Learn About the Passport Renewal Process

A US passport enables a person to travel to other countries and re-enter the country as a US citizen. There is no need for holders to submit any other proof of their citizenship. So it is important that this identification document is updated and renewed so as to experience hassle free international travels.

Purpose of US Travel Permit

A person can possess only one valid US passport at a time. It is not a compulsory rule that a US citizen should hold a US passport, but it is a must if at all the person is planning to undertake frequent trips out of the country. US citizens did not require a passport to travel to Canada and Mexico, until recently. However they can now do so, only if they have a valid US passport.

The two formats of travel permit issued are the traditional passport book and the passport card. The book type is small with a navy color cover. It resembles a small book and has many blank pages inside it. The card type was introduced very recently (in 2008). It is highly compact and resembles a credit card. Unlike the book type, it has no pages and hence more convenient than the book. One major difference between the two is that the card type can be used only when a person travels to and from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean whereas the Passport books can be used during all international trips.

When should one go in for passport renewal?

When a person has a travel permit that is about to expire, he/she should go in for passport renewal. When a person applies for a renewal, he/she should submit the old permit in order to get it canceled, after which it will be returned. US passport is considered to be a property of the US government. (It has the right to revoke any person's travel permits on valid grounds.)

When a person applies for a new passport, it requires to be applied in person. It is not so in the case of renewing passports. Renewal of US passports can easily be done through mail itself. A person can go in for renewing if his/her US passport:

· is about to expire and is undamaged (so that it can be submitted along with the travel permit application) · was issued when the person was 16 years of age or older
· was issued within the past 15 years
· was issued with the person's current name

A person can also renew his/her permit in case he/she wants to document their name change legally.

Passport renewal process

There are two different situations in the process of renewing travel permit.

· Passport Renewal from inside the US - Form DS-82 (Application for a US Passport by Mail) should be filed to renew US passport.

· Passport renewal from outside the US - US Citizens in Canada should file Form DS-82 to the address mentioned on the form; Others should renew their passports at their nearest US Consulate or Embassy

A person, whose US passport has been badly mutilated or damaged, cannot apply for passport renewal through mail and should apply in person only. Also if a person is behind on child support payments, then this disqualifies him/her from applying for a renewal of the passport.

It is recommended that all passport renewal applications and personal documents (for proof) be sent only by a traceable delivery method like UPS, FedEx or USPS (United States Postal Service). The applicants are also advised to mail their applications and supporting documents using a secure packaging so as to protect the contents from extreme weather conditions. The application and personal documents should not be folded and applicants should never use a standard letter envelope. Passports that are renewed by mail in the US should be mailed only to US and Canadian addresses.

Fee for Passport Renewal Process

The fee varies depending on whether the applicant is filing to renew either passport book or card.

Passport Book and Card - $140 Passport Book - $110 Passport Card - $30

If you are interested in learning more about How to Renew Green Cards, Green Card Application, US Passport Renewal and Passport Application visit U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Direct Services at

Applying for a US Passport?

A passport,an internationally recognized travel document acts as a verification of the identity and nationality of the one holding it. As far as the United States passport is concerned, the US Department of State is the sole authority that grants, issues, or verifies it.

The US passport comes with a 5 year and 10 year validity. For persons who were issued passports when they were 16 years old or older, the passport is valid for 10 years. Whereas for persons who were issued passports when they were 15 years old or younger, the passport is valid only for 5 years.

You can apply for a passport at over 9,000 facilities available across the US. These include many Federal, state, and probate courts, post offices, a few public libraries, county and municipal offices.

To expedite the process, additionally there are 13 regional passport agencies and one Gateway City Agency available to serve individuals traveling within 14 days, or who need foreign visas to travel. Under such circumstances, appointments are required.

You have to apply for your US passport in person if you are applying for the first time.

