With an international border that stretches for approximately 382
miles, it is especially important for Arizona residents to keep their
passports up-to-date. This is particularly true if you regularly cross
over into Mexico. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which went
in to full effect on June 1, 2009, now requires a passport or a passport
card for even the shortest trips over the border. A passport book (not a
card) is required for air travel.
Your passport is good for ten years from the date it was issued. That
may seem like a long time now, but it can creep up on you and before
you know it, you could be scrambling to replace your expired travel
document.
To apply for a passport renewal in Arizona, follow these steps:
Determine Eligibility
If you meet all of the following qualifications, the US Department of
State will allow you to renew your passport by mail, with no need to
set foot in a passport office:
-
Your old passport is still in your possession and hasn't been damaged.
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Your old passport was issued less than 15 years ago, and you were over the age of 16 when it was printed.
-
If your name has changed since your last passport was issued, you
have a marriage certificate, divorce decree or another legal document
referencing your name change.
As long as you are eligible for a passport renewal by mail, simply
collect the following documents and mail them in to renew your passport:
-
A completed copy of passport Form DS-82.
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Your current passport.
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One passport photo.
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A check or money order for the applicable government fees.
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Legal proof that supports your name change request, if applicable.
If you are not eligible to apply for your renewal by mail, you will
need to go in person to a passport acceptance office. There are 129
passport acceptance offices placed throughout Arizona, generally inside
of post offices. When you apply in person, you'll need both a
state-issued ID and proof of citizenship, such as your birth
certificate, naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship.
An old, undamaged US passport will also work.
Processing Time
Whether you are able to apply via your mailbox or need to go into a
passport office, you can expect to wait at least six weeks for your new
passport to arrive. If you pay an additional $60 fee and request
expedited processing, you can cut down the time it takes to receive your
passport, but you should still allow three weeks for it to arrive.
To get your passport renewal
more quickly, you can make an appointment at the Western Passport
Center in Tucson by calling 1-877-487-2778. This passport agency office
offers same-day passports and passport cards, but you must make an
appointment. If that's not convenient, you also have the option of using
a private expediter to submit your application for you.
