DS11 required for gender change on US passport

[kimdp999]

I was just caught up on this situation when I submitted a DS 82 with my name/gender change.  I received an e-mail from the National Passport Center (NPC)  stating they were retaining my passport and fees because I used the wrong form.  Of course there is no information on this procedure on any state department website, and when I called the NPC information number neither of the ladies I spoke with could direct me to any information on this subject.  I also noticed the Wiki says to use the DS 82.

I was able to track down the regulation used by passport processors.  (7 FAM 1300 APPENDIX M
GENDER CHANGE) Interesting, it also states that a letter from a psychologist is not acceptable for the gender change.

Hopefully this will prevent others from falling victim to this one.......

Cheers
Kim

[mrs izzy]

Just to make it clear you can still use the DS82 if you already have a limited valid passport. One that has already have the name and gender changed but limited to 1-2 years max.

Other then that it is the DS 11 and that is via in person.

There have been other threads about these same instructions.

As anything with ones own legal name and gender changes always make it a point to ask first. There has been many changes.

Lots of luck on any paperwork change. It can be a pain.

Izzy

[kimdp999]

Thanks Izzy, the process for me is a "bust" for now.  Unfortunately I have been seeing a Psychologist for therapy and a Physicians Assistant for HRT.  Neither of which are authorized by regulation to submit a letter.   I fought stupid regulations and people unable to interpret regulations, use common sense and make decisions for years in the military.  looks like the struggle continues......

Cheers
Kim

[mrs izzy]

Thanks Izzy, the process for me is a "bust" for now.  Unfortunately I have been seeing a Psychologist for therapy and a Physicians Assistant for HRT.  Neither of which are authorized by regulation to submit a letter.   I fought stupid regulations and people unable to interpret regulations, use common sense and make decisions for years in the military.  looks like the struggle continues......

Cheers
Kim

Yes the list is long on employees who have not a clue.

I had to educate both USA employees and Canada employees on the current regulations.

Just was hard keeping up with the changes that where happening in the states.

I wish you the best and hope it will settle as more have to make there changes.

Izzy

[Flan]

A letter from a MD should be the trick, a PA doesn't cut it.

.
Medical certification of gender transition from a licensed physician as described in 7 FAM 1320 Appendix M is the only documentation of gender change required. Other medical records are not to be requested. If a passport specialist or consular officer has questions about this guidance or a particular case, see 7 FAM 1370 Appendix M.

[kimdp999]

Hi Flan - an update in the Wiki would be really helpful, especially with a link to the regulation.  Half of the information currently on the internet (including the Wiki) still show the DS-82 as the form to use, and the regulation is the "only" source available that gives the stipulations on what type of physician may submit a letter.  This has been a frustrating trial and error experience, and as usual the feds work harder at preventing people from accomplishing a task then they do helping.......

Wiki info:
Modifying and renewing a passport over one year old
When renewing a passport over one year old, you must mail off:
Form DS-82, "Application for a U.S. Passport by Mail", [4]
Your current passport
Two recent passport-quality photographs (2" x 2")
A certified copy of your name change court decree (when changing name)
An affidavit from a physician that transition is either in progress or completed (when changing gender marker)
An application fee (after July 13th, $110)

Cheers
Kim

[aleon515]

If you see a PA or nurse practitioner, they must work under a physician. You can get the PA (or NP) to get the doctor to co-sign any official documents like that. Just found this part of the forum today.

--Jay

[kimdp999]

Thanks for the input jay.  Unfortunately I was in a time crunch to get the passport, so I'll make the trip overseas as Kimberly the male , and then fix it when I return.  The really frustrating part about this is the lack of information and mis-information available.  The Department of State has no information available unless you're lucky enough to happen on the regulation, and Resources PDX and the Wiki have mis-information.

Kim

[บ้านสิริรอดชีวิต]

The passport gender change process can indeed be very frustrating; it's clear that most of the employees at State and USPS aren't familiar with the regulations. In my case, I originally filled out a DS-11 and prepared to submit it in person, yet when I called the local post office to make the appointment they insisted I could use a DS-82, which I dutifully filled out and sent in... only to get that same rejection letter weeks later, telling me to use the DS-11 and apply in person. (This wasn't what I wanted to hear a month and a half before my flight for surgery.)

And after I returned to the U.S. newly bevaginated, I sent them a DS-82 with a letter meeting all the criteria to get my full 10-year passport, only to receive a request for that same letter again in the mail a few weeks later... once the real passport agency called me back (you have to request a call from them from the NPC), they couldn't tell me what was wrong with the letter I sent in, and they called me back a half hour later to inform me everything was OK and I'd be receiving my new passport in a few days.

State really needs to make their guidance clearer and get it out to all their and USPS's passport workers.

(But when I went to get my marker changed at Social Security, the worker there went against SSA's guidance and accepted my 2-year passport, so inconsistency can sometimes have a bright side.  )

[Rose City Rose]

Wait, I thought they changed the laws so that surgery was not required to get a passport changed?

Can someone please summarize what exactly the process is since this seems to be for those who have done/will do it shortly and have already become familiar with the forms?

[Flan]

Wait, I thought they changed the laws so that surgery was not required to get a passport changed?

Can someone please summarize what exactly the process is since this seems to be for those who have done/will do it shortly and have already become familiar with the forms?

One fills the application (new or for change of information depending on if you already hold a passport book) and includes a statement from a MD physician or psychiatrist. It must be a licensed MD or DO. The letter needs to include license and contact information and testifying "the applicant has undergone appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition."

