Plover, WI Passport Guide: Facilities, Forms, Fees & Application Steps

Getting a Passport in Plover, WI

Plover residents often need passports for international travel via nearby Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA) in Mosinee, with direct flights to Chicago and Minneapolis that connect to Canada, Europe, and beyond. Demand peaks in spring/summer for family vacations and winter for holidays, driven by Portage County's growth and local business travel—slots at nearby acceptance facilities fill quickly, so start 10-13 weeks ahead for routine service (6-8 weeks processing) or 7-9 weeks for expedited (2-3 weeks, extra fee). Use this guide, drawn from U.S. Department of State resources [1], to check eligibility first, choose the right service, and dodge pitfalls like 50% of applications rejected for bad photos (must be 2x2 inches, white background, head size 1-1⅜ inches, no selfies/glasses/uniforms/selfies, taken within 6 months) or form errors (e.g., missing signatures or parental consent for minors).

Determine Which Passport Service You Need

Choose correctly upfront to skip wasted trips or mail delays—most common mistake is using the wrong form, leading to rejection and restart.

• DS-82 (mail-in renewal, easier/cheaper): Use if your current passport was issued when you were 16+, is undamaged, issued within the last 15 years, and your name/address match (minor changes OK with docs). Mail from Plover (certified recommended); track at usps.com. Avoid if damaged, lost/stolen, or big name change—those need DS-11.
• DS-11 (new in-person application): Required for first-time applicants, minors under 16, renewals over 15 years old, name changes (e.g., marriage), or damaged/lost passports. Must apply in person during business hours with originals (birth certificate, ID, photo); no mail option.

Run the free State Department wizard for your exact fit: https://pptform.state.gov/ [5]. Pro tip: Gather docs/photos first—photocopies won't cut it for DS-11, and kids need both parents' presence or notarized consent form (DS-3053). If urgent (travel <6 weeks), seek expedited in person and call 1-877-487-2778 for life-or-death emergencies (<2 weeks).

First-Time or Ineligible for Renewal (DS-11)

Required if: first passport ever, for minors under 16, name/gender change, or previous passport unavailable (expired over 15 years, lost/stolen/damaged).

Apply in person at an acceptance facility. No passport issued on-site—agent reviews docs, you sign under oath, then it's mailed for processing.

Key docs (originals + photocopies):

• DS-11 (download [2]; fill by hand, don't sign until agent witnesses—pre-signing voids it).
• U.S. citizenship proof: Long-form birth certificate (WI births via DHS Vital Records [6]; hospital summaries rejected), naturalization cert, or prior passport.
• Photo ID (WI driver's license ideal) matching name; add marriage cert if changed.
• 2x2 photo (specs below; 50% rejection rate otherwise).

Fees preview: Adult book $130 app + $35 execution; pay separately.

WI pro tip: Order birth cert 4-6 weeks early (expedite for $20). Expect 15-30 min visit if prepared.

Renewals (DS-82)

Eligible if: Issued at 16+, within 15 years, undamaged/in possession, no personal data changes.

Mail form + old passport + photo + fee—no in-person needed [3]. Ineligible? Use DS-11.

Replacements

Report lost/stolen via DS-64 online [4], then DS-11/DS-82 + police report if theft.

Passport Photos: Avoid Common Pitfalls

Rejections hit 40% in busy areas like Portage County—glare, sizing, or smiles common issues [7].

Exact specs:

• 2x2 inches, color, white background.
• Head 1–1⅜ inches chin-to-top, eyes open/neutral, no glasses/hats/selfies/shadows.

Local spots: Walgreens/CVS (call Plover locations), UPS Stores, or USPS ($15, guaranteed compliant [8]). For DS-82, include printed photo; DS-11 needs it handed to agent.

Where to Apply in Plover and Portage County

No full agency in Plover (nearest: Milwaukee/Chicago). Use acceptance facilities for DS-11—book via phone/site as walk-ins rare, slots fill during CWA peaks.

Key local options (verify services/availability [10]):

• Plover Post Office: 531 Plover Rd, Plover, WI 54467. (715) 341-6725 [8].
• Portage County Clerk of Courts: 1516 Lincoln St, Stevens Point, WI 54481 (~10 miles north). (715) 346-1400; https://www.co.portage.wi.us/314/Clerk [9].
• Stevens Point Post Office: 1301 Main St, Stevens Point, WI 54481 [8].

Search real-time: https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/ [10]. Expect: Agent checks docs, oath, 15-30 min if ready. Busy Mondays/midday/peaks—aim Tuesday-Thursday mornings. Track status post-submission [11].

Urgent (14 days travel)? Call 1-877-487-2778 after booking [1].

Step-by-Step Application Checklist

DS-11 in-person:

1. Wizard-check eligibility [5].
2. Gather: Citizenship proof + photocopy, ID + photocopy, photo, unsigned DS-11 [2].
3. Book appointment.
4. Arrive early, organized.
5. Sign/pay on-site.
6. Track after 7-10 days [11].

DS-82 mail:

1. Complete/sign [3].
2. Add old passport, photo, check ($130 adult book).
3. Mail to: National Passport Processing Center, PO Box 90155, Philadelphia, PA 19190-0155.

Print/laminate this.

Fees and Payment

Verified October 2024 from travel.state.gov [12]—always confirm:

Execution to facility (check/cash/credit varies); app fee check/money order to "U.S. Department of State." No personal checks for app fee.

Processing Times and Expedited Options

Routine: 4-6 weeks; Expedited (+$60): 2-3 weeks [1]. Check live: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/processing-times.html.

Portage County peaks add delays—apply 9 weeks early. Urgent (14 days)? Agency visit post-call, prove travel. Students/business: Document for expedite approval.

Special Considerations for Minors

Both parents/guardians or DS-3053 notarized consent [13]. WI birth cert must list parents; dads often need extra proof if unnamed [6]. Valid 5 years; higher rejection risk.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

• Appointment scarcity: Monitor [10] daily; try 2-3 sites 4 weeks out.
• DS-11 vs DS-82 mixup: Wizard first—wrong form = restart.
• Doc rejections: No short birth certs/photocopies; name mismatches kill apps.
• Photos/timelines: Pro service; routine now 4-6 weeks but surges to 8+.
• Local surges: CWA flights drive spring/winter rushes—start now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Walk-ins in Plover? Rare; appointments essential [8].

WI birth cert? https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords/index.htm (1-2 weeks) [6].

Book vs Card? Book worldwide; card land/sea to Canada/Mexico [1].

Expiring passport? Renew if <6 months valid (many countries require) [1].

Lost abroad? U.S. embassy emergency passport [14].

REAL ID needed? No, but WI compliant: https://dmv.wi.gov/Pages/REALID/real_id.aspx [15].

Sources

[1] Passports - Travel.State.Gov
[2] How to Apply
[3] Renew by Mail
[4] Lost/Stolen Passport
[5] Passport Forms - PPTForm.State.Gov
[6] Wisconsin Vital Records
[7] Passport Photo Requirements
[8] USPS Passport Services
[9] Portage County Clerk
[10] Passport Acceptance Facility Search
[11] Passport Status Check
[12] Passport Fees
[13] Children Under 16
[14] Lost Passport Abroad
[15] Wisconsin REAL ID