8 FAM 503
Special Issuance Passports
Introduction to Special-Issuance Passports
(CT:CITZ-80;�� 08-26-2022)
(Office of Origin:� CA/PPT/S/A)
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
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
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));
8 FAM 503.1-4 �Endorsements in and Amendments to Special-issuance� Passports
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
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).
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
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:
U.S. Department of State
Special Issuance Agency (CA/PPT/SIA)
44132 Mercure Circle
Sterling, VA 20166-1185
8 FAM 503.1-7 �(U) Special-Issuance Passport Applications Processed at the Charleston Passport Center
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
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.