After people obtain their passports, they either use them constantly or just throw them into the back of their desks, saving them for the day when they eventually take that dream vacation abroad. If that day comes, the person often opens the passport book only to find that the passport has expired. An expired passport doesn’t have to be a cause for stress because they can easily be renewed either via mail or in person.
One way to determine how long a passport is valid is to figure out when the passport was originally issued. If an individual was issued a passport when they were sixteen or older, then the passport is good for ten years. If, however, the individual was fifteen or younger, then the passport is only good for five years. Because some countries do not accept newly issued or re-issued passports, it would be wise to renew a passport several months in advance. The standard is nine months.
An expired passport will need to be renewed if an individual wants to travel abroad. The individual can go about this process in one of two ways. An individual can do this through the mail if the they meet certain requirements. For instance, a person’s soon-to-be expired passport will have to be undamaged and sent in the mail. Coinciding with this, the passport has to have been issued 15 years ago or earlier. The name on the passport must be the same as the person’s current name, as well. Those who were under fifteen when they acquire their passport do not qualify for the mail-in option.
To renew the passport by mail, the passport holder must complete an application for U.S. Passport by Mail. This form may be found online and may be completed electronically or printed and hand-completed. The applicant must mail a packet containing the application, his/her most recent U.S. Passport, two identical photos, the passport fee, and documentation substantiating a name change, if applicable.
If the person does not meet the specific requirements needed to be able to renew by mail, then the individual will need to appear in person to complete the process. By looking online, the individual can find the proper office to appear at, but before venturing to the office, an individual needs to make sure that he or she has all the necessary documentation. Check online to see a list of acceptable forms of documentation.
Normally, the process of renewing a passport will take anywhere from twenty-eight days to forty-two days. The government has a sped up process that will have some additional fees that can complete the process in as little as fourteen days to twenty-one days. If the vacation is going to be sooner than that, there are other options still. There are private expediting services that can have the whole process completed in as little as one day. Of course, there are additional fees with this option.
U.S. citizens who reside in Canada may renew their passports by mail. U.S. citizens residing in other countries excluding Canada must renew their passports at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. A directory of the locations of these facilities may be found online.
Even though the documents in the drawer is an expired U.S. passport and not valid, a family does not have to cancel the vacation. Applicants who meet the guidelines can apply for renewal by mail, quick and easy. Those who do not meet the guidelines will have to appear in person. For those in a hurry, consider a passports expediting service.