How to Renew Your Passport - Expedited Passports

The process of renewing your passport varies depending on your age. Read the information below to determine how to proceed with your passport renewal:

How to Renew an Adult Passport

Most of the time, adults can renew their passports by mail, even if it’s already expired. You’re eligible to renew by mail using Form DS-82 as long as all of the following conditions apply:

• Your current passport has not been lost, stolen or damaged.
• Your current passport was issued after your 16th birthday.
• Your current passport was issued no more than 15 years ago.
• Your current passport was issued in your current legal name, or you have legal proof of your name change.

If that sounds like you, see How to Apply for a Passport Renewal for details on required documents, fees and processing times.

If you aren’t eligible to renew by mail, see How to Apply for a New Passport.

Passport Renewal for Children Under Age 16

Children under the age of 16 have an extra step to go through to renew their passports. They must appear in person at a post office or passport office, preferably with both parents. If only one parent is available, he or she must bring a notarized parental consent form signed by the other parent. In addition to the child’s proof of citizenship, parents must bring proof of their own identity and proof of their relationship to the child.

After you appear in person, the application can be sent directly to the Department of State or to an expediting company for faster processing.

For more details on required documents, fees and processing times, see How to Get a Child Passport

Passport Renewal for Teenagers Aged 16-17

Like younger kids, teenagers aged 16 and 17 must appear in person at a post office or passport office with a parent present to apply for passport renewal. If the teenager doesn’t have state-issued ID yet, the parents’ ID can be used instead. Written parental consent may be required at the passport office if it isn’t implied on the application.

How to Renew Your Passport Quickly

Standard processing time for a passport renewal is six weeks from the day you apply, though it can vary depending on how busy the passport office is. However, if you need to get it more quickly there are a few ways to do so:

• Pay an additional $60 expedite fee when you submit your application. The State Department also recommends that you pay for overnight shipping both to and from the passport agency. This will cut the processing time down to about 3 weeks.
• Make an appointment at the nearest passport agency if you’re leaving in 14 days (or 4 weeks if you need a visa).
• Use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport for faster, more personalized service and no need to make an appointment or wait in line.

For more information about the pros and cons of these options, see How to Order a Passport at the Last Minute

RushMyPassport makes ordering a passport easy, fast and convenient. Contact us to renew your passport quickly and painlessly!

Realizing that you’ve waited too long to apply for a passport is like being stuck in a bad dream. Terror and chagrin slowly mount as you realize the magnitude of your error. Unfortunately, since it’s not a dream, you can’t wake up.

Good news: there’s no need to panic!

Yes, the passport application process usually takes weeks, but there are ways to order a passport at the last minute.

Using a Passport Agency

One way to get a passport quickly is to apply at a regional passport agency office. These agencies are operated by the Department of State and issue passports on site. Processing time varies depending on which agency you go to. However, they will generally get your passport to you within 24 hours to 5 business days, depending on when your departure date is.

Now, here’s the catch: you can’t just walk in to a regional passport agency whenever you feel like it. These offices are open by appointment only, and they have limited operating hours as well. Much like a doctor’s office, just getting an appointment doesn’t mean that you’ll be seen at that time. You still have to take a number and wait in line.

Also, there are only 24 passport agencies to serve the entire country. That means you might not even have one in your state, so you’ll have to budget travel time and expenses in as well as time off work.

How to Get an Appointment

To use a passport agency, just call the National Passport Information Center to find the nearest location and make an appointment. To qualify for an appointment at most passport agencies, you must have a confirmed travel itinerary that takes you out of the country within the next 14 days. If you also need to get a visa for your destination, you become eligible for a passport agency appointment within 4 weeks of your departure date.

Be on time… if you’re more than 15 minutes late to your appointment you’ll have to make another one. Bring all of the documents you’d normally need to apply for your passport or passport renewal as well as a copy of your itinerary to prove your eligibility.

Using a Private Expediting Company

Private expediting companies like RushMyPassport give you the same fast service you’d get at a passport agency office without all the hassle. Yes, it costs money, but using an expediter has the following advantages:

• Less hassle: They deal with the State Department for you, so there’s no need for you to make an appointment or wait in line.
• No need to take time off work or spend gas money to get to a passport agency.
• When you use RushMyPassport, you get the benefit of an experienced guide to walk you through the application process and a handy, easy-to-follow checklist showing all of the documents you need.
• Applying for a passport can be a confusing process, but using an expediting company simplifies the procedure and reduces the chance of mistakes.

