If you are someone trying to get your US passport renewed, it can be a harrowing experience if you are not well versed enough with the rules and guidelines that make it easy renewing your US passport.Four of the main things that you should know when it comes to US passport renewal.This is ultimate guide US passport renewal with Travel tips
Tips for US Passport Renewal – The Ultimate Guide
When to renew your US Passport?
Most of us tend to wait until the expiry of the passport before setting out to renew their passport. Please note that your passport need not be expired for you to renew it. You should be able to renew it any time as you would wish to.
If your passport has expired, you need to fulfill certain conditions. A few of them are
- The passport should have been issued when you were 16 years or older.
- The passport should be issued within the last 15 years
- The passport should be undamaged.
In case the passport does not satisfy any one of the above conditions, you will need to apply for a new passport than renewing it. The same rule will be applicable if you have lost your passport.
The standard time frame to renew a passport should be around 18 months prior to the date expiry.
How to renew your US Passport?
You should be able to renew your passport either through mail or in person. You can choose the option that is comfortable enough for you. However, do check out if you really meet the necessary requirements.
If you are checking out the options for renewing your passport through the mail, you need to meet the following prerequisites –
- You should be in possession of your old passport, and it should be in an undamaged condition. A typical wear and tear should be acceptable.
- Your name and address have not changed.
- The passport is not older than 15 years since the date of issue.
- You should also fulfil the conditions stipulated above for renewing a passport.
If you do not meet any one of the above conditions, it may be advisable to opt for the in-person route for renewing your passport.
How much Time does it take to Renew your Passport?
The time frame for renewing a passport and applying for a new passport remains the same. The time frame to renew a US passport is as per the following guidelines –
- Standard passport renewals will take up to 4 to 6 weeks
- Expedited renewals take 3 weeks
- Expedited renewals through a passport agency should ideally take around eight working days.
The time frames indicated here should help you arrive at the right time you should apply for the passport renewal. Some of the nations will need you to have a stipulated validity on your passport. In some cases, it may be around six months to one year, while in some other it would be more than two years. Pay attention to these pointers before you plan your itinerary and renew your passport accordingly.
However, renewing your passport too early may not be a practical option. The validity of your passport will begin from the date of renewal, and thus it will not continue from where it was before. As for instance, if you have renewed your passport when the actual renewal date is still two more years away, your validity will be ten years from the date of renewal, not 12 years! That would be important to notice, and it may not always be a good idea to renew before time unless you have other reasons.
If you are confused, it may be a good idea to browse this site. It should give you a better idea into the best options you should opt for when renewing your passport.
What are the Fees for US Passport renewal?
The standard fees applicable for renewing a passport would be as per the table here below-
| Passport Book | $ 110 |
| Passport card | $ 30 |
| Passport Book and card | $ 140 |
If you are looking for an expedited delivery, you can opt for it on payment of an additional $ 60. An overnight delivery will cost you an additional $ 14.85. Moreover, yet another essential point to remember – renewal fee can be paid either through cheque or money order. You cannot pay the fees in cash or credit card.
Well, those tips should have helped you enough in deciding the right kind of precautions for US passport renewal.
