Origins of the United States Passport: Part 5

As the 20th century began, there were significant developments in the domain of passports in the United States. Let’s go into these important milestones during that period.

In 1902, a Passport Bureau was reestablished, and governors of the United States insular possessions were granted the authority to issue passports to their residents. During the period of U.S. sovereignty, it’s likely that passports were issued to residents of Cuba, although no records are available. On June 14, 1902, passports were also issued to residents of Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Hawaii. Origins of the United States Passport: Part 5

In 1903, U.S. passports issued to individuals of Chinese descent contained a disclaimer stating that possessing a passport did not guarantee entry into the United States. However, this disclaimer was later removed. Additionally, the practice of stamping the Secretary of State’s signature on passports led to the engraving of a facsimile signature on the plate used for printing passports.

The year 1907 witnessed the renaming of the Passport Bureau to the Bureau of Citizenship. A diplomatic agreement was reached between the United States and the Japanese government, stipulating that the United States would not restrict Japanese immigration if Japan refrained from issuing passports to laborers seeking employment in the continental United States.

A special passport

for immigrants who had declared their intent to become U.S. citizens, was also authorized, along with a registration certificate that consular officials could provide to U.S. citizens living abroad to meet the identification requirements of foreign authorities.

In 1911, a revised version of the Rules Governing Issuing of Passports limited the authority of diplomatic and consular officials to issue passports only in emergency situations. Additionally, the United States government terminated a treaty with Russia due to Russia’s refusal to visa the U.S. passports of Jewish citizens. Origins of the United States Passport: Part 5

Following the outbreak of World War I in November 1914, the State Department advised that all citizens traveling abroad “should” carry passports. On December 21 of that year, photographs became a mandatory requirement for passports.

In 1915, the validity period of a passport was reduced from two years to six months, and passport applications were revised to include more detailed information such as the date and place of departure and the purpose of the trip.

In 1917, after the United States declared war on Germany in April, the State Department mandated “proof of necessity” in all passport applications, with stricter enforcement for travel to Europe. A Joint Order from the Departments of State and Labor required all aliens intending to enter U.S. territory to obtain a visa from a U.S. consul.

The Bureau of Citizenship Origins of the United States Passport: Part 5

was renamed the Division of Passport Control, although the attorney general ruled that the Executive lacked authority to control the departure of aliens or the entry and departure of U.S. citizens.

On January 3rd, 1918, an updated passport with enhanced security features to prevent fraudulent alteration and duplication was introduced. The passport, which remained a single sheet but was smaller, was now folded and enclosed in a soft, beige-colored cover made of watermarked paper. Origins of the United States Passport: Part 5

In 1918 and beyond, the Passport Control Act of May 22nd granted the President of the United States the power to regulate the travel of citizens and others to and from the country during wartime. President Wilson issued an executive order on August 8th establishing regulations for departure and entry into the United States through passports and visas.

The State Department also opened a passport agency in San Francisco, followed shortly by the establishment of a Visa Division.

In 1920, the passport fee was raised to $10, and passports were valid for a two-year period. The authority to issue passports to immigrants who had declared their intention to become citizens was revoked, and the fee for a visa was increased to $10, prompting many countries to reciprocate with higher visa fees for U.S. citizens. Origins of the United States Passport: Part 5

In the same year, the League of Nations’ Organization for Communication and Transit held a conference aimed at simplifying international passport requirements that had been introduced by individual nations during the war.

On February 17th, 1920, the governor of Hawaii was granted the authority to issue, renew, and modify U.S. passports.

In March 1921, Congress lifted wartime restrictions on U.S. citizens entering and leaving the country, though such restrictions remained in place for non-citizens. An immigration act introduced a national quota system, but did not grant consuls the authority to issue or deny visas based on quotas. Passport agencies were established in Chicago, Seattle, and New Orleans, and the Secretary of State ruled that all applicants, regardless of religious beliefs, must provide a photograph.

Finally, on January 7th, 1922, the Secretary of State conferred the authority to issue foreign service passports upon the Governor of the Virgin Islands. Origins of the United States Passport: Part 5

The next installation in this series will cover passport rules for married women, the opening of the Boston passport agency, and the introduction of a hardcover passport.

Sources/References:
– “The American Passport – Its History 1898, Washington Government Printing Office”
– “The United States passport: past, present, future 1976 –U.S. Dept. of State – Passport Office”
– “The Passport In America – The history of a document, Craig Robertson, Oxford University Press Inc., 2010”
– “U.S. Diplomacy & Passport History – A guideline for passport collectors by Tom Topol”