Every passport comes with a validity period. Once the validity period is over, you need to get the passport renewed. It has been seen that the process of US passport renewal is easier than getting a new passport altogether. Lesser numbers of documents are needed in the renewal process. Not only this, the application for renewal can be sent by mail as well. There is no need to appear in person for the process of passport renewal until and unless you have a travel plan in the coming 2 weeks and need the
renewed passport within that time. With personal appearance at the regional processing agency, your passport renewal process can be expedited.
Expedite passport renewal services are needed when the date of departure is within 30 days and there is need of obtaining a visa too. If you are looking for a really quick service, submit the renewal application form at a regional center. However, if you can wait for 3-4 weeks, you can avail expedite service through mail. There are many passport agencies too, which offer expedite services to customers in getting new passport and renewal services at additional charges.
Majority of the countries demand passport validity of more than 6 months from the day of stay in a foreign land. This is done as a safeguard step. In case a person falls ill or some accident happens in a foreign land and he/she needs to extend stay in the other country, the passport should be valid. The extended validity keeps one safe in such situations.
Renew US passport by mail
Form DS-82 is used for application of passport renewal when the previously-issued passport is successful in meeting all the above mentioned criteria:
The passport was issued at the age of 16 years of more
When the passport is not significantly damaged and can be furnished with the passport renewal
form
The passport was issued within the last 15 years
The passport has your current name or you can document your name change legally
If these criteria are not met with, it is not possible to apply for renewal of US passport via mail. You have to then apply to get a new passport by submitting Form DS-11 and all supporting documents at an application acceptance facility. Moreover, the form has to be submitted in person. If the above mentioned conditions are fulfilled, you can apply for passport renewal via mail. Read on to
know about the 3 steps.
Step 1 - Complete Form DS-82 – the passport renewal application form
The first step to renew passport is filling up the passport renewal application form completely without
any errors. There are actually two ways in which the form can be filled up.
Completing Form DS-82 online
You can look for passport renewal online by filling up Form DS-82 online. Complete filling up the form and then print the same. In case you have bad connectivity issue or other online problems, you can fill up the form offline too.
Completing Form DS-82 offline
Download Form DS-82 from the official website of US State Department and get it printed. Use black ink for filling up the application form. Make sure that you provide correct details in legible handwriting so
that reading the form is easy. Illegible handwriting can lead to cancellation of the renewal application form. The application form is of total 6 pages. The first 4 pages contain detailed information about the renewal process and the instructions for the same. The rest two pages are where all details need to be filled up.
Step 2 - Collect all supporting documents for the renewal process It is true that large numbers of supporting documents are not needed in passport renewal process, but there are some documents that need to be furnished.
The current passport. It can still be valid or expired. Whatever be the status of the passport it will be invalidated and returned to the customer. In case the current passport is mutilated or damaged in any way, you cannot apply for passport renewal via mail but need to appear in person for the same.
Recent passport size photograph, which should have dimension of 2 inches by 2 inches.
There are applicants whose names might have been changed legally and they need to furnish legal evidence of the change. Documents which are accepted as legal for evidence of name change include divorce decree, court order, adoption certificate, marriage certificate etc. the document should be submitted in original or it should be a certified copy. After the process of renewal is over, this document is returned back to the candidate.
Step 3 - Packing form for passport renewal and supporting documents in protective packaging and sending
It is recommended to use good packaging materials like a Tyvek envelope for packing the completely filled up DS-82 form for passport renewal and supporting documents. Also make sure that you include the passport renewal fee in the envelope in the form of a check, which would be payable to US Department of State. In front of the check, don’t forget to mention the full name of the applicant along with his/her date of birth. Regular processing of passport renewal applications takes about 6-8 weeks. However, if you want fast passport renewal, you can avail the expedite services. Expedite services via mail take about 2-3 weeks.
There are also facilities of getting passport renewed on same day with help of passport agencies which offer expedite passport services – for passport renewal as well as for getting a new passport.
