February 14th, 2010
If you plan to travel out of the country you will need to have a passport. This passport must be in good condition, as well as accurate and up to date. This includes reflecting any name changes you may have had as a result of marriage or other personal reasons. If you have any changes in personal information, you need to renew your passport.
The passport renewal process is simple. There are some conditions that must be met in order to be able to have it processed through the mail. You simply need to fill out form DS-82 and send it overnight in a padded envelope to the National Passport Processing Center in Philadelphia.
If you do not have a current passport or it has expired beyond the 15 year period, you will need to apply for a new one. This is simple and can be done at the post office as long as you have proof of your identity and your birth certificate. This ID must be a driver’s license or a state issued identification card.
As long as you have a valid current passport that is not damaged you can apply to renew it by mail. If your passport is damaged, then it needs to be replaced and this will require applying for a replacement. In order to replace your damaged passport, you will need to fill out Form DS-11, provide proof of residency, and provide the damaged passport and proof of identity.
In order to apply for a replacement on a damaged passport you will also need to supply two passport ID photos. These photos can be obtained at numerous locations, including photo processing centers. Passport photos must be two inch x two inch photos that are taken with a required background.
You also must have been over the age of 16 when you received your passport in order to renew a passport through the mail. Your passport can not be more than 15 years old and must contain information that is correct. If you need to apply for a new passport, then you can do so over the internet on the State departments website.
If you have changed your name then your passport must reflect this. If your current passport does not reflect this you will need to get a passport name change. There are two different forms for this process. The form you use will depend on whether you have had your passport for a year or less.
As long as you have a valid passport that is current and contains all the correct information, including your current name, then you can renew your pasport via the US. Postal Service. However, it must be in good condition, without any damages or mutilation. You must also still be residing in the United States or Canada. If you are residing in a foreign country besides Canada and you need to renew a pasport, you will need to do so through the US. Embassy or Consulate.
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February 5th, 2010
If you are a frequent international traveler, you are no doubt familiar with your passport and how recent it is. Many people, however, do not keep track of such information and then find themselves in a jam when an emergency or vacation comes up and they have no way of traveling. Keep an eye on your expiration date and remember that it can take a while to get a renewed passport. Therefore, when it is about six months from expiring, you know it is time to renew a passport.
The reason why you might need six months to renew your passport is to account for any delays or complications. It is an official document and therefore must undergo a lot of research and processing. It can take quite a while to get it to you. But you should be on the lookout for local passport agencies who sometimes do deals for people in the area. They will have a one day special in order to serve as many people at once as they can for a slightly cheaper rate.
But how do you go about it? Mail is the most common option and can be the most convenient, but not everyone can do this. You can do it by mail if the following statements are true in your case.
Your passport is undamaged and can be submitted via mail with the form. Your passport was issued to you when you were older than sixteen. Your passport was issued to you within the last fifteen years. The name on your passport is still your legal name, or you can show via mail the proper documentation to prove your name change. If all this is true, then you can download Form DS-82 from the travel.state.gov website.
If any of these statements are not true, if your passport was stolen, or if you are applying for your passport for the first time, you must apply in person. To do so, you must first locate a DS-11 form from the same web page. Look at the requirements. There are several types of documentation you have to provide for different situations. Do not go unprepared.
You must present yourself to a Passport Agency or an Acceptance Facility with your form, documentation, and social security number ready to go. You may have to bring with you proof of citizenship, a birth certificate, a marriage license, a naturalization document, and/or your old passport. Take the time to read the directions carefully.
To help you locate these areas, go to the site and look for the search engine or locator. You just have to type in your zip code. This will help you find people or areas near you. Some people may be certified to do it, such as notaries and town clerks.
Note, too, the special renew your passport pages on the web site. Things become a bit more complicated if you are under eighteen years old. There are requirements for sixteen year olds and different ones for seventeen year olds to U.S. passport requirements. If you have any diplomatic or official status, you will also get a specialized passport.
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