Changing gender marker on passport at post offices

[makipu]

I have all the necessary documentation to change the gender marker on my passport to M but I don't know what to expect. I was told that I could do this at the post offices that deal with passport but should I still call and ask them mentioning the gender aspect of things?  Or should I just go ahead and do it?  I don't know how this works because there is a letter written by my doctor and it feels strange to give that to anyone who works there.. When changing my ID there was no letter necessary but just one simple form so it wasn't mentioning anything in a detailed manner.
Anyone  who changed their passport did it at the post office? 

[ainsley]

I am pre-op mtf and have not changed my gender on my birth certificate, yet.  I just went thru this when I applied for my passport.  I had the letter from my dr saying I had completed transition so I could get the 10 year passport.  I told the woman at the counter that my birth certificate had my previous name and gender of male and that I had the letter from my Dr. and the court order changing my name and gender.  My Drivers licence had my gender of female and she was very pleasant, and gendered me appropriately throughout.  All they do is verify that the app is filled out correctly, verify you have the appropriate documents, and then package them and send them in to the State Department.  They play a middle man role for it all.  Nothing more.   It was 2ez.

[makipu]

Thank you for your reply,its  very helpful.  By the way, did they actually ask for your birth certificate or you just mentioned it?  Mine is actually foreign since I wasnt born in the U.S. 

Also, may I ask how much it cost?  When I called they asked me if it was expired and I said no, it's just for changing the gender marker but they said they weren't sure and told me to go to the office and ask them..The thing is I don't want to say anything more than I don't have to so I don't want to embarrass myself even more.

[ainsley]

I had to surrender mine to be sent in with the information to the State Dept because the only other form of citizenship proof they will accept is a passport, which I do not have yet.  I was nervous about giving up my original to the government, but that is the rules, apparently.  So, right now, as I wait for my passport, I have not birth certificate in my possession.  A bit disconcerting.

I am not what you have to submit, though, to amend your gender if you already have a passport.

[mrs izzy]

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/gender.html

I would bring along a copy of the policy. Some offices have never had to do one and give you  the "you can not unless you has GCS."

You need to prove the availability to do as required in there rules.

So that's my suggestion.

[ainsley]

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/gender.html

I would bring along a copy of the policy. Some offices have never had to do one and give you  the "you can not unless you has GCS."

You need to prove the availability to do as required in there rules.

So that's my suggestion.

Good point!  I did that, too, when I applied.

[kittenpower]

One thing to be aware of, is do not let the post office rep tell you to submit a DS-82 application, as the dept of state requires form DS-11, because you are applying for a passport as a "new person". I went through the whole rigmarole last year, and it was extremely frustrating. 

[KarynMcD]

did they actually ask for your birth certificate or you just mentioned it?  Mine is actually foreign since I wasnt born in the U.S. 

Yes, they want the actual certified birth certificate.

You need to prove you are a US citizen.
Were you naturalized or were you born to US parents outside of the US?
You should have either a naturalization certificate or a consular certificate.

[makipu]

I was naturalized but my naturalization certificate's gender marker isn't changed to M yet. (It was even more of a complicated process as I still don't know all the things I need to get that changed) Does that matter?  My state ID is the only official document that says M. 

[FTMax]

As long as you have a letter from your doctor to support the passport update, it shouldn't be an issue.

I think price depends on when it was issued or last renewed. Mine was done within the last year, and I have been told that it is free to update. I'll confirm next week.

[kittenpower]

As long as you have a letter from your doctor to support the passport update, it shouldn't be an issue.

I think price depends on when it was issued or last renewed. Mine was done within the last year, and I have been told that it is free to update. I'll confirm next week.

I think it is important to mention, that the Dept of State has specific guidelines that your Dr. must follow when he or she writes the letter, and if any information is left out, your passport will be delayed until they receive a new letter. 

[FTMax]

I think it is important to mention, that the Dept of State has specific guidelines that your Dr. must follow when he or she writes the letter, and if any information is left out, your passport will be delayed until they receive a new letter.

The clinic I go to for HRT actually gave me a guide to changing my name and gender on all of my documents. It has templates for these letters in it - if anybody needs them to take to their doctor to sign off on, let me know. I'd be happy to send it around.

[Dee Marshall]

The link Ainsley provided has those templates.

[Beth Andrea]

I had to surrender mine to be sent in with the information to the State Dept because the only other form of citizenship proof they will accept is a passport, which I do not have yet.  I was nervous about giving up my original to the government, but that is the rules, apparently.  So, right now, as I wait for my passport, I have not birth certificate in my possession.  A bit disconcerting.

I am not what you have to submit, though, to amend your gender if you already have a passport.

Just a letter from your doctor. On US State Dept site, there is a page with a list of what they need to know. It specifies that SRS is not required for gender marker change.

fyi, I sent in my birth cert with all the paperwork, and got it back about a week before the passport.

[Sydney_NYC]

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/gender.html

I would bring along a copy of the policy. Some offices have never had to do one and give you  the "you can not unless you has GCS."

You need to prove the availability to do as required in there rules.

So that's my suggestion.

I second bringing a copy of this. When I went to the post office passport office they tried to tell me I was using the wrong forum (you use a DS-11 form wether you are applying for a new one or renewing/changing your old passport like I was.) The women was very nice about it and asked to keep the copy for their office because they had been telling people wrong. 4 1/2 weeks later my new passport came in with correct name and gender

[makipu]

By the way, what is the document that the employers want to check/verify when you first apply for (any) job? Is it the passport or naturalization certificate (if not born in the U.S.)?

[Dee Marshall]

By the way, what is the document that the employers want to check/verify when you first apply for (any) job? Is it the passport or naturalization certificate (if not born in the U.S.)?

To prove your eligibility to work? I believe either of those or a green card are allowed but usually the HR department of the company you're applying to can tell you what they need.

Anyone know how long the process takes if you're just amending the gender and putting a new picture on the passport? I'm taking a cruise in October and I suspect it will be hard to hide my boobs by then, plus it's been years and the picture isn't such a good match anymore.

[FTMax]

By the way, what is the document that the employers want to check/verify when you first apply for (any) job? Is it the passport or naturalization certificate (if not born in the U.S.)?

I have always either used a passport by itself OR a combination of driver's license and social security card. They should be able to get the information they need from those if they're doing any kind of background check or eVerify.

[iKate]

By the way, what is the document that the employers want to check/verify when you first apply for (any) job? Is it the passport or naturalization certificate (if not born in the U.S.)?

Legally to satisfy the I-9 form all they need is a driver license and social security card that does not have any restriction (eg not valid for work without DHS authorization). If your SS card has restriction you may need to supply proof of eligibility to work. However if you had a card with a restriction that no longer applies you should have gone to the social security office to get it updated to a regular one. Usually only EAD (work permit) and temp workers on restricted visas like H1B have it.

Proof of citizenship is not required.

However you can present your passport by itself.

See page 9:

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-9.pdf

[makipu]

Thank you both. I didn't let the SSA know about my gender change on ID. Do I have to do this?