Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times,
Beginning next year, U.S. citizens can apply for their first passport fully online, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
A woman applies for a U.S. passport online. Shutterstock"By the end of 2027, our goal is for the vast majority of Americans to be able to apply for a passport or a passport card on America.gov," Rubio said during a Sept. 29 remark at an event launching the America.gov platform.
The online application makes the process "more accessible and easier for Americans," he said.
"So, whether you live in the middle of a major city or you live in a rural town, you'll be able to apply from anywhere," Rubio said.
Currently, American adults seeking a first passport must apply in person at an authorized acceptance facility and fill out forms with their personal identification information and other related details.
According to Rubio, a major benefit of the online application system is that users can find existing personal details after signing in to the platform through their login.gov account and do not have to "type the same thing over and over and over again" during the application process.
The new system also makes the photo submission process easier.
Currently, people must submit one passport photo. It must meet certain conditions, such as being in color, being taken in the past six months, and using a plain white or off-white background free of objects or shadows.
But in the online application proc
