Travel Tips

As any traveler will discover, your passport is a valuable document. You will come to know it well the more frequently you travel. Unfortunately, many people do not travel enough (or just do not keep on top of their paperwork) to know when they need to renew a passport. Many people are sitting on expired passports, thinking they can still travel whenever they want. This is going to be a rough situation if some emergency comes up. Six months before you passport expires should be your warning time to renew it.

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.

So where to begin? Many people do not know the first step to take. For many, passports can be renewed through the mail. It is easy and fairly convenient. The only problem is that this option can’t be utilized by everyone. If the below statements are true, you CAN renew through the mail.

Your passport is undamaged. You can submit your passport with the form. You were older than sixteen when you got your passport. Your passport is fifteen years old or less. You still have the same name as you do on your passport. If you do not have the same name, you can show through legal documents your name change. Assuming these statements are true, you can download the DS-82 form from travel.state.gov.

If you have a problem with one of those statements or your passport was stolen or this will be your first ever passport, applying in person is your only option. Find the DS-11 form on the same site. Make sure you have all of your proper documentation ready to go. Do not even go if you are missing one of the documents as it will waste everyone’s time.

Passport Agencies (or more temporary Acceptance Facilities) are where you get this done. Go there with your form and bits of documentation. Some examples of documentation include proof of citizenship, birth certificate, marriage license, and your old passport. Understand what you need.

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.

There is a page on this site with very special renew your U.S. passport. These are for under-aged children, which can complicate the matter. You will also need special documentation for diplomatic status or if you have some official business over seas. The guide online should walk you right through everything you will need to American passport requirements

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