8 FAM 503
Special Issuance Passports
8 FAM 503.1
Introduction to Special-Issuance Passports
(CT:CITZ-80; 08-26-2022)
(Office of Origin: CA/PPT/S/A)
8 FAM 503.1-1 Purpose
(CT:CITZ-62; 10-14-2021)
This subchapter provides guidance on acceptance and adjudication of applications for special-issuance passports. This sub-chapter includes guidelines for the following:
(1) Requirements for accepting applications for special-issuance passports;
(2) Requirements for adjudicating applications for special-issuance passports;
(3) General eligibility criteria for special-issuance passports;
(4) How the Special Issuance Agency (CA/PPT/SIA) manages relationships and communicates with federal government agencies whose personnel use special-issuance passports; and
(5) Authorized use of special-issuance passports.
8 FAM 503.1-2 Reimbursement for Special-issuance Passports
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
The Department may seek reimbursement from federal agencies and Department bureaus for costs incurred to process applications for special-issuance passports. Questions regarding financial reimbursement should be directed to SpecialIssuanceReimbursements@state.gov.
8 FAM 503.1-3 Fees for Special-issuance Passports
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
Applications for special-issuance passports generally do not require payment of passport fees, with few exceptions:
(1) State and local government offices' (e.g., clerks of State/county courts) and the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) acceptance facilities collect the execution fee when executing an application for a special-issuance passport (see 22 CFR 51.51(b));
(2) You must charge the passport fees for applications for courtesy diplomatic passports (see 8 FAM 503.3 regarding courtesy diplomatic passports and 8 FAM 602.2 regarding passport fees); and
(3) Contract personnel who cannot provide evidence of citizenship/identity in connection with applications for special-issuance passports must pay the file search fee at the time of application (see 8 FAM 1201.1 for general information about the file search fee).
8 FAM 503.1-4 Endorsements in and Amendments to Special-issuance Passports
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
All special-issuance passports include one or more endorsements specific to the applicant’s official status and the time limitations of that status (see 8 FAM 505.2). See also 8 FAM 1004.1, “Passport Amendments” for information on adding, changing, or deleting endorsements in special-issuance passports, and on extending validity in extraordinary circumstances.
8 FAM 503.1-5 Possession of Multiple Special-issuance Passports
(CT:CITZ-80; 08-26-2022)
a. See 8 FAM 504.1 for information regarding possession of more than one special-issuance passport.
b. In general, no person shall bear, or be in possession of two different types of special-issuance passports at the same time unless authorized by the Department. However, when an individual is simultaneously entitled to two different types of passports (for example, as an eligible family member (EFM) and an employee), both types may be issued. Subject to the exceptions below, in such cases, only one type will be released to the individual at any given time. The type not being used will be retained on file at CA/PPT/SIA:
(1) A military reservist who is also a U.S. government employee, or a member of the family of a U.S. government employee (including another military service member), and who is on permanent travel orders assigned overseas may be eligible to retain in their possession more than one type of special-issuance passport with sufficient justification. The passport application must be accompanied with form DD-1056, a memorandum signed by the applicant’s commander with sufficient justification, and a copy of the sponsor’s permanent travel orders;
(2) Certain individuals who are:
(a) Already entitled to one type of special-issuance passport in their own right;
(b) On permanent travel orders assigned overseas; and
(c) Entitled to a different type of special-issuance passport as a member of the family of a U.S. government employee or military service member, may be eligible to retain in their possession more than one type of special-issuance passport with sufficient justification. The passport application must be accompanied with a memorandum signed by an authorizing official with sufficient justification, and a copy of their sponsor’s permanent travel orders; and
(3) If an applicant is entitled in their own right to a diplomatic passport and is also entitled to a diplomatic passport as a member of the family of a U.S. government employee or military service member who is on permanent travel orders assigned overseas, a multi-purpose endorsement may be placed in the passport (see 8 FAM 505.2):
(a) A tandem employee may submit a request for the multi-purpose (01B) endorsement when authorized to apply either as an employee or EFM. The request must be in writing and presented with evidence of dual entitlement. Such evidence may include the following: travel orders, an electronic Request for Passport Services verifying tandem status, evidence of approved leave without pay status, or a memorandum signed by an authorizing official; and
(b) The multi-purpose endorsement is also available to government applicants outside of the Foreign Service who can demonstrate dual entitlement.
