If you’ve been planning a trip abroad, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise when it comes to renewing your passport. Many people are experiencing significant delays in the passport renewal process, which can be frustrating and even cause them to miss out on important travel opportunities.
In this blog post, we will discuss current processing times for passport renewals, how to renew your passport, provide tips to avoid delays and share information on how to expedite your passport renewal if you have upcoming travel plans.
Current Processing Times for Passport Renewals
Currently, it can take up to 8 weeks to process a passport renewal with routine service. If your travel plans are more urgent, you can choose to expedite your application. To help you plan accordingly, the estimated processing times for expedited services are provided below, based on the service option you select and the location where you apply.
Applying for a Passport Renewal at a Passport Acceptance Facility
If you have international travel planned but not in the near future, you can simply apply for standard routine passport services at a United States Post Office or another Passport Acceptance Facility, such as a library or a county clerk’s office.
Although the standard processing time for passport renewal can take up to 8 weeks from the date of application, the actual processing time can vary depending on the current workload of the passport office.
If you need to receive your renewed passport sooner, you can request expedited processing for an additional fee of $60, not including shipping or the required application fees. This will trim down the processing time to an estimated 2-3 weeks.
It’s important to keep in mind that these processing times are estimations that start from the date the Department of State receives your application, not from the date you submit it.
Applying for a Passport Renewal at a Regional Passport Agency
In case of urgent travel plans within 14 days, you have the option to schedule an appointment with a Regional Passport Agency for expedited passport processing within 3 business days.
While this may seem like the best option, there are some limitations. Only 26 Regional Passport Agencies in the entire country offer this service, and there are strict requirements for eligibility.
According to the U.S. Department of State, to be eligible for an emergency passport appointment, you must either:
- Have urgent international travel within 14 calendar days or need a foreign visa within 28 calendar days
- Life-or-Death emergencies if you need to travel internationally in 3 business days because your immediate family member outside of the United States
To schedule an in-person appointment, you must call 1-877-487-2778.
Renewing Your Passport with a Private Expediting Company
If waiting for the post office is not an option and you can’t or prefer not to go to the nearest regional passport agency, you might want to try a passport expediting company.
Private expediting companies such as RushMyPassport can hand-carry your application documents to the Department of State for processing, cutting down on the time it takes to receive your passport, in as little as 7 business days.
How To Renew Your Passport
You’re eligible to renew your passport using application Form DS-82 as long as all of the following conditions apply:
- Your current passport has not been lost, stolen, or damaged.
- Your current passport was issued after your 16th birthday.
- Your current passport was issued no more than 15 years ago.
- Your current passport was issued in your current legal name, or you have legal proof of your name change.
Required Documents for Passport Renewal
If you’re planning to renew your passport, the process is straightforward and requires a few essential documents.
To ensure a smooth passport application, it’s important to have the necessary paperwork ready in advance. You’ll need the following documents to renew a U.S. passport
- DS-82 Passport Application
- Passport Photo
- Expired or Expiring U.S. Passport
- Government Fees
- Proof of Name Change (if applicable)
- Travel Itinerary (applicable if expediting)
Expedited Passport Services with RushMyPassport
If you need a passport quickly, but don’t have the time or patience to go to a passport agency or post office, RushMyPassport can help.
With services ranging from new passports, passport renewals, child passports, or replacing a lost or stolen passport, our team of registered couriers and passport advisors will help get your passport fast!
Click to get started today or visit a FedEx Office location near you to find out why RushMyPassport is the most convenient way to get a passport in a hurry!
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