Most people are familiar with their passports. It is a document they have had for years, and they keep an eye on it as to when it expires. Others, however, do not. Some people do not even have passports, which can be very irritating for them if they suddenly wish to travel out of the country. If you do have a passport, look at the expiration date. Most passports last for ten years. You should therefore get ready to renew this document once it gets to be about six months away from its expiration date. After that, there are just a few simple steps to renew a US passport.
Some don’t think they need a to renew a passport so far in advance. It is good planning and common sense to do so though, because it is an official document which requires much processing and changing of hands before it is given to you. There could be numerous delays and problems, so if you are planning on traveling, save yourself a big headache and never run the risk of being caught without a valid passport. You can also on occasion find deals when the passport might not cost you as much.
So where to begin? Many people do not know the first step to take. For many, passports can be renewed through the mail. It is easy and fairly convenient. The only problem is that this option can’t be utilized by everyone. If the below statements are true, you CAN renew through the mail.
Your passport is undamaged. You can submit your passport with the form. You were older than sixteen when you got your passport. Your passport is fifteen years old or less. You still have the same name as you do on your passport. If you do not have the same name, you can show through legal documents your name change. Assuming these statements are true, you can download the DS-82 form from travel.state.gov.
So what do you do if those statements are not true? Or what if your passport was stolen or you are getting a passport for the first time? Apply in person. Do this by filling out the DS-11 form from the same site. After the form is properly filled, look at the US passport requirements for documents you need to bring with you. Different people will require different things.
Passport Agencies (or more temporary Acceptance Facilities) are where you get this done. Go there with your form and bits of documentation. Some examples of documentation include proof of citizenship, birth certificate, marriage license, and your old passport. Understand what you need.
Once you have all of your paperwork done, where do you go exactly? The site that gave you the forms will also have a search engine for Passport Agencies in your area. It will alert you to any public officials like notaries or town clerks, or even post office workers, who could fulfill these duties.
There is a page on this site with very special United States passport requirements. These are for under-aged children, which can complicate the matter. You will also need special documentation for diplomatic status or if you have some official business over seas. The guide online should walk you right through everything you will need to renew your passport.