Also if:
your passport expired and is not in your possession
your passport expired and was issued more than 15 years ago
your previous passport was issued when you were below 16 years of age
you have a current US passport and that is lost or stolen.

Apart from the circumstances mentioned above, applicants under the age of 14 should appear in person, and be able to provide legal consent of his/her parents or legal guardians. The minor must either be accompanied by both the guardians, one guardian who can provide the other guardian's notarized consent, or one guardian who can submit evidence of soul authority to apply.

Application for Passport In Person:

You must use form DS-11 if:
You have never had a US passport
You are below 16 years old.
The current passport you hold was issued more than 15 years ago
You lost your most recent passport or it was stolen.

Form DS-82 (Application for Passport By Mail) has to be filed to renew a previously issued US passport by mail at anytime OR in person at a Regional Passport Agency in case you are traveling internationally, or need your passport for foreign visas within fourteen (14) days.

Replacing a lost or stolen US passport:

Ensure you report a lost or stolen passport as soon as possible and do it before you can apply for a new one. To do this, you have to fill out form DS-64, Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport. Submitting this form will result in the invalidation of your passport, thus making it unusable for travel. Passports that are reported lost or stolen cannot be re validated.

You have to fill out a new passport application. Complete form DS-11, Application for Passport as you would if you were applying for a new passport. Along with the DS-11 Form, you should also submit DS-64 and brought with you when you go in person to apply for a new passport if your previous passport has been lost or stolen.

The US passport comes with a 5 year and 10 year validity. Also ensure you report a lost or stolen passport as soon as possible and do it before you can apply for a new one. To do this, you have to fill out form DS-64

Passport Replacement - Making Trip Preparation Quick And Easy

Traveling anywhere is a special occasion that shouldn't be taken lightly. And it's so much more than just going to a hotel and seeing the sights. It's about living the life of the different people and experiencing what their culture is all about. This quality is really what makes traveling outside of the country important. Some people are afraid to take the initial step out of the country. It's never to late to start if you have yet to try. Passport replacement can be done on the internet, and once you have a passport, you are set to travel.

Only those who already have a passport are eligible for passport replacement. There are a variety of circumstances that would necessitate a passport replacement, so we'll take a look at the ones that apply to the most people, including one or more that might apply to you.

Passports have an expiration date, and for those who have passports past this date, a passport replacement is in order. It's easy to tell if your passport is expired or not; there are some simple guidelines. First of all, child passports are only valid for 5 years. This includes anyone under the age of 18. For those 18 or older, those passports expire after 10 years. In this case, you don't need to buy a brand new passport, you can just renew your current one. All you do is go online and fill out a form to have your passport renewed. If you happen to be older than 16 when your child passport expires, you need to apply for a new adult one.

Passports that have gone missing are another common factor for needed a passport replacement. It's so easy to lose track of a passport, more so when you don't travel very often. They can be dangerous, however, since so much of your identity lies in between a passports' pages. If you've spend a good while trying to track down your passport and have turned up nothing, then you will need to cancel it and get a new passport. This is the same procedure for if your passport's been stolen, which is explained next.

The worst case scenario is having your passport stolen, which can keep you from traveling or from even going home. However, there is a procedure to follow if you find yourself with a stolen passport either in the United States or overseas, a procedure that closely adheres to the general passport replacement process. Start by reporting your stolen passport. If you're abroad, you would report to a United States embassy, one of which can be found in many major cities. If you're in the US, report by calling the National Passport Information Center. They will have you answer some basic questions.

Online passport replacement is a simple electronic process. After you've reported your lost passport, all that's left to do is apply for a new one. This can either be done in person or completely online. Remember, however, that keeping your passport secure is a big deal. It could potentially be very dangerous in another person's hands. But things happen, so don't panic if you lose your passport. US embassies and the State Department have handled uncountable cases like yours.

