The Steps In Undertaking An Expedited Passport Renewal
Monday, September 19th, 2011A hassle free trip abroad is certainly one of the wishes of every traveler. While they cannot control everything that will happen to them, there is one thing that everyone is capable of doing. This is to make sure that their documents are valid for at least nine months when they start planning for a trip. If this is not possible, the sensible thing to do is to have them renewed. Those who are pressed for time can get their new documents by applying for an expedited US passport renewal.
The passport and pass port pages has a valid life of ten years. This is true when the holder got his document when he was at least 16 years old. The rest who had passports when they were younger will only have documents that are valid for five years.
Each of us can apply for a renewal anytime but some conditions need to be met. The passport must not be damaged significantly. The document must not be expired for more than five years. If both conditions are true, the owner is required to apply for a new one. Expired passports are still accepted as long as the date stamped on it is within five years.
Renewing this document is a process that is done through mail. This is an easier transaction than applying for a new one. All renewal transactions are sent to the National Passport Processing Center.
As in most government transactions, this process starts by filling out an application form. The document being referred to is Form DS-82. This form is freely downloadable from the State Department’s web site. Most public libraries and post offices will have copies of the application form, too.
The documents have to be enclosed in a mailing envelope that is large enough to hold all the papers without folding any one of them. The documents must be mailed to the processing center. These documents include the filled out application form, the old passport,an ID picture of the required size and payment for the application. If the applicant had a change of name, proof must be shown as well. Those who got married will have to include their marriage certificate while those who got divorced need to show the court order finalizing the change in status.
To indicate that the transaction is an expedited passport renewal, the word “EXPEDITE” must be clearly printed on the envelope. Compared to regular processing of the document, which takes four to six weeks, an expedited application takes less than three weeks or less. The applicant should know that this transaction is more expensive than a regular application for renewing the travel document.
Everyone should have their expedited USA passport renewal as soon as the validity left in them is nearing nine months. One is discouraged from going abroad if this document is near its expiry date. Most airlines will refuse to board anyone whose documents expire less than six months after the date that is stamped on their return trip or if they are lacking United States passport pages.