weekly.

Local photos? Walgreens/CVS/Post Office; verify specs [5].

2-week trip? Expedite early or Dallas for urgent [6].

Child passport? Dual parental consent mandatory [1].

Birth cert? Dawson Clerk first [4].

Renewal mail? DS-82 if eligible [1].

Lost passport? DS-64 + new app [1].

Name fix? Free DS-5504 <1 year [1].

Sources

[1]: U.S. Dept of State - Passports
[2]: Passport Wizard
[3]: Texas DSHS Vital Statistics
[4]: Dawson County Clerk
[5]: [Photo Requiremen

ts](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html)
[6]: Expedited Service
[7]: Facility Locator
[8]: USPS Passports
[9]: Dawson County
[10]: Status Check

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