How to Renew a Passport
Need help to renew a U.S. passport? Getting a passport renewed is easier than getting a new one. There are less steps and you can apply for a passport renewal by mail as long as you meet all the criteria. This article will provide info and ideas to help you get your passport renewed quickly and easily.
You can get a passport renewed if your present passport is not damaged and you were 16 or older when you got it. Also, it cannot be more than 15 years old. Finally, the name you put on the application should match that in your current passport or you must submit a document proving your name was changed legally.
The State Department recommends that applicants begin the process approximately 9 months before their passports expire. The application is processed and the renewed passport delivered to you in 4 to 6 weeks. The reason you should apply so early is so that your passport always has at least six months validity. This is a requirement that many countries have before they will issue entry visas.
How do you get your passport renewed? All you have to do is complete application form DS-82 and send it in together with two recent passport-style pictures, your present passport and check or money order for the application fee.
Passport photos should be 2×2 inches, identical, with a white or off-white background. No black and white photos are accepted. The photos should show a full-face view and you should be dressed in normal street attire. If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture.
Remember to mail in evidence of your name change if you need to. The address you send the package to is on the application.
What do you do when you need to renew a passport in a hurry? There are a few options available to you. One, you can ask for expedited service when you mail in the application for renewal. Include an additional $60 for this service and use a two-way overnight delivery method. It takes two to three weeks to expedite a renewal this way.
The fastest way to get your passport renewed is either submitting your application at a regional agency or applying through a private passport expediting service. Both methods can get your passport renewed the same day. Mail delivery time is not included in this calculation nor the time it takes to travel if you plan to visit an agency.
Regional agencies process emergency passport renewals for applicants who need to get a passport in 48 hours or less. While the State Department tells applicants to call in order to schedule an appointment at the nearest regional agency, many travelers have been able to renew a passport fast without an appointment. Some were even attended at a different agency than the one that serves their state.
If you cannot travel to the regional agency but need to renew your passport urgently, your best alternative is to submit the application through an expediter. Unless, of course, you want to cancel your travel plans. If this is the risk you are running, know that you have a choice. An expediter can get your passport renewed in a hurry.
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