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A Concise Guide to Renewing Your Passport

Most of you are aware that you need to renew your passport before it expires; otherwise, you would not be able to travel outside your country. So if your passport is due to expire in the next 5 to 6 months, then it is the right time for passport renewal. To make things easier for you, we have created a quick guide for you to know what all you need to renew your passport.

Eligibility

Don’t think that every passport can be renewed. It needs to meet some conditions in order to qualify for renewal. It cannot be renewed under the following circumstances:

Stolen or lost passport

A stolen or lost passport cannot be renewed. It needs to be replaced.

Mutilated passport

If the passport is not in good shape and is in a completely mutilated condition, it would not be renewed. Badly damaged passports are not renewed. Instead, you will need to apply for a mutilated passport replacement.

Age of issue of passport is important

Your age must have been at least 16 years when the passport was issued to you. This is relevant since passport renewal is not undertaken for minors. If you are still a minor, then you need to apply for another minor passport, which will be valid for the next 5 years. However, if you have turned 16 after issuance of the passport and you have lost it, you will be eligible for your first adult passport.

Perfect time for renewing your passport

To avoid any kind of hassles, you must apply for passport renewal while it is still in use. You can renew it even after it has expired, but you need to do that within a period of 5 years from the date of expiry. If you exhaust this period, you will have to again go through the procedure meant for acquiring a new passport.

You can also go for an early renewal of the passport if you meet the following conditions:

The passport is low on blank pages. This means that you travel a lot and your passport is likely to run out of pages sooner than later.
The passport has been issued at least one year back and in the meantime, you have changed your name legally.
The passport is showing signs of wear and tear such as curled edges.
Your physical appearance has changed noticeably since you have been issued the passport. It may be due to weight loss, plastic surgery, or something else.

Documents required for the renewal of your passport

You need the following documents to renew your passport.

The present US passport, in whatever condition it is
Passport renewal application form, also known as the DS-82 form. You can fill a physical blank form with a pen or fill it out online on the official site and get a printout.
One passport size photograph.
Photocopy of the front and back pages of driving license or any other ID issued by the state
Your itinerary of going outside the country or travel plans. However, you need this only if you are in a hurry to renew your passport.
If you have legally changed your name, then you need to submit proof of the change of name. However, you must remember that you must have legally changed your name after your passport was last issued.

Apart from the above documents, you also need to pay a passport renewal fee. As of now, the fee for normal renewal process is around $110 while that for an expedited process is around $170.

How to process the application

Your passport renewal application can be processed in three ways—through email, through passport agencies, or through passport expediting companies.

By email

To renew your passport through email, you need to send an online application to the National Passport Center along with the required documents.

Through a passport agency

There are passport agencies at major cities in the country. In these places, passport renewal is processed on the site. This takes less time than a passport renewal through email.

Through a passport expediting company

You can send the filled out form along with the listed documents to a passport expediting company. However, you can avail this opportunity only if you are in a hurry and you have all the documents to prove your busy schedule. Remember these companies don’t do it themselves, since they are not authorized to do so. They will carry your application and documents to a passport agency located at one of the major cities.

How much time does it take to renew your passport?

If you apply through email, it may take about 8 weeks to get the renewed passport. However, if you are in a hurry and have submitted your application to a passport expediting company or passport agencies located at major cities, then you may get it within 3 weeks. However, you need to spend more in order to get your renewed passport at the earliest.

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