Renew Your Passport for Four Days of Gluttony in Whistler - Expedited Passports

Fall is harvest season, so it’s traditionally a time of gluttony. If you can’t wait for the requisite Thanksgiving feast at the end of the month, why not renew your passport and fly in to the Cornucopia Festival in Whistler, Canada?  As the name implies, Cornucopia is a celebration of gourmet food and wine. It runs from November 10th to November 13th, and if you like food, wine and fun, it’s definitely working checking out. (Via Gadling).

If you like to eat but don’t consider yourself a foodie, don’t worry about being out of your depth here. Per the Cornucopia website, “The annual event features a sumptuous variety of hands-on seminars, fascinating winemaker dinners, gala tasting events and sizzling after-parties. Cornucopia offers something for both the experience (sic)  gourmet and those seeking to better appreciate the epicurean delights of wine and food.”

With plenty of food events and wine tastings, you won’t go hungry or thirsty. However, the wine tastings don’t include food, so as you plan your time at Cornucopia, you should make sure to get something on your stomach beforehand. You’ll have to buy tickets individually for each event you want to go to, though you can combine tickets to the CRUSH Gala, the big Kahuna of wine tastings, with your hotel room to save a little bit of money.

Oh, did I mention that the after parties feature music live and burlesque dancers? Well, they do.

You’ll also probably need to renew your passport if it’s expired.  Passports are required for all flights into Canada. If you’re driving, you can bring either a passport or an alternative document like a passport card, a NEXUS card or an enhanced driver’s license (assuming you live in a state that offers them.) (more…)

You already know that it’s a bad idea to wait until the last minute to renew your passport. But how early is too early to renew?

As long as you’re over the age of 16, your passport is good for 10 years after it’s issued. There’s not really a limit on how early you can renew it, but the expense involved means that you won’t want to renew until close to the expiration date. There are, however, two situations in which you’ll need to renew early.

Name Changes

If you get married, divorced or otherwise change your name within the first year after you get your passport, you don’t need to renew. Instead, you can use Form DS-5504 to get your name changed free of charge. Just fill out the form, send it in along with 2 new passport photos (if it’s been more than 90 days since your passport was issued).

However, if you need a name change and it’s been more than one year since you received your passport, you have no choice but to renew. Follow the directions in Passport Renewal: Cutting Through the Red Tape, and you’ll get a new passport good for another 10 years. Note, however, that the fee to renew your passport has gone up to $110.

Additional Pages

You won’t need to worry about renewing your passport to get additional pages unless you travel a LOT. You can simply have pages added to your passport for a fee of $82. However, once you fill up 100 pages, you have to renew your passport if you want to continue to travel.

Otherwise, the earliest you’d want to renew your passport is about 9 months before it expires. Why so early? Many countries won’t let you in if your passport expires in 6 months or less, so renewing 9 months in advance ensures that your travel plans don’t get derailed.

Renewing your passport normally takes about 6 weeks for normal service and 3 weeks for expedited service. If you need it processed more quickly, an expediting company like RushMyPassport can have it done in as little as 24 hours, with no need to take time out of your day visiting a passport office.

Renew your passport with us today!

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!

Labor Day is just around the corner, and if you renew your passport now, you can take advantage of some incredible travel deals for one last hurrah before the summer is over.

For example, Jaunted has posted a list of awesome, cheap excursions, such as 4 nights in the Bahamas for $299 per person, including airfare. There are also some wonderful deals on Labor Day cruises, with cruises to the Bahamas as low as $229 person, Mexico cruises as low as $299, and a cruise to Monaco and Italy for only $599.

Meanwhile, this post gives you the scoop on how to rush a passport and save big on a trip to Barbados.

If you decide to leave the country on a whim this Labor Day, make sure you check the expiration date on your passport. US passports are good for 10 years (as long as you were 16 or older when it was issued), so it’s easy to lose track of when it’s time to renew.

All the trips I just mentioned do require a passport, except perhaps cruising to the Bahamas and Mexico. Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, travelers on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same US port) to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean can bring government-issued photo ID and a copy of their birth certificates. However, traveling to or from these countries by plane requires a passport no matter what the circumstances, so it’s still best to have one with you in case you need to fly home for an emergency.

If you do need to renew your passport on short notice, don’t give up on your dream vacation just yet. It’s definitely possible to get a passport quickly. It just takes a little bit of extra time and effort.

Regular passport processing takes about 6 weeks, which is obviously too long of a wait if you want to go anywhere for Labor Day. Expedited passport processing through the Department of State takes about 3 weeks. However, there are other options. One option is simply to make an appointment to renew your passport at a Regional Passport Agency office, if there is one nearby. You must have a confirmed itinerary to show you will be leaving the country in the next 14 days, and you’ll have to make an appointment.

A quicker, easier option is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport. We personally deliver your passport application to the Department of State, for processing times as low as 24 hours.

Renew your passport today!