If you are applying for your first passport or are otherwise required to turn in your application in person, you can still use an expediting company. You’ll just go in to a post office or other passport acceptance facility with your new passport photo and all of the necessary paperwork, and have your documents “sealed” by the passport acceptance agent. Then, you send them in to the expediting company, and the company will hand-deliver them to the Department of State for priority processing, often in as little as 24 hours.

Need to order a passport at the last minute? Contact us today!

Image credits: Some rights reserved by chris.corwin, Some rights reserved by kalleboo

The clock is ticking on your dream vacation. Without a passport, you’ll be stuck at home, staring at the cracks on your walls. You know the process usually takes weeks or even months. How can you get a passport quickly enough?

Don’t worry, here’s how to cut through the passport application process like butter:

Gather Your Documents

First, get your paperwork together. The documents you’ll need depends on the application form you’ll be using.

Form DS-11: Applying for a New Passport or Replacing a Lost or Stolen Passport

Form DS-11 is for first time applicants; applicants whose most recent passport was lost, stolen or damaged; applicants whose passport was issued more than 15 years ago or applicants whose passport was issued before they turned 16.

You must submit Form DS-11 in person at a passport office. For a complete list of the required documents, see How to Apply for a New Passport. Also, there are special requirements in place for kids under 16. See How to Get a Child Passport for details.

Form DS-82: Passport Renewals

Use form DS-82 if you’re applying for a passport renewal. You can use this form as long as your current passport meets the following qualifications:

• Is in your possession and undamaged.
• Was issued less than 15 years ago and after you turned 16.
• Is in your current legal name, or you can submit a marriage certificate or court order to support your name change request.
• To get your passport within the next two weeks, you’ll also need a copy of your itinerary.

See How to Apply for a Passport Renewal for a checklist of the documents you’ll need to renew.

Choose Your Approach

Next, decide how you’re going to expedite your passport application. You have three options to get your passport quickly: (more…)

Adopting a child is an incredibly stressful process, especially if you choose to adopt from another country.  Though the reward of giving a child a family is immeasurable, international adoption often requires an intense commitment in the form of time, energy and money.  You’ll also need to pay extra-special attention to your new child’s citizenship status and the associated paperwork. When it comes time to get your child a US passport, additional documentation is often required. Here’s what you need to avoid delays and added frustration when getting a passport for a child adopted overseas:

Citizenship

To qualify for a US passport, the child must be a US citizen. Fortunately, since 2001, children adopted overseas by US citizen parents automatically become citizens, saving adoptive parents time and energy. However, there may still be a few loose ends for you to tie up. If your child’s adoption was finalized in their home country, and you brought them to the US on an IH-3 visa, your child will automatically become a US citizen when you enter the United States, and you will be automatically sent Certificate of Citizenship. This is proof that your child is a US citizen and can be used when applying for their passport.

One the other hand,  if the child came in on an IH-4 visa and the adoption needs to be finalized in the United States, your child will only automatically be issued a green card when you arrive in the US.  After the adoption has been finalized, your child will automatically become a US citizen, but if you want a certificate of citizenship you will have to apply for one (this is handy but is not required).

Documents Needed

Before you apply, gather all of the necessary documents:

• Proof of identity for both adoptive parents, such as a driver’s license or other state-issued photo ID.
• Proof of your relationship to the child- in this case, the adoption decree.
• Proof of the child’s citizenship. If you have a certificate of citizenship for your child, that will do.  Otherwise, you’ll need to show the paper trail by which your child became a citizen, including: a certified copy of the final adoption decree (translated if the original isn’t in English); the child’s passport from their country of origin, showing  the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security (USCIS) I-551 stamp in the passport; proof of your identity as per above and proof of your US citizenship.
• Parental consent: If the child was adopted by two US citizen parents, both parents have to consent for the passport to be issued. To prove parental consent, either both parents must appear in person or one parent must appear with a signed, notarized consent form signed by the other parent (passport forms available here).
• One passport photo.
• The applicable passport fees. (more…)