Going online to apply for passport replacement makes trip preparation a breeze. These sites can address all of your passport questions, including expedited passport replacement, which happens to be a very powerful tool for those who are looking to travel soon. Your new passport could be expedited in as little as 24 hours, which is excellent if you lose your passport abroad.

Do You Need a Passport Book Or Passport Card?

The U.S. Department of State Passport Services recently began issuing the passport card as an alternative to the traditional passport book. In a short period of time, Passport Services received over 350,000 applications for the passport card. What is the purpose of the passport card? How does it differ from the passport book? Which travel document should you choose? Is one better than the other? These are just a few of the questions for which you will find answers below.

You may use the passport card when traveling by land and sea anywhere in the U.S. when you arrive from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean. The Passport care may NOT be used if you are going to travel by air. Other than that, it carries all of the privileges and right of the U.S. passport book.

The State Department has begun issuing passport cards in response to the needs of resident communities that are located on the borders of our great country. It is a less expensive and a much more portable alternative to the traditional passport book. The passport card has the same validity as the passport book - ten years for adults and five years for children ages 15 and younger. If an adult already has a passport book, they may apply for the card and only have to pay $20 because it would be considered as a passport renewal. First time adult applicants will pay a fee of $45 while for children it is $35.

The passport card contains a radio frequency identification chip or RFID in order to facilitate U.S. citizens who are living in border communities. No personal information is written on the RFID chip.

The U.S. State Department along with the Department of Homeland Security stated that the U.S. Passport Card is now in full production and is also being distributed. The Passport Card is a convenient document that you can slip right into your wallet and is used for land and sea travel. It is NOT valid for international air travel.

Passport Holders - Cover Your Passport For Safety and Style

What is a Passport Holder anyway? A passport holder is a slim cover that you place around your passport to protect it as well as uniquely identify it. Passport holders are also called passport covers or passport wallets and you can find them under any of those names. You can easily buy them online.

Why use a passport holder to cover your passport? Here are 4 top reasons to use a passport holder to cover your passport.

1.     Security
2.     Style
3.     Distinction or Differentiation
4.     Maintenance and Preservation

The number one reason to cover your passport is Security. Your passport is your most valuable document, especially when traveling abroad and you want it to be protected. If you're traveling in areas where the population is really poor there may be a lot of pickpockets and thieves who want that passport because it could be worth years of income on the black market! It's a survival issue and morals go out the window. Best to protect yourselves and loved ones by disguising your passport to look like a notebook or other reading material.

Many people buy leather or very extravagant passport covers which is so opposite to their purpose. The idea is to have a simple sturdy passport cover with a beautiful, artistic but non-descript design. 11:11 Enterprises makes their designs with these considerations in mind. Artistic and fun designs can throw off would-be thieves.

Where to Get a Passport

There are many places to get a passport. The place you need to go depends on the type of passport service you require and how soon you need to have your travel document returned to you. The information below will help you decide where to get your passport.

Passport by Mail

You can apply for a passport renewal by mail using Form DS-82 if you meet certain requirements and have more than two weeks before your departure. Your present passport cannot be damaged. It should have been issued to you within the past 15 years and when you were at least 16 years old. Your name must be the same as that in your present passport or you need to send documentation of the change such as a certified copy of your marriage license. If you do not meet these requirements, you cannot apply by mail.

Passport Acceptance Facility

For regular or expedited processing of a new passport, you need to take your completed application form DS-11 along with all supporting documents to the nearest passport acceptance facility. The Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Passport Services authorizes many public libraries, post offices, clerks of court, and other state, county, township, and municipal government offices to receive passport applications on its behalf. There are over 9,000 such locations throughout the United States and U.S. territories.

Regional Passport Agency

Another location available to get a passport is any of the thirteen regional passport agencies. These agencies only attend travelers who need a passport in less than 2 weeks. If you need to get a passport in a hurry, this is a good option. Agencies are located in Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C. You can also find them in Aurora, Colorado and Norwalk, Connecticut.

