Expedited Passports

How long your passport will remain valid depends on what type of passport you’ve received.  Child passports issued to children ages 16 and under are only valid for 5 years after the date they were printed. Passports issued to adults and teens aged 16 and older are generally valid for 10 years.

However, in certain circumstances, such as an emergency trip or to replace a passport that was lost or stolen overseas, the Department of State will issue a limited passport. A limited passport is usually only valid for one year. However, once you are back in the United States, you do  have the option of converting it to a regular passport with the appropriate documents.

The new passport card is valid for the same length of time as regular passport-10 years for adults and teens aged 16 or older, and 5 years for kids aged 15 and under. However, remember that whether it’s expired or not, the passport card cannot be used for air travel. You need a passport book if you are flying to another country.

If the expiration date on your passport is approaching,  it’s a good idea to check the travel requirements of the country you are visiting before you leave. Even though a passport is still technically valid until the expiration date, many countries require that you have at least 6 months left or they won’t let you in.

The Department of State recommends renewing your passport at least 9 months before it expires. At the bare minimum, you should allow at least 2 months for your passport renewal to be processed with regular processing.

If you need your passport renewed in a hurry, your best bet is to use a private passport expediting company. A good expediting company will give you instructions on filling out the paperwork, so your application goes through the first time. They will also hand-deliver it to the US Passport Agency for you for super-fast processing, so your new passport can be on its way to you in as little as 24 hours.

Don’t wait until it’s too late…renew your passport today!

Update: Passport rules for the Virgin Islands have changed. View the latest rules here.

If your spring or summer travel plans include travel to the Virgin Islands, you may be wondering if you need a passport. The answer depends primarily on your itinerary.  First, are going to the US Virgin Islands or the British Virgin Islands?

The US Virgin Islands consist of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John. These islands are US territories.  If you travel directly to and from the US Virgin Islands, you do not need a US passport.

However, if you stop by any other countries in the Caribbean along the way, you may or may not need a passport. Here’s the scoop: Before June 1st, 2009, American citizens traveling to the Caribbean by sea can use either a passport or a driver’s license AND a birth certificate (or naturalization certificate) to prove their identity and citizenship when they re-enter the US. However, air travelers must have a US passport.

So, if you’re on a cruise that stops in both the US Virgin Islands and another Caribbean country, you can use your driver’s license and birth certificate. If you are on a flight that has a layover in another Caribbean country on the way to the US Virgin Islands, you need a passport-even if you never set foot outside of the airport.

After June 1st, 2009, sea travelers to other Caribbean countries will need passports, too.

The British Virgin Islands consist of 16 inhabited islands and more than 20 uninhabited islands. The major islands are Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke.

The United Kingdom owns these islands.  Like other Caribbean countries, they are covered under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). So, the rules are the same as the rules described above: Before June 1st, 2009, air passengers need passports while sea passengers can use driver’s licenses and birth certificates. After June 1st, 2009 everyone needs a passport.

For more details on changing passport regulations in the Caribbean, see “Do I Need a Passport to go to the Caribbean?” (more…)