Government paperwork is not always written in the most user-friendly manner, and passport renewal forms are no exception.  Unfortunately, if you make a mistake filling it out or you don’t send in the required documentation, your new passport could be delayed. Here’s what you need to know to keep the gears of bureaucracy turning smoothly when you apply:

Passport Renewal Eligibility

Not everyone is eligible to renew their passport by mail. Read through the checklist on the first page of passport renewal form DS-82 to be sure that you are eligible for a passport renewal before you start filling it out.  You need to meet all of the following qualifications:

• Your passport has not been lost or stolen, and you can send it in with the application.
• Your passport was issued to you less than 15 years ago, and it was issued after your 16th birthday.
• You have legal paperwork (such as a marriage certificate or court order) to support a name change request, if applicable.

To clarify, your passport must also be undamaged. “Normal wear and tear” is okay, but what constitutes “normal wear and tear” is left to the discretion of the Department of State. If you have any concerns about the condition of your passport, it’s best to go ahead and apply in person using Form DS-11.

Filling Out the Form

Carefully read through the “Acts or Conditions” section on page 4 of the instructions. If any of these conditions apply to you, you must write a separate, explanatory statement and attach it to the passport renewal form. Having to attach a statement won’t necessarily bar you from getting a passport, but the Department of State will take it into account when they process your application.

Next, go through and carefully fill out the form using black ink, making sure that your writing is legible. Or, fill it out on the computer and print it. (more…)

After 10 years, your passport probably feels like an old friend. Unfortunately, after a decade of accompanying you all over the world, it’s time for your old friend to retire. Applying for a passport renewal in a timely fashion will keep you footloose and fancy free, ready to jet off somewhere exotic at a moment’s notice. Here’s what you need to know to make the passport renewal process go as smoothly as possible.

When to Apply 

You might be tempted to try to milk your current passport for as long as possible, but don’t. The Department of State recommends that you apply for your passport renewal nine months before it expires. This isn’t an attempt to squeeze extra money out of you-many countries actually require that your passport be valid for a full six months or they’ll deny you entry, even if you don’t plan to stay in the country that long.

Where to Apply 

The good news about applying for a passport renewal is that in many cases you can apply by mail. You are eligible to simply mail in your application if all of the following statements are true:

• You still have your current passport in your possession, and it hasn’t been damaged (normal wear and tear is generally okay.)
• Your passport was issued no more than 15 years ago, and it was issued after your 16th birthday.
• If you’ve changed your name since it was issued, you have legal documents like a marriage certificate or divorce decree to support that request.

If any of the statements above don’t apply to you, you need to apply in person, just like the first time. See How to Apply for a New Passport for details.

Required Documents and Fees 

If you are eligible to apply by mail, all you’ll need is a completed copy of passport renewal form DS-82 along with your current passport, one new passport photo and name change documents, if applicable.  Send these in to the address on the form, along with $110 for the passport renewal fees. Add an additional $30 if you would like a wallet-sized passport card in addition to your passport book, and another $60 if you need expedited processing.

Processing Time 

If you applied for regular processing, you may have to wait 6 weeks or longer to get your passport. For expedited processing, you should allow 3 weeks. If you need your passport sooner than that, you have two options. The first is to make an appointment at one of the country’s 24 regional passport agencies. The second is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport to expedite your application, no appointment or additional travel needed. We personally deliver your paperwork to the Department of State, for processing in as little as 24 hours!

Apply for your passport renewal today!

Whether it’s lost, damaged or expired, the sinking feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you realize your passport needs to be replaced fast has got to be one of the worst sensations in the world.

Getting a new passport is generally a fairly straightforward process, but if you are about to leave the country the extra legwork involved in getting the replacement expedited can seem daunting. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your plane doesn’t leave the airport without you.