According to Jaunted, many of the major airlines are adding new international routes to their lineups, possibly making it easier for you to see the countries you want to see. Here’s a quick rundown of the new routes.
If any of these appeal to you, you might want to start packing your bags and check to see if you need to renew your passport:

American Airlines: Chicago to Beijing

American Airlines now flies from Chicago to Beijing.  If you are a member of their frequent flier program and you don’t mind being a guinea pig, you can earn an extra 15,000 miles for being one of the first passengers to fly the new route.

Continental: Houston to Auckland

This particular route hasn’t been finalized yet, but starting in 2011 you may be able to fly from Houston to Auckland on Continental. This is one to watch.

Delta: Atlanta to Liberia

You’ve probably never thought of visiting Liberia, but maybe that will change when Delta’s new route opens in September. Planes leave from the Atlanta airport and stop in Ghana before continuing on to Monrovia.

Spirit: Fort Lauderdale to Columbia

Spirit is now flying from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Barranquilla. That’s exciting news if you’ve always wanted to visit Columbia, and even more exciting if you happen to snag a coveted $9 fare!

Of course, before you book your tickets, make sure to check your passport expiration date. Remember, you may need to renew your passport even if yours is still technically valid-if it expires in less than 6 months, many countries won’t let you in.

Passport renewals usually take at least 6 weeks. If you select the government’s expedited service, you can expect to wait at least 3 weeks, and you’ll pay $60 extra for the privilege. If you need to renew your passport more quickly than that, a private passport expediting service is the fastest and most easiest way to get it done.

Expediting companies like RushMyPassport.com can forward your application to the US Department of State, so you get super-fast processing without having to make an appointment at a passport office.

Let us help you renew your passport today!

Is your passport due to expire within the next 6 months to a year?  While you may not feel like shelling out the extra cash for a new one, it’s still a good idea to go ahead and get it renewed. In many cases, a passport with an expiration date 6 months or less in the future is almost as useless as one that’s expired.

Consider, for instance, the case of Charles Herman. According to the Chicago Tribune, he attended a friend’s wedding last year in Uganda.  Before he went, he researched the country’s visa requirements at the US State Department’s website. His passport was good for just a little less than 6 months, and the Department of State website said that it only needed to be good for 3 months.

However,when he tried to board his flight, he was told by the airline that he needed to have at least 6 months left on his passport, not three. Instead of letting him get on the flight to Uganda, the airline made him fly into Kenya instead, at an additional cost of $855.66.

Yikes! The airline then refused to refund the price difference, even after Mr. Herman referred them to the incorrect information on the Department of State’s website (which has since been corrected.)

The moral of the story, according to Steve Lott, a spokesman for the IATA, is to check multiple sources for your travel requirements. Mr. Lott told the Tribune:

“If there’s a dispute, if you get mixed messages or mixed information, the ultimate authority here is the country you’re going to,” Lott said. “Make sure you get something in writing, and make sure you cross reference with your airline.”

One way to ensure that this doesn’t happen to you is to renew your passport more than 6 months before it expires.  Of course, it’s easy for your passport expiration date to creep up on you, and it can take up to 3 weeks to get your new passport back in the mail even if you apply for expedited service.

Using a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport is the way to go if you need to get your passport renewed in a hurry and you want to avoid the hassle of making an appointment and driving to a Regional Passport Agency office. We hand-deliver your application to the Department of State, so you can renew your passport in as little as 24 hours!

Renew your passport with us today!

US passports issued to Americans over 16 years of age are valid for 10 years. During that time, your appearance could change greatly. You could gain weight, lose weight, change your hairstyle, etc-leaving you looking like a completely different person!

Should you renew a valid passport if your appearance has changed since you last had your photo taken? In most cases, it’s not necessary-but it might not be a bad idea, either, especially if you’re traveling to Kenya. According to this article on TheStar.com, a Canadian woman was detained in Kenya because she no longer looked exactly like her passport photo, even though she had other forms of identification. She was kept in a jail in Kenya for 8 days, and had to pay $2,500 in bail.

If your passport is valid, you shouldn’t have to renew it until 9 months before it expires.  In most cases, you’ll be able to travel without any problems as long as your passport is valid and you have enough visa pages.  However, when traveling overseas, you’re at the mercy of the officials in the country that you’re traveling in. The US Embassy will do everything in its power to help you if you have problems, but it’s always better to avoid issues like this whenever possible. So, if you look like a completely different person than you did 5 years ago, renewing your passport early may help your trip go more smoothly.

If you need to renew your passport before your next trip, remember to allow enough time for the new passport to arrive in the mail. Currently, it’s taking at least 6 weeks to process a passport application with normal processing. If you apply for the government’s expedited service, you can still expect to wait at least 3 weeks for your passport. If you need to renew your passport in a hurry, the easiest way to do it is to use a private passport expediting company.  An expediting company can help you get your passport application processed more quickly, often as fast as 24 hours!

Why stress about getting your new passport? Renew your passport with us today!