The renewal of passports can be done as quickly as the same day.
You can discover how at the end of this article but first let's examine
who can renew a passport and what the requirements are in order to get
this important travel document.
Who Can Renew a Passport?
There
are certain requirements established by the U.S. government concerning
who can apply for a passport renewal. Those who do not meet these
criteria must submit an application for a new passport. What are the
criteria?
The first criterion is that you must possess a
previously issued passport. It cannot be damaged in any way. Also, it
had to be be issued no more than 15 years ago. The passport must be in
your current name or you have to be able to prove that your name was
changed legally. Finally, it is required that you were age 16 or older
when your current passport was issued to you.
If all these criteria are true, then you can get your passport renewed. Here is a list of steps to get this done.
How to Renew a Passport
Getting
a renewal is far easier than applying for a new passport. You are not
required to appear at an acceptance facility and you do not have to
present evidence of citizenship or proof of identity. Your current
passport serves this purpose.
The first step is to complete Form
DS-82: Application for Passport Renewal by Mail. Application forms can
be obtained online, at acceptance facilities or at many travel agencies.
It is important to answer all the questions correctly. Any errors can
delay the application process.
Mail the completed form to the
address on the application along with two recent passport photos, your
most recent passport and proof of name change if needed. Be sure to
include payment. Surprisingly, many people forget this and end up
prolonging the process.
Regular processing takes 4-6 weeks. Expedited service takes 2-3 weeks. However, it is possible to get your passport faster.