You first need to call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 and set up an appointment at the passport agency that serves your region. You should neither arrive more than 15 minutes early nor be more than 15 minutes late. Be sure to take you completed, unsigned application, proof of US citizenship, current identification, two passport photos, proof of departure, and your appointment confirmation number.

Private Passport Expediter

In cases where you need to get a passport within a couple of weeks and are unable to travel to a regional passport agency, you can contract a private expediting service to obtain your travel document for you. You still need to present your application and documents to a passport agent but, instead of mailing them directly to the Office of Passport Services, you would send them to the expediter you have contracted and authorized to represent you.

How to Expedite Your Passport Renewal

There are three ways to expedite a passport renewal. The method you pick out will depend on how speedily you need to acquire your renewed passport and how much time you have to devote to the process. The details below will help guide you in making the decision on how best to expedite your passport renewal.

Apply for Expedited Service by Mail to the National Passport Processing Center

Ddownload and complete the application form DS-82 to renew a passport. Put it in an envelope with your current passport, two photos and payment. The application fee and expediting fee can be made with one payment. Provide proof of your name change if it is different from the name in your present passport. This can be done with a marriage certificate or court order.

Clearly and legibly write "EXPEDITE" on the envelope so that it can be speedily identified at the processing center. The National Passport Processing Center address can be found on the application for renewal. Within 3 to 4 weeks the application should be processed and your passport delivered to your. It may take longer, especially during peak travel periods.

Renew Your Passport at a Regional Passport Agency

Applying at a regional passport agency is an option if you cannot wait for your travel document to be returned by mail. The regional agencies attend travelers whose departure date is within 14 days and who do not need a travel visa. Those who need to obtain a visa can be attended at the regional agency up to 28 days before their departure date.

Presently, fifteen passport agencies operate in the United States. The agencies can be found in major cities throughout the U.S. including Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, New Orleans, Miami, Norwalk (CO), Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Chicago and Detroit. Each agency attends a particular area of the United States.

Pick the regional passport agency that services your state of residence to begin the passport renewal process. You can set up an appointment by callling toll-free at 1-877-487-2778. This number is for an automated appointment system. Sometimes, it can be pretty hard to get through. It may be necessary to make numerous tries. Just keep calling.

Take the completed form and accompanying documentation with you to the regional passport agency on the day of your appointment. You are asked not to get to the agency more than 15 minutes early or to be over 15 minutes late. Being more than fifteen minutes late could result in the cancellation of your appointment.

If your appointment is early in the day, you could receive your renewed passport that same afternoon. If you are not attended until later in the day, you might possibly have to wait until the following day to get your passport.

Get Your Passport Renewed Through a Travel Document Expediter

Travel document expediters have a special relationship with regional agencies that allow them to represent their clients who are unable to personally deliver their requests to the agency for processing. Allowing a passport expediter to take care of the expediting of your passport renewal is a wise choice when you are in a time crunch and have many other things to take care of before your trip.

Passport expediters specialize in obtaining passports quickly. You are ordinarily given several choices as to how quickly you want your passport expedited. Processing times are as follows.

    Standard - 8 to 10 business days
    Rush - 5 to 7 business days
    Priority - 3 to 4 business days
    Next Day - 2 business days
    24 hours - 1 business day


Once you have decided on how speedily you want to acquire your passport, you need to complete an online form with personal information such as your name, address, phone number and email. Next, type in information about your trip including date of departure and destination. Confirm whether you have an itinerary or not.

You need to download the expediter's authorization form. The completed and signed form should be sent along with your passport renewal application and other documentation to the expediter by express mail.

Make Your Choice

Now you know the three ways to expedite your passport renewal. Send the passport application yourself. Get it expedited at a regional passport agency. Or allow a private expediting service to get the job done for you. The choice is yours. You get to decide. You make the decision. Just make sure you choose a way to get your passport renewal expedited that gets it done before your departure date.