General instructions in regard to passports, July 1, 1864

General instructions in regard to passports.

Citizens of the United States visiting foreign countries are liable to serious inconvenience if unprovided with authentic proof of their national character. Their best safeguard is a passport from this department, certifying the bearer to be a citizen of the United States. Passports are issued upon application, supported by proof of citizenship.

On all subsequent occasions a simple reference to the number and date of passport will be sufficient.

When the applicant is a native citizen of the United States, he must transmit an affidavit of this fact, signed by him, stating his age and place of birth, and sworn to by himself and one other citizen of the United States named therein, to whom he is personally known, and to the best of whose knowledge and belief the declaration made by him is true. This affidavit must be attested by a notary public, under his signature and seal of office. When there is no notary in the place, the affidavit may be made before a justice of the peace, or other officer authorized to administer oaths.

If the applicant be a naturalized citizen, his certificate of naturalization must be transmitted for inspection. It will be returned with the passport. The widow or the children of a naturalized citizen must transmit the certificate of the naturalization of the husband or the father, stating under oath that they are such widow or children.

The application should be accompanied by a description of the person, stating the follow ing particulars, viz; Age, years; stature, feet inches, (English measure;) forehead,; eyes,; nose,; mouth,; chin, ; hair, ; complexion,; face,

When the applicant is to be accompanied by his wife, children, or servants, it will be sufficient to state the names and ages of such persons, and their relationship to the applicant.

Persons who leave the country expecting to obtain passports whilst abroad from the diplomatic or consular agents of the United States are liable to disappointment, inasmuch as it is the duty of those agents not to grant documents of that character, except to persons who are certainly known to be entitled to them; and it is sometimes difficult, if not impracticable, to procure proof of this fact in a foreign country.

Certificates of citizenship or passports issued by State authorities, or by judicial or municipal functionaries of the United States, are not recognized by the officers of foreign governments; and by the twenty-third section of the act of Congress approved on the 18th of August, 1856, it is made penal for such authorities and functionaries to issue such passports. When husband, wife, and minor children expect to travel together, a single passport for the whole will suffice. For any other person in the party a separate passport will be required.

A new passport will be expected to be taken out by every person whenever he or she may leave the United States, and every passport must be renewed, either at this department or at a legation or consulate abroad, within one year from its date.

Five dollars tax, as imposed by law, will be required in United States currency with each application.