No. 1132.
To the diplomatic and consular officers of the United States.

[Circular.]

Gentlemen: I transmit herewith copies of a new edition (July, 1888) of the forms of application for passports and of the general instructions in regard thereto, which are to be used, in accordance with the standing instructions of the Department, in the place of those -heretofore transmitted.

I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,

T. F. Bayard.
[Page 1663]
[Inclosure 1.]

Edition of July, 1888.—Form for native citizen.]

United States of America.

No. ____.]

[Issued — –.

State of _____,
County of ______ ss:

I, _____ _____, a native and loyal citizen of the United States, do hereby apply to the Department of State at Washington for a passport for myself and wife, and my minor children as follows: _____ _____, born at _____, on the _____ day of _____, 18—, and _____ _____.

In support of the above application, I do solemnly swear that I was born at _____,in the State of _____, on or about the _____ day of _____, 18—; that my father is a _____ citizen of the United States; that I am domiciled in the United States, my permanent residence being at _____, in the State of _____, where I follow the occupation of _____; that I am about to go abroad temporarily; and that I intend to return to the United States _____ with the purpose of residing and performing the duties of citizenship therein.

Oath of allegiance.—Further, I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion.

So help me God.

_____ _____.

Sworn to before me this _____ day of _____, 18—.

_____ _____,
Notary Public.

Description of applicant.—Age, _____ years; stature; _____ feet _____ inches, English; forehead, _____; eyes, _____; nose, _____; mouth, _____; chin, _____; hair, _____; complexion, _____; face, _____.

Identification.__ _____ _____ 18__. I hereby certify that I know the above-named _____ _____ personally, and I know him to be a native-born citizen of the United States, and that the facts stated in his affidavit are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

_____ _____,
[Address of witness.] _____ _____.

Applicant desires passport sent to following address:

_____ _____,
_____ _____.

[Inclosure 2.]

[Edition of July, 1888.—Form for naturalized citizen.]

United States of America.

No. ____.]

[Issued ___.

State of _____,
County of _____, ss:

I, _____ _____, a naturalized and loyal citizen of the United States, do hereby apply to the Department of State at Washington for a passport for myself and wife, and my minor children, as follows: _____ _____, born at _____, on the _____ day of _____, 18—, and _____.

In support of the above application I do solemnly swear that I was born at ———, in _____, on or about the _____ day of _____, 18—; that I emigrated to the United States, sailing on board the ——— from _____, on or about the _____ day of _____, 18—; that I resided _____ years uninterruptedly in the United States, from _____ to ——, at _____; that I was naturalized as a citizen of the United States, before the _____ court of _____, at _____, on the _____ day of _____, 18—, as shown by the accompanying certificate of naturalization; that I am the identical person described in said certificate; that I am domiciled in the United States, my permanent residence being at _____, in the State of _____, where I follow the occupation of _____; that I am about to go aboad temporarily, and that I intend to return to the United States _____, with the purpose of residing and performing the duties of citizenship therein.

[Page 1664]

Oath of allegiance.—Further, I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion.

So help me God.

_____ _____.

Sworn to before me this _____ day of _____, 18—.

_____ _____,
Notary Public.

Description of applicant___ Age, _____ years; stature, _____ feet inches, English; forehead, _____; eyes, _____; nose, _____; mouth, _____; chin, _____; hair, _____; complexion, _____; face, _____.

Identification.___ _____ _____, 18___, I hereby certify that I know the above-named _____ _____, personally, and know him to be the identical person referred to in the within-described certificate of naturalization, and that the facts stated in his affidavit are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

_____ _____,
[Address of witness.] _____ _____.

Applicant desires passport to be sent to following address:

_____ _____,
_____ _____.

[Inclosure 3.]

General instructions in regard to passports—1888.

