I need to make out a check to submit/pay for my passport application, but I am a little confused about what to write. Do I just put down, "U.S. Department of State," or do I enter the headquarters' mailing address (2201 C Street, Vancouver, Washington)? I don't want to have to rewrite a check!
43.1k 7 7 gold badges 122 122 silver badges 177 177 bronze badges asked Feb 9, 2016 at 21:48 51 1 1 gold badge 1 1 silver badge 2 2 bronze badges Don't you pay for the passport application fee at the post office? Commented Feb 9, 2016 at 22:01 You have it right, "U.S. Department of State" according to this site. Commented Feb 9, 2016 at 22:11If you're paying for your passport application in the United States, you make your check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State". The USPS advised me when I went in this year that your name and date of birth should appear on the check/money order (in case it gets separated from your application).
You must also pay a separate $35 execution fee to the agency which accepts your passport application (this fee was $25 prior to April 2018). This must be made payable to the agency accepting your application, but most such agencies will accept debit/credit cards for this payment.
If you're paying for your passport outside the United States, contact the embassy or consulate for payment instructions.
answered Feb 10, 2016 at 0:31 Michael Hampton Michael Hampton 62.4k 6 6 gold badges 142 142 silver badges 259 259 bronze badges A lot of US Embassies overseas do not take personal checks, just cash and sometimes credit cards. Commented Feb 10, 2016 at 2:02It used to be the case that when applying for a passport in person at a post office, in addition to the check to the State Department for the Application Fee, you had to write a separate check for an Execution Fee, and as I recall the latter was to be made out to the Postal Service. Has this changed?
Commented Feb 10, 2016 at 2:58@NateEldredge You pay the $25 Execution Fee when you apply for your first passport at any location. But yes that fee is made payable to the location accepting your passport, be it the post office or passport office or embassy
Commented Feb 10, 2016 at 3:08When I got my most recent passport (2012), at the post office, they told me the $25 was for them to take a photo and that I wouldn't have to pay it if I already had an acceptable photo. (Which I had.)
Commented Mar 20, 2018 at 17:36@WGroleau Oh, they charged me separately for the photo. But I got to keep one of the two photos they printed. That'll be useful if I have to apply for a visa anytime soon.