Can I Renew My Passport by Mail? - Expedited Passports

To get a new passport, you have to appear in person at a passport acceptance office, usually a post office. What a drag! However, if you already have a passport that’s either approaching its expiration date or already expired, you may be eligible to apply by mail instead. How do you know if you’re eligible to renew your passport by mail? Just go through the checklist below-if you can answer “yes” to every single one of these questions, you can skip the passport office:

• Were you at least 16 years when you received your current passport?
• Do you still have your current passport?
• Is your current passport in good condition?
• Was your current passport issued less than 15 years ago?
• Was your current passport issued in the name you currently use OR do you have legal documentation of your name change? Note: Depending on the circumstances, “legal documentation” can mean a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order.

To renew your passport by mail, send the following documents to the Department of State (the address will be on the application) in a sturdy protective envelope:

• 1 completed passport renewal application, Form DS-82 (don’t forget to sign it!)
• Your current US passport
• Name change documentation, if applicable
• Two passport photos
• Passport Fees: $110 for a passport book, $30 for a passport card, or a $140 for both together. If you’d like expedited service, pay an additional $60. It’s also suggested that you pay $14.95 for overnight shipping.

Once you’ve sent in your application, all you have to do is wait. Please be aware that if you order regular processing, it could take 6 weeks or longer for you to get your passport. If you requested expedited processing, you can expect to wait at least 3 weeks.

For faster service, you can apply in person at your nearest Regional Passport Agency Office, or use a private passport expediting service like RushMyPassport.com.

Using an expediter is a much more convenient option, since you don’t have to make an appointment or drive to the passport office. Plus, you’ll get personal service from an experience passport specialist, helping you avoid mistakes that could delay your application.

Renew your passport with us today!

Is a visit to the Eternal City on your bucket list? Take note: the New York Times is reporting that this fall is a particularly good time to go. That’s because o Dr. Roberto Cecchi, Rome’s new Archaeological Commissioner, has made it a point to both restore and restore access to archaeological treasures that were previously closed to the public. For example, through October 2nd, the Colosseum now has extended Saturday hours and is open until midnight. You’ll also be able to see the usually closed arena level and part of the hypogeum, the area where wild beasts and gladiators awaited their turn in the arena. The Baths of Caracalla will also be open for tours after dark.

Additionally, the Temple of Romulus in the Roman Forum is now open to the public, as are some recently restored frescoes in the House of Livia.

If these exhibits pique your interest, you should go ahead and renew your passport now if you want to see them. The New York Times spoke to Colosseum director Dr. Rossella Rea, who implied that the expanded hours and exhibits would probably not last forever:

These new fall options for visiting Rome’s most celebrated archaeological parks is tremendously exciting for both travelers and archaeologists. Yet in a city where cultural financing is tenuous, it is important to seize on new openings as they come about. “We want to continue to do more here,” Dr. Rea said, “but in the end it all depends on money.”

Whether you need to renew your passport or get a new one, you should expect to wait at least 6 weeks if you apply with normal processing. For an additional $60 fee, you can apply for expedited processing, which will reduce the time it takes to process your application to approximately 3 weeks. If you can’t wait that long, don’t panic-you do still have some options. Either make an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency or use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com.

Renew your passport with us today!

Wouldn’t you love to get paid to travel? Winners of Finnair’s new “Quality Hunters” contest get to do just that: get paid to fly to Finnair’s destinations and evaluate their experiences. (h/t Jaunted). Here’s how Finnair describes the contest on its website:

Ever dreamed of getting paid to explore the world? Finnair, one of the world’s longest continuously operating airlines, offers you the adventure of a lifetime. We are on a global search for four Quality Hunters; intrepid, outspoken and discerning individuals whose task is to travel to Finnair’s destinations in Europe, Asia and the US for a period of two months in search of quality experiences.

The 4 contest winners will be traveling from October and November 2010. Even if you don’t win the grand prize, if you vote for the top Quality Hunter on the Rethinking Quality blog, you’ll be entered to win free international air tickets from Europe to Asia.

Of course, one of the questions on the online application is whether or not you have a valid passport. If you haven’t been out of the country in a while, you should probably go check your expiration date and see if it’s time to renew your passport.

Passport renewal by mail using the government’s standard service generally takes at least 6 weeks. To renew your passport with expedited service, you should allow at least 3 weeks. 3 weeks is a long time to wait, but it’s better than 6 weeks. Fortunately, if you have a confirmed itinerary that shows you need it sooner, you can either make an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency office or use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com.

RushMyPassport walks you through the application process step-by-step, cutting down on both the frustration of filling out complicated paperwork and the chances of making an error that could delay your application. Then, we hand-deliver your application to the Department of State, cutting the processing time needed to renew your passport to as little as 24 hours.

Time for a renewal? Renew your passport the easy way!