c. When the bearer requires the use of a passport filed at CA/PPT/SIA, the bearer’s agency can request its release by providing a memorandum describing the need, a form DS-4085, “Miscellaneous Passport Services,” and the type of special-issuance passport (or passports if they have multiple passport of that type) to CA/PPT/SIA. If the need is valid, CA/PPT/SIA will release the requested passport to the bearer or their agency and file the returned special-issuance passport(s).
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EXAMPLE: A member of the foreign service uses a diplomatic passport for official travel; however, they are currently assigned domestically. As a military reservist, when on a military mission or other Department of Defense (DoD) travel, they use an official passport for official travel to countries that do not have a Status of Forces Agreement - SOFA - such as the April 4, 1949, Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces and Status of Forces Agreements with other countries;” exempting U.S. military from the passport requirement. Normally, their official passport will be kept on file at CA/PPT/SIA. When they need their official passport for military travel, they retrieve the official passport from CA/PPT/SIA by submitting a form DD-1056, “Authorization to Apply for a ‘No-Fee’ Passport and/or Request for Visa,” (in lieu of the memorandum), a form DS-4085, and the diplomatic passport. The diplomatic passport will be placed on file at CA/PPT/SIA and the official passport returned. |
8 FAM 503.1-6 Communications about Special-Issuance Passports
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
Department offices and Foreign Service posts should submit questions about policy and procedures for application and issuance of special-issuance passports and inquiries about the status of pending applications to CA/PPT/SIA via email to CA-PPT-SIA-PASSPORTS@state.gov. In emergency cases, or when problems need to be quickly escalated for a supervisor’s review, contact the customer service managers listed on the SIA web page in Who’s Who in CA or email CA-PPT-SIA-CSMs@state.gov. CA/PPT/SIA’s mailing address is:
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U.S. Department of State Passport Services Special Issuance Agency (CA/PPT/SIA) 44132 Mercure Circle PO Box 1185 Sterling, VA 20166-1185 Tel: 202-485-8200 |
8 FAM 503.1-7 (U) Special-Issuance Passport Applications Processed at the Charleston Passport Center
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. CA/PPT/CPC receives applications for official and no-fee regular passports from DoD personnel and EFMs authorized to submit special-issuance passport applications directly to CA/PPT/CPC or from CA/PPT/SIA.
b. CA/PPT/CPC has no counter service. CA/PPT/CPC utilizes the same barcode series for special-issuance passports as CA/PPT/SIA (see 8 FAM 603.7).
c. In most cases, special-issuance passports issued by CA/PPT/CPC are returned to the DoD’s Executive Agent for Passport Services via overnight courier service. DoD distributes the special-issuance passports to the respective military installation.
8 FAM 503.1-8 (U) Adjudication of Special-Issuance Passport Applications
(CT:CITZ-62; 10-14-2021)
a. CA/PPT/SIA adjudicates applications for special-issuance passports.
b. The Charleston Passport Center (CA/PPT/CPC) adjudicates applications for official and no-fee regular passports for personnel of designated DoD entities and their EFMs.
c. Agencies authorized to issue special-issuance passports in this section may also deny or invalidate the same types of special-issuance passports (see 8 FAM 803.5).
d. In emergency circumstances, CA/PPT/SIA may authorize a passport agency/center or post to issue a no-fee regular passport. CA/PPT/SIA may also authorize a passport agency/center or post to issue a no-fee regular passport with any official passport endorsement in emergency circumstances. See 8 FAM 1301.1.