Outdoor Lifestyles

Need to renew a passport? The renewal process is actually a lot easier than getting a new passport. 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 renew a passport if your present passport is not damaged and you were 16 or older when you got it. Also, it had to be issued within the last 15 years. 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. With regular processing, it takes four to six weeks for the renewed passport to be sent to you. The reason you should apply so early is so that your passport always has at least six months validity. Travel visas to many countries are only issued if passports meet this requirement.

How do you get your passport renewed? You need to complete application form DS-82 and send it in along with two passport photos, your present passport and check or money order for the processing 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 are required to do so. You will find the address to which you need to mail the package on the application form.

What do you do when you need to get your passport renewed fast? There are a few ways that you can do this. 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 expediter. 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 rush passport renewals for travelers 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 agency that serves the state where they reside, many travelers were allowed to submit applications for passport renewals 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 get your passport renewed in 48 hours or less, 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 rush your passport renewal.

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