The statement must include the following information (See 7 FAM 1300 Appendix M Exhibit 1):
(a) Physician's full name;
(b) Medical license or certificate number;
(c) Issuing state, country, or other jurisdiction of medical license/certificate;
(d) Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number assigned to the doctor or comparable foreign registration number, if applicable;
(i) If the U.S.-based licensed physician does not provide a DEA number, you must request that this be provided in a new
statement. If the statement with the DEA number is not provided after an appropriate period of time (generally 90 days), the application must be denied.
(ii) Licensed physicians in foreign countries might not have a DEA number, but might have a comparable foreign registration
number. For all foreign licensed physician gender change requests, domestic passport agencies/centers must scan copies
of the application and attach all submitted documents to Passport Services' Adjudication Policy Division (CA/PPT/S/A/AP). CA/PPT/S/A/AP works with the Overseas Citizens Services' Office of Legal Affairs (CA/OCS/L) to verify the bona fides of the foreign physician with the applicable post abroad.
(iii)Posts must verify their own foreign-based licensed physicians or, if the statement is from a physician in another country, contact the post which covers that country for verification.
(e)Address and telephone number of the physician;
(f) Language stating that he/she has treated the applicant or has reviewed and evaluated the medical history of the applicant and that he/she has a doctor/patient relationship with the applicant;
(g) Language stating the applicant has had appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition to the new gender of either male or female; and
(h) Language stating "I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the forgoing is true and correct."

Licensed Physician's Letterhead
(Physician's Address and Telephone Number)

I, (physician's full name), (physician's medical license or certificate number), (issuing U.S. State/Foreign Country of medical license/certificate), (DEA Registration number or comparable foreign designation), am the physician of (name of patient), with whom I have a doctor/patient relationship and whom I have treated (or with whom I have a doctor/patient relationship and whose medical history I have reviewed and evaluated).

(Name of patient) has had appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition to the new gender (specify new gender male or female).
Or
(Name of patient) is in the process of gender transition to the new gender (specify new gender male or female).

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the forgoing is true and correct.
Signature of Physician
Typed Name of Physician
Date

The form to use (for the passport change) depends on a bunch of stupid things, mainly how long since the passport was issued. You'll need to pay a fee if it was issued more than 2 years ago.

[kimdp999]

LOL - This one got even better for me.....  I returned from my trip to Korea, found an "MD" in my home city to write me a letter and presented the letter to the passport acceptance facility with my (gold) DS 11.  I was then told it was the wrong form by a guy who said he did this for a person two years ago and they used a (blue) DS 82, he also suggested "I chance it' and send in a pink DS 5504.  I told him that is not what the regulation states to do in this situation.  We then waited for his associate to show up for her input and she told me that if I submitted a (gold) DS 11, I would have to submit my birth certificate with it.  While I had already put in for my corrected birth certificate I hadn't received it yet.  The guy also told me about how many questions there would be when they received their regular training sessions, and "everyone" dealing with passports is confused.

I left their office, frustrated again.  However, when I arrived home and happened to look at the pink DS 5504, it states right on the form that it is to be used to correct one's gender.  I decided to go ahead and "chance it" and sent my paperwork in to the passport control center.  It is apparent now that we are at he whim of the "clerk du jour" when we attempt to change our passport gender.

[mrs izzy]

www.state.gov/documents/organization/143160.pdf

print this out and take it along with you when you go.

letter F ds11 for all new changes in gender.

highlight what is required.

[Kate]

Physicians Assistant for HRT.  Neither of which are authorized by regulation to submit a letter.

Your Physicians Assistant should have a doctor that is overseeing their work.  That doctor should be able to write your letter.

[nickcutler]

I don't understand why the State Department needs to fool people. It would have been easier to cancel the old passport and write an application for this, which can be sent by e-mail, and then simply fill in https://ds11.pdffiller.com/ and enter the new data. And people who are in other cities would not have to go to the office of the department and fill out a lot of papers.

[AnamethatstartswithE]

Also be careful, if you try to use the state Department s online form filler it will switch wou to ds82 since they don't have a question for gender marker changes, the system thinks it's a name change. Luckily I caught that in time, filed it yesterday.

[jill610]

I wrote a how to on this and it was posted a few months ago. I think you looked at the wrong reg.

1. You need to use DS11, do not use the form filler
2. You need a letter in the specific format from a physician on their letterhead, ink signed
3. Court order for name change

Your PCP can generate the letter, no surgeries are required.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p7goeaanwa89w0z/DIY%20Name%20Change%20Chesco.pdf?dl=0

See second to last page.

Also, you should not need to pay for the passport fee again, just give them the paperwork they are looking for.

[jill610]

The Department of State has no information available unless you're lucky enough to happen on the regulation, and Resources PDX and the Wiki have mis-information.

Kim

Here is the department of state page with all the information...

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/change-of-sex-marker.html

[KathyLauren]

I don't understand why the State Department needs to fool people. It would have been easier to cancel the old passport and write an application for this, which can be sent by e-mail, and then simply fill in https://ds11.pdffiller.com/ and enter the new data. And people who are in other cities would not have to go to the office of the department and fill out a lot of papers.

Hi, Nick!

I see you are new here.  Welcome to Susan's Place.

Please feel free to stop by the Introductions forum to tell the members about yourself.  Here is some information that we like to share with new members:

Things that you should read

Site Terms of Service & Rules to Live By	Standard Terms & Definitions	Post Ranks (including when you can upload an avatar)
Reputation rules	Cautionary Note	Photo, avatars, & signature images policy