Nothing is worse than coming up on an international travel date and realizing that passports have expired. However, depending on when the passport is needed, citizens have several options for expediting their documents. In order to get a United States passport renewal expedited service, citizens should decide whether to renew by mail or in-person. They will have to prepare their application and payment and submit the application materials, along with the old passport,to the appropriate agency.
DS-82 Form
In most situations, agencies will rush passports by mail. The Department of State website posts estimated processing times for expedited passports and allows travelers to trace application progress online. The Department of State website also posts the current fee for rush delivery, along with Form DS-82,which is titled “Passport by Mail.”
By Mail
Applicants may not renew by mail in some situations. If passports were issued more than fifteen years ago or are damaged, renewal must take place in person. Also, if current passports do not show the applicant’s current name and the applicant cannot verify a legal name change, renewal must take place in person. Additionally, if the applicant was younger than sixteen years old when the original document was obtained, the renewal must take place in person.
Fees
To renew by mail, applicants should fill out Form DS-82. Then, after obtaining the amount of the rush fee, applicants should contact the nearest agency,obtain an address and ask about methods of payment. Into a manila envelope, applicants should place their Form DS-82, their US passport renewal expedited service and their rush payment without folding the documents. The word “expedited” must be written on the envelope’s exterior and the State Department recommends sending application materials via two-way overnight courier service.
Faster Service
For citizens within two weeks of their travel date, faster measures are needed. Citizens should contact their regional agency and use the automated telephone system to make an appointment. After the appointment is made, callers will receive a confirmation number, an appointment time and an agency address. Citizens should arrive at the office with all materials including the rush fee and a travel itinerary or e-ticket.
Five Days Or Less
Current law has a specific definition for expediting. Expedited passports are processed within five days of either receipt at an agency or the date that the processing request is approved. Currently, applications take approximately five to seven days to track online.
Private Agencies
If these procedures sound too complicated, citizens may contact a private expediter. While a private expediter may charge a fee in addition to the rush fee,citizens will not have to deal with the headache of filling out paperwork and contacting their local agency. However, customers should take some precautions including confirming the telephone number of the expediter, looking for online reviews and asking for a clear explanation of rates.
Discovering an expired passports in the days leading up to international travel may cause travelers to panic. For people too busy to worry about procedures, a pass port renewal expedited service will help.