Passports

American vacationers who are  looking forward to traveling overseas for their vacation should be wary that a passport renewal may be pending, or maybe you don't even have one! The rigmarole involved in taking care of making sure you've got all your travel docs squared away quickly is enormous, especially when done by US mail. There are some things you should be aware of if you are applying for or are renewing a passport by mail.

First, the length of validity of a passport for adults is ten years and for kids it is five years. If you think it sounds like that amount of time has passed since your last overseas trek, check your papers for the due date. Ideally, the best time to start the process is at minimum nine months prior to your due date so you can avoid any nasty complications.

However, your ability to renew by mail,  is dependent on a few annoying little conditions. Your going to be disappointed if you miss these!  It must be less than fifteen years since your first application was sent, you can't have been under sixteen at the time you made your request and you must not have changed your name. Also, it should be noted that your original passport should still be in good condition. If you can't meet these requirements, then "Sorry, Charlie!", you've got to  make the application in person.

What If You Can't Meet the Requirements or Wait Months for Your New Passport or Renewal?

This is where passport renewal expediters come in. For a small fee, companies like TravelVisaPro can help you get your passport quickly, and in dire passport renewal emergencies, rush it to you in as little as one day! Try to find a passport service in your city to get the best service possible. Many of these services can also assist with processing travel visas or document notarization. It may take longer to get a visa, but they can usually do these with very fast turnaround as well.

OK, So You Still Want to Renew Your Passport by Mail

If you can meet the conditions mentioned above and live in the U. S., the form DS-82 is required. In addition, you must also send a different photo and the renewal fee. To ensure secure delivery of this documentation, you should have your mail sent by a carrier that can give you a tracking number.

If you are a U. S. Citizen living outside the United States, you will need to apply at the U. S. Embassy (or Consulate) based on your location. If you are a U. S. Citizen living in Canada,  you're in luck and will have the same entitlement as a U. S. Citizen living within American borders. One fact remains, it doesn't matter where you are, you'll still be waiting four to six weeks before you can get your hands on your new passport.

If this seems like too long to wait, and you still want to do it on your own rather than using an agency, you can request more rapid processing of your passport application. Just enclose a sixty dollar check with your documents and clearly mark the outside of the envelope "Expedite", you will get your application processed in two to three weeks. You do have to be resident in the U. S. to qualify for expedited service.

In addition to your new travel documents, your old passport will be sent back to you. The reason this is useful is to confirm your proof of U. S. Citizenship.

Now, not everyone will want to use the postal service for their passport renewal, which is understandable. The option to apply in person is also there. However, if you do require a postal renewal, keep the above in mind and consult your local government authority for up-to-date information regarding the processes and procedures.