Passport Replacement Services for Lost or Damaged Passports

If your passport is lost or has been damaged, you’ll need to apply in person to get it replaced. Bring the following documents with you to the passport office :

• Proof of identification (both the original and a photocopy)
• Proof of citizenship
• One passport photo
• Passport application Form DS-11. It’s okay to fill the form out in advance, but don’t sign it until you get to the passport office and are instructed to so.
• Form DS-64, describing what happened to your old passport
• The fee of $135 for a passport book plus an additional $60 fee if you need your passport expedited. (more…)

All children, no matter how young, need a passport of their own to leave the country by air and in some cases by land and sea.

The procedure for getting a child passport is somewhat different from the procedure for getting an adult passport. Concerns about children being abducted and taken overseas have prompted the Department of State to build safeguards against this practice into the passport application process for minors. Here’s what you need to know to make the process go as smoothly as possible:

Applying in Person

All children must apply for their passports in person, even if the child has been issued a passport previously and you wish to renew it. In most cases, you can simply apply at the nearest passport acceptance office, often a post office or library.

Even though you do have to appear at an acceptance office in person, an expediting company like RushMyPassport can still help you get your child’s passport more quickly. The acceptance office will “seal” your documents, then you send them to the expediting company to be processed in as little as 24 hours. Compare that to the Department of State’s typical processing time of 2 to 3 weeks for their expedited service, and the advantage is clear!

Also, the Department of State won’t issue a passport for a child under the age of 16 without the consent of both parents. To meet this requirement, both parents must appear in person at the passport office with the child. If both parents can’t be there, you can provide the appropriate document from the list below to demonstrate that the other parent consents to the passport being issued or to show why consent is not needed. (more…)

Having two passports sounds like a privilege reserved for spies and secret agents. Actually, though, you don’t need a double life filled with dark secrets to get a second American passport. All you have to do is request one, and prove to the Department of State that you actually need it. Here’s how:

Fill Out a Passport Renewal Application

To apply for a second passport, you’ll need to fill out Form DS-82, which is normally used to apply for a passport renewal. You do not need to go to a post office to request a second passport.

When you send in the form, you’ll need to include one new passport photo and your current passport, plus passport renewal fees of $110 for regular service.

Include a Letter of Explanation

You’ll also need to include a signed statement explaining to the Department of State why it is that you need a second passport.  Please note: “I want one” is not a good enough reason. The Department of State issues duplicate passports at its discretion when one of the following conditions apply:

• You travel often, and having just one passport is interfering with your travel plans by preventing you from obtaining the visas you need while you’re home between trips.
• You need a second passport for safety reasons, generally because you travel or are planning to travel to both Israel and anti-Israel states.

For a sample letter requesting a second valid passport, see our example here.

If you need to get a second passport quickly, RushMyPassport can help. Just select “Passport Renewal” and our trained, professional representatives will answer questions and walk you through the application process step-by-step. Especially when you’re doing something unusual like applying for a second passport, this level of assistance is invaluable, helping to prevent common errors that could keep your request from being processed in a timely fashion.

Need a second passport? Apply with us today!

For decades, China discouraged foreign tourism, but in recent years the government has begun to encourage tourism and the world is rediscovering what an amazing place China is to visit.

According to Wikipedia, in  2007 approximately 55 million foreign tourists visited China, drawn by famous attractions like the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army in  Xian. China also has gorgeous natural landscapes that will take your breath away, as well as cosmopolitan cities with world-class shopping and dining.

If you’d like to visit China, your first step is obtaining a passport  or a passport renewal if yours is  about to expire. China won’t let you in if you have less than 6 months remaining before your passport expires, and you’ll also need at least one blank page in the back for your Chinese visa.

Make sure to apply well in advance. Obtaining  a passport takes at least 6 weeks if you apply with normal processing, and at least 3 weeks if you apply with the Department of State’s expedited processing.

If you are traveling within 4 weeks, you can make an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency office. However, their are only 18 of these offices to serve the entire country and they operate on an appointment-only basis, so obtaining a passport in this way can be a time-consuming process. An easier option is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com.

An expediting company personally delivers your application to the Department of State for processing times as low as 24 hours. Obtaining a passport through an expediting company is quick and convenient.

Once you have your passport, you’ll need to apply for a China visa. Here again, if you are in a hurry or need help navigating the paperwork and the application process, a professional expediting company can be an invaluable resource.

Visiting China? Let us help you with obtaining a passport and a Chinese visa!