Indianz.Com > News > Tom Cole: Passport tips for the upcoming summer season
Tom Cole
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, serves as chair of the House Committee on Appropriations. He is the first Native person to hold the post in the U.S. Congress. Photo: Tom Cole
Get Your Passports!
Monday, April 20, 2026
By Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma)
cole.house.gov

Summer is quickly approaching. So, with the warmer weather and schools out for summer break, I am sure many Oklahomans are planning to travel overseas this summer. Therefore, I wanted to use today’s column as an opportunity to share important international travel reminders and resources for navigating the passport process.

First, it is important to apply for a passport. If you are applying for your first U.S. passport, you must apply in person and can do so right at home in Oklahoma. To find a list of the passport acceptance facilities in our state, click here. It is also important to apply for your passport as soon as you can, as it is possible that delays occur. However, if you are in need of your passport in less than six weeks, you can rush your passport here for a fee.

If you have children traveling with you, they must also have a passport, as no one is too young to need a passport. All children under 16 must apply for a passport in person using Form DS-11, which you can find here. If your child is 16 or 17, he or she must apply in person using Form DS-11. However, some 16- and 17-year-olds may be able to renew their passport by mail using Form DS-82. You can check your child’s eligibility here.

Also, when applying for or renewing a passport, it is critical to be aware of fraudulent websites and bad actors trying to steal your information. Only State Department sites are safe to use when searching for information. However, there are no websites, including government websites, that will allow you to apply for a first-time passport online – you can only apply for a passport in person or by mail. Instructions for applying in person can be found here. If you are renewing or replacing your passport, you can do that online here.

Once you are at your destination, I encourage you to keep your passport in a safe and secure location. However, if something does go wrong and your passport is lost or stolen, please contact the nearest American embassy or consulate for assistance. That way you will be able to report your passport as missing and apply for an emergency passport to get back home. Then, once you are back in the States, just remember to replace it with a full-validity passport.

Finally, I want to make sure my constituents in Oklahoma’s Fourth District know that my staff and I are here to help if you are experiencing a passport issue. If you have any questions, please call my Norman office at (405)329-6500.

Safe travels everyone. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for help!

Tom Cole, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, is serving his eleventh term in the U.S. Congress as the elected representative of Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District. He is recognized as an advocate for taxpayers and small business, a proponent for a strong national defense and a leader in promoting biomedical research. He is considered the foremost expert in the U.S. House of Representatives on issues dealing with Native Americans and tribal governments. He is the Chairman, the top Republican leadership position on the committee, of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which he has served on since 2009. He also previously served as the Chairman of the House Rules Committee. Cole and his wife, Ellen, have one son, Mason, and reside in Moore, Oklahoma.
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