Important Notice:  Applicants coming to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy cannot bring large personal electronic devices to the Embassy. Those items include but are not limited to: laptops, iPads, and other tablet devices, or handheld gaming devices Effective immediately, the Embassy Local Guard Force cannot store laptops and large electronic devices for customers. Please make arrangements to leave large devices elsewhere before arriving at the U.S. Embassy to avoid inconveniences.

 Save time. Complete and print your passport application form before coming to the Embassy.

All applicants for U.S passports must apply in person. The Consular Section can neither receive passport applications nor return passports by mail. Please do not mail your application to a passport agency in the U.S. Please schedule a different appointment for each person renewing their passport.

Adult Renewals: Adults who have previously held a full-validity adult passport may book an appointment using our online service and complete form DS-82 (PDF 88.5KB). On the day of your appointment, come to the Embassy with:

1. A signed and completed application
2. Your current passport and one photocopy of the biographic page
3. One (1) valid (6 months old) passport photo
4. Fees
5. We will return your current passport to you at the end of the appointment

Child/Minor Renewals: For children and minors under the age of 16, both parents should be present at the Embassy during the application appointment. Book an appointment using our online service. On the day of your appointment, come to the Embassy with:

1. A completed but unsigned form DS-11(PDF 97KB)
2. Passports (for the child and both parents) along with a copy of each biographic page for each passport
3. One (1) valid passport photo
4. An original or a copy of the child’s birth certificate
5. Fees
6. Your child’s current passport will be returned to you at the end of the appointment. If one of the parents cannot be present at the same time, the applying parent should present an original signed and notarized DS-3053(PDF 51KB) along with an attached copy of the non-present parent’s identification used in the DS-3053. (This must be notarized by a licensed notary public in the United States or at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Burundian notaries are not accepted.)

First Time Adult Passports: For individuals 16 years or older applying for their first full validity passport. Minors under the age of 18 should be accompanied by at least one parent. Book an appointment using our online service. On the day of your appointment, come to the Embassy with:

1. A completed but unsigned form DS-11 (PDF 97KB)
2. Your current passport and one photocopy of the biographic page
3. One (1) valid passport photo
4. Fees
5. We will return your current passport to you at the end of the appointment.

Limited Validity Passports: Limited validity passports valid for no more than one year may be issued under special circumstances at the discretion of the Consular Officer, usually within one business day. The validity of U.S. passports cannot be extended. U.S. citizens who hold limited validity passports are encouraged to obtain a full validity passport at their earliest possible convenience to avoid getting caught in a situation that requires them to travel at very short notice.

Replace a Lost Passport: To replace a lost passport, you will need to apply in person and include the following:

1. Form DS-64  (Statement regarding lost or stolen passport)
2. Form DS-11 (Application for U.S. passport)
3. Citizenship evidence*  (e.g. birth or naturalization certificate)
4. A photocopy of citizenship evidence
5. Present ID (in person)
6. A photocopy of ID
7. One passport photo
8. Fees

Processing Time: U.S. passports are issued in the United States even though applications are accepted and approved here at the Embassy in Bujumbura. The processing time for applications submitted and approved at this office is typically ten days to two weeks. When the new passport is collected, applicants must submit their current passport to be cancelled. The cancelled passport will then be returned with the new passport. Applicants must be able to pick up their new passports personally or authorize a representative in writing to do so. We do not mail passports to applicants and we are required to cancel the current passport before we release the new passport. Applicants are strongly advised not to make irreversible travel plans until they have their passports in hand.

Important information: Burundian visas in your old passport can still be used and presented when travelling with your new passport. You are not required to do a transfer of visas by the Burundi Immigration authorities.

THIRD PARTY ATTENDANCE AT PASSPORT AND CRBA APPOINTMENT INTERVIEWS

Generally, immediate family members may accompany passport or CRBA applicants to their appointment interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate, and all minor children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Passport or CRBA applicants also have the option of being accompanied by an attorney at their appointment interview.  Attendance by any third party, including an attorney, accompanying an applicant is subject to the following parameters designed to ensure an orderly appointment interview process and to maintain the integrity of the adjudication of the application(s):

• Given space limitations in the consular section, not more than one attendee at a time will be allowed to accompany an applicant (or the applicant’s parent or guardian if the applicant is a minor).
• Attendance by an attorney does not excuse the applicant and/or the minor applicant’s parent or guardian from attending the appointment interview in person.
• The manner in which a passport or CRBA appointment interview is conducted, and the scope and nature of the inquiry, shall at all times be at the discretion of the consular officer, following applicable Departmental guidance.
• It is expected that attorneys will provide their clients with relevant legal advice prior to, rather than at, the appointment interview, and will advise their clients prior to the appointment interview that the client will participate in the appointment interview with minimal assistance.
• Attorneys may not engage in any form of legal argumentation during the appointment interview and before the consular officer.
• Attendees other than a parent or guardian accompanying a minor child may not answer a consular officer’s question on behalf or in lieu of an applicant, nor may they summarize, correct, or attempt to clarify an applicant’s response, or interrupt or interfere with an applicant’s responses to a consular officer’s questions.
• To the extent that an applicant does not understand a question, s/he should seek clarification from the consular officer directly.
• The consular officer has sole discretion to determine the appropriate language(s) for communication with the applicant, based on the facility of both officer and applicant and the manner and form that best facilitate communication between the consular officer and the applicant.  Attendees may not demand that communications take place in a particular language solely for the benefit of the attendee.  Nor may attendees object to or insist on the participation of an interpreter in the appointment interview, to the qualifications of any interpreter, or to the manner or substance of any translation.
• No attendee may coach or instruct applicants as to how to answer a consular officer’s question.
• Attendees may not object to a consular officer’s question on any ground (including that the attendee regards the question to be inappropriate, irrelevant, or adversarial), or instruct the applicant not to answer a consular officer’s question.  Attendees may not interfere in any manner with the consular officer’s ability to conduct all inquiries and fact-finding necessary to exercise his or her responsibilities to adjudicate the application.
• During a passport or CRBA appointment interview, attendees may not discuss or inquire about other applications.
• Attendees may take written notes, but may not otherwise record the appointment interviews.
• Attendees may not engage in any other conduct that materially disrupts the appointment interview.  For example, they may not yell at or otherwise attempt to intimidate or abuse a consular officer or staff, and they may not engage in any conduct that threatens U.S. national security or the security of the embassy or its personnel.  Attendees must follow all security policies of the Department of State and the U.S. embassy or consulate where the appointment interview takes place.

Attendees may not engage in any conduct that violates this policy and/or otherwise materially disrupts the appointment interview.  Failure to observe these parameters will result in a warning to the attendee and, if ignored, the attendee may be asked to leave the appointment interview and/or the premises, as appropriate.  It would then be the applicant’s choice whether to continue the appointment interview without the attendee present, subject to the consular officer’s discretion to terminate the appointment interview.  The safety and privacy of all applicants awaiting consular services, as well as of consular and embassy personnel, is of paramount consideration.