First-time U.S. passport (DS-11) application help in San Jose — document review, packet preparation, and 2026-compliant passport photos in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese
First passports done right · We prep the whole packet First-Time Passport Help · EN · ES · VI

First-Time Passport San Jose —
Your DS-11 Packet, Done Right.

New passport application San Jose for first-timers and children. First passports must be applied for in person with Form DS-11 — we complete the form, verify your citizenship documents, take your 2026-compliant passport photo, and assemble a complete packet, so all you do is take it to the post office. English, Spanish, or Vietnamese.

Full Packet Prep Same-Day Photo EN · ES · VI $100 Service · $20 Photo
Book Appointment (408) 766-3528
$100
Service Fee
$20
2×2 Passport Photo
In Person
DS-11 Required
EN · ES · VI
Trilingual Help
A South Bay traveler with her new U.S. passport after first-time application help in San Jose
Who applies in person

First-time & child passports use Form DS-11
— applied for in person

If you’ve never had a U.S. passport, you’re under 16, or your last passport was issued before age 16 or over 15 years ago, you apply in person with DS-11. We prepare the entire packet for you.

Adults 16+

Adult First-Time

Never had a passport · lost · 15+ years
  • Apply in person with Form DS-11
  • Certified birth certificate or naturalization certificate
  • Photo ID plus a photocopy of it
  • One 2×2 photo — we take it
  • You sign in front of the acceptance agent
Our service fee $100
Printed 2×2 photo $20
State Dept application (book) $130
Acceptance facility fee $35
Typical total $285

Child / Minor (Under 16)

Both parents must consent
  • Apply in person with Form DS-11
  • Both parents or guardians present & consenting
  • Child’s proof of citizenship & proof of relationship
  • One 2×2 photo — we take it
  • Lower application fee: $100
Our service fee $100
Printed 2×2 photo $20
State Dept application (book) $100
Acceptance facility fee $35
Typical total $255

The State Department now rejects AI-edited photos

Effective January 1, 2026, applications with AI-altered photos — most phone editing apps, beauty filters, and background-replacement tools — are automatically rejected. Our passport photo San Jose service uses raw camera capture only: no AI, no smoothing, no edits. State Department compliant on the first submission.

Full transparent pricing

Our fees plus government fees
— nothing hidden

Government fees are set by law and non-refundable. We pass them through directly — we never mark them up. First-time applications always include the $35 acceptance fee, paid to the facility.

Our fees

Service feeDS-11 prep + document review + multilingual guidance
Per application. Includes eligibility check, document verification, DS-11 completion, and a walk-through in your language plus appointment guidance.
$100
Printed 2×2 photo2026 AI-compliant, required for DS-11
Two printed 2×2 inch passport photos on photo paper, raw camera capture — no AI editing.
$20

Government fees (June 2026)

Application — Adult book (16+)Paid to U.S. Dept of State
First-time 10-year adult passport book.
$130
Application — Minor book (under 16)Paid to U.S. Dept of State
5-year child passport book. Both parents/guardians must consent.
$100
Acceptance / execution feePaid to the acceptance facility (post office)
Flat fee charged in person at every first-time and minor application. Renewals don’t pay this.
$35
Optional — Passport cardLand/sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Caribbean
Wallet-sized card. Can be added to your application.
$30 / $15
Optional expedited serviceFaster State Dept processing
Reduces processing to about 2–3 weeks.
+$60
Optional 1–3 day deliveryFaster return shipping
Tracked priority delivery of your new passport once issued.
+$22.05
How it works

From walk-in to packet-ready
in four steps

A U.S. passport with two printed 2x2 passport photos prepared for a first-time DS-11 application in San Jose
1

Bring your documents

Walk in or schedule. Bring proof of U.S. citizenship and a photo ID.

2

Photo & DS-11

We take your 2026-compliant photo and complete your DS-11, checking every field and document.

3

We assemble your packet

DS-11, citizenship proof, ID photocopy, photo, and fee instructions — plus help booking your appointment.

4

Submit in person

At the post office you sign in front of the agent and submit. Routine 4–6 weeks, mailed to you.

What to bring

Everything your
DS-11 packet needs

The #1 cause of first-time rejections is a document mistake. We verify all of this before you go.

