How to Renew a U.S. Passport
Posted on March 4th, 2009 by Elaine
Loading ...
Your passport is your ticket to the world, and every American must have his or her own at hand all the time. Of course, time will come when this document will expire, so you must know how to renew your US passport properly, in order for it to be useful for years to come. Here’s how to do it.
Renewing By Mail
What You’ll Need:
- Current passport
- Application for a U.S. Passport by Mail (Form DS-82)
- Two passport photos (must be U.S. Passport Office-approved)
- A check stating the amount of the passport renewal fee
- A large, padded envelope
Procedure:
- Check your eligibility for passport renewal through mail. Not everyone is eligible, you must meet these criteria first:
- Your current passport is still with you and it is undamaged.
- You have received it within the last 15 years.
- When it was issued, you were at least 16 years old.
- Your name in the old passport hasn’t changed. If it has, you must show legal documentation of your name change. These include marriage license, court order, adoption decree or divorce decree.
- Have your picture taken, in passport size. Remember that passport photo criteria are very strict, so it’s advisable for you to have yours taken somewhere that offers acceptable passport photos, such as in a post office. If you’re taking your own photo, make sure you follow the guidelines stated on the U.S. Passport Website.
- Get a copy of Form DS-82, or the Application for a U.S. Passport by Mail form. This can be printed out and filled in by hand or filled out online, and printed afterwards. Make sure you input adequate and truthful information.
- Find out the current fee for passport renewal. You can check this on the U.S. Passport Website. The fee for those 16 years old and above is currently $75, but this can change, so you should check first. Write a check for this.
- Put the photos, the filled-out form, the name-change documents and your old passport in a padded envelope. Mail it to the address stated on the application form. You’ll have to wait for at least three weeks, but, depending on the time of the year, this could take longer.
Renewing In Person
If you unfortunately lost your old passport, you have no choice but have it renewed personally. Here’s how.
What You’ll Need:
- Two passport photos
- Application fee (cash or check)
- Proof of identity
- Proof of U.S. citizenship
- Application form DS-11
Procedure:
- Find a local acceptance facility or passport agency that accepts passport renewal. Examples of acceptance facilities include post offices and clerk-of-court offices.
- Get a DS-11 form, or the Application for Passport form. You can download it from the U.S. Passport site, or just get it from an acceptance facility of passport agency. Fill it out properly.
- Show your proof of U.S citizenship. You can bring your:
- Expired U.S. passport (if you still have it)
- Original passport
- Certificate of citizenship
- Consular report of birth abroad
- Birth certificate
- Naturalization certificate.
- If these aren’t available, you’ll need a Letter of No Record from the state. Bring a baptismal certificate or hospital birth certificate, too.
- Bring valid proof of identity, such as your:
- Expired passport
- Military I.D.
- Government I.D.
- U.S. Driver’s License
- Naturalization Certificate
- If these aren’t available, bring a combination of signed documents, such as credit cards or social security car, or a U.S. citizen with proof of identity who will vouch for you.
- Pay the required fee, using cash or check. Credit cards and debit cards are also acceptable.
- Bring two identical passport photos. These must be taken within the past six months. You can also have your photo taken at the passport agency or acceptance facility for a certain fee.
Always have your passport with you at all times, and make sure it’s renewed promptly. You’ll never know, one of these days you might find yourself invited to a lovely vacation abroad.
Ask a question
Comments