Citizens of the United States visiting foreign countries are liable to serious inconvenience if unprovided with authentic proof of their national character. The best safeguard is a passport from this Department, certifying the bearer to be a citizen of the United States. Passports are issued only to citizens of the United States upon application, supported by proof of citizenship. Citizenship is acquired by nativity, by naturalization, and by annexation of territory. An alien woman who marries a citizen of the United States thereby becomes a citizen. Minor children resident in the United States become citizens by the naturalization of their father.

When the applicant is a native citizen of the United States he must transmit his own affidavit of this fact, stating his age and place of birth, with the certificate of one other citizen of the United States to whom he is personally known, stating that the declaration made by the applicant is true. The 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; but if he has no seal, his official act must be authenticated by certificate of a court of record. A person born abroad, who claims that his father was a native citizen of the United States, must state in his affidavit that his father was born in the United States, has resided therein, and was a citizen of the same at the time of the applicant’s birth. This affidavit must be supported by that of one other citizen acquainted with the facts.

If the applicant be a naturalized citizen, his certificate of naturalization must be transmitted for inspection (it will be returned with the passport), and he must state in his affidavit that he is the identical person described in the certificate presented. Passports can not be issued to aliens who have only declared their intention to become citizens. Military service does not-of itself confer citizenship. A person of alien birth who has been honorably discharged from military service in the United States, but who has not been naturalized, should not transmit his discharge paper in application for a passport, but should apply to the proper court for admission to citizenship, and transmit a certified copy of the record of such admission. In issuing passports to naturalized citizens the Department will be guided by the naturalization certificate; and the signature to the application and oath of allegiance should conform in orthography to the applicant’s name as written in the naturalization paper.

Every applicant is required to state his occupation and the place of his permanent legal residence, and to declare that he goes abroad for temporary sojourn and intends to return to the United States with the purpose of residing and performing the duties of citizenship therein.

The wife or widow of a naturalized citizen must transmit the naturalization certificate of the husband, stating in her affidavit that she is the wife or widow of the person described therein. The children of a naturalized citizen, claiming citizenship [Page 1665] through the father, must transmit the certificate of naturalization of the father, stating in their affidavits that they are children of the person described therein, and were minors at the time of such naturalization.

The oath of allegiance to the United States will be required in all cases.

The application should be accompanied by a description of the person, stating the following particulars, viz:

Age, _____ years; stature, _____ feet _____ inches (English measure); forehead, _____; eyes, _____; nose, ——; mouth, _____; chin, _____; hair, _____; complexion, _____; face, _____.

If the applicant is to be accompanied by his wife, minor children, or servants, it will be sufficient to state the names and ages of such persons and their relationship to the applicant, when a single passport for the whole will suffice. For any other person in the party a separate passport will be required. A woman’s passport may include her minor children and servants.

By act of Congress approved March 23, 1888, a fee of $1 is required to be collected for every citizen’s passport. That amount in currency, postal money-order, or postal note should accompany each application. Orders should be payable to the disbursing clerk of the Department of State.

A passport is good for two years from its date and no longer. A new one may be obtained by stating the date and number of the old one, paying the fee of $1 and furnishing satisfactory evidence that the applicant is at the time within the United States. The oath of allegiance must also be transmitted when the former passport was issued prior to 1861.

Citizens of the United States desiring to obtain passports while in a foreign country must apply to the chief diplomatic representative of the United States in that country, or in the absence of a diplomatic representative then to the consul-general, if there be one, or, in the absence of both the officers last named, to a consul. Passports can not be lawfully issued by State authorities or by judicial or municipal functionaries of the United States. (Revised Statutes, section 4075.) To persons wishing to obtain passports for themselves blank forms of application will be furnished by this Department on request, stating whether the applicant be a native or a naturalized citizen. Forms are not furnished, except as samples, to those who make a business of procuring passports.

Communications should be addressed to the Department of State, indorsed “Passport Division,” and each communication should give the post-office address of the person to whom the answer is to be directed. Professional titles will not be inserted in passports.