If You Have An Expired US Passport Renew It Via The Internet
Many people get their passports in advance, just because they know the hassle of having to do it last minute. Only a handful of those people use their passports in any kind of constant manner. The others just let that documentation sit in the safe storage are with the rest of the important documentation until it expires and they do not realize. Luckily, it is not difficult to renew an expired U.S. passport.
If the passport holder was over age 16 when the passport was issued, it is valid for ten years. If they were age 15 or younger, the passport is valid for five years. The data page of the passport book contains the issue date of the passport. Passports should be renewed approximately nine months before they expire. Some countries even require that a passport be valid for a minimum of six months following the dates of the trip for which it is being used.
An expired USA passport does not have to ruin a trip. If an individual meets certain stipulations, the process can actually be done through the mail. By going on the Internet, and exploring the government site, an individual can better understand the specific stipulations he or she would have to fall under in order to renew by mail.
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.
The passport will most likely take about six weeks or a little less to be processed. There are faster ways of getting this done through the government, such as an expedited service that can perform the same task in about half the time. There are independent expediting institutions of business, as well, that can complete the job within a day. This will cost more money than just the governmental fees, though.
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.