Bring these to your appointment with us:

  • Proof of U.S. citizenship — a certified birth certificate with a raised seal, or your naturalization or citizenship certificate (original)
  • A valid photo ID — driver’s license, state ID, military ID, or government employee ID
  • A photocopy of the front and back of that photo ID
  • One 2×2 passport photo — we take it, 2026 AI-compliant
  • A completed Form DS-11 — but do not sign it until the acceptance agent tells you to
  • Fees — $130 application + $35 acceptance ($100 + $35 for children under 16)

Applying for a child under 16? Both parents or guardians generally must appear in person and consent, with the child’s proof of citizenship and proof of your relationship (such as the child’s birth certificate naming the parents). We’ll give you an exact checklist for your family’s situation.

Why South Bay families choose us

A first-time passport service
that gets it right the first time

We catch the mistakes that get first-timers rejected

The wrong citizenship document, a missing ID photocopy, a form signed too early — first-time rejections almost always come from document errors. We verify every piece before you go to the post office.

Truly fluent tiếng Việt

DS-11 and its citizenship-evidence rules are dense even in English. Our bilingual passport service explains every requirement in fluent Vietnamese, Spanish, or English — rare in the South Bay.

2026 photo specs done right

Most photo rejections in 2026 come from AI-edited photos that look fine but get caught by State Dept detection. Our studio uses raw camera capture — no smoothing, no filters.

One office, every related service

Need a document for the application? We also handle apostilles, certified translations, FBI background checks, and notarizations — all under one roof.

Missing a birth certificate or other supporting document?

Need a delayed or replacement birth certificate, a guardianship order, or a name affidavit for a first-time application? Our partner TruPoint Legal LLC is a Registered & Bonded Legal Document Assistant who prepares the documents alongside our application work.

Common questions

First-time passport San Jose
frequently asked questions

Why do I have to apply in person for a first passport?
Federal rules require first-time applicants — and anyone under 16, whose passport was issued before age 16 or more than 15 years ago, or whose passport was lost, stolen, or damaged — to apply in person with Form DS-11 and sign in front of an acceptance agent. We prepare your whole packet so the in-person step is quick.
How much does a first-time passport cost?
Adult: $285 total — $100 service + $20 photo + $130 State Department application + $35 acceptance fee. Child under 16: $255 total ($100 application instead of $130). Optional State Department expedite is +$60 and 1–3 day delivery is +$22.05. We never mark up government fees.
What documents do I need to bring?
Proof of U.S. citizenship (a certified birth certificate with a raised seal, or your naturalization or citizenship certificate), a valid photo ID, and a photocopy of that ID. We provide the 2×2 photo and the completed DS-11. Do not sign the DS-11 until the acceptance agent tells you to.
Can you submit my application for me?
No — first-time applications must be signed in person in front of an acceptance agent at a facility such as a post office. We prepare your complete packet and help you book the appointment; you sign and submit it yourself. We are not a passport acceptance facility.
Do you take the passport photo?
Yes — $20 for two printed 2×2 photos, taken with raw camera capture so they are 2026 AI-compliant and won’t be rejected at the photo step.
My child needs a first passport — what’s different?
Children under 16 must apply in person with both parents or guardians consenting. The application fee is $100 (plus the $35 acceptance fee), and you’ll bring the child’s proof of citizenship and proof of your relationship. We give you a checklist for your family’s situation.
Where do I take the finished packet?
To a passport acceptance facility — usually a post office, public library, or county clerk. We help you find one that has appointments and tell you exactly what to bring.
Bạn có giúp làm hộ chiếu lần đầu bằng tiếng Việt không?
Yes — full first-time passport assistance in Vietnamese. We complete your DS-11 and review every document in fluent Vietnamese. Có — chúng tôi hỗ trợ làm hộ chiếu Hoa Kỳ lần đầu bằng tiếng Việt tại San Jose.
How long does it take?
Routine processing is 4 to 6 weeks at the State Department after you submit, plus mailing time. Expedited service (+$60) is about 2 to 3 weeks.
Walk-in or schedule · 434 Blossom Hill Rd

Start your first passport — we’ll prep the whole packet

Bring your citizenship document and a photo ID. We complete the DS-11, take the photo, verify every document, and help you book your appointment — in English, Spanish, or Vietnamese.

Book Appointment (408) 766-3528
Fingerscan Digital Inc. · 434 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose, CA 95123 · (408) 766-3528 · English · Spanish · Vietnamese Page last updated: June 16, 2026 · This is a passport application preparation and photo service. Fingerscan Digital is not a U.S. Department of State passport agency or acceptance facility. First-time applicants must sign and submit their own application in person at an acceptance facility. Authoritative information at travel.state.gov. Government fees are subject to change; fees shown are accurate as of June 2026.