Passport Services Processing Time Has Increased: Everything You Need to Know about it from your Virtual Travel Agent.
If you are planning to travel this year, but your USA passport is expired or about to expire, you may need run to renew it now. It is not a secret that people are traveling more nowadays, creating a higher demand for these documents, which is causing the processing time to be extended.
If this is your case, you need to first check if you are eligible to renew your passport by mail. You can do this by visiting the State Department website and filling out a simple questionnaire. Renew my Passport by Mail (state.gov). If you are eligible, you will need to complete Form DS-82, Passport Forms (state.gov), submit your most recent passport, include name change documents if applicable, provide a photo and calculate the fees. You can find more details on how to renew by mail here.
"In response to increased passport demand as of today, March 24, routine passport processing takes 10-13 weeks from the time we receive the application; expedited processing ($60 extra) takes 7-9 weeks"
If you are not eligible to renew by mail, or if you need your passport in less than ten weeks, you will need to apply in person at a passport acceptance facility. You can find one near you using this locator tool Where to Apply for a Passport Nationwide (state.gov). You will need to bring the same documents as for mail renewal, plus an appointment confirmation number if required. You can find more details on how to apply in person here.
The fees for passport renewal vary depending on the product you choose (passport book, passport card or both) and the processing time you need (routine or expedited). You can use this calculator to estimate the total cost of your renewal.
The photo you provide for your passport must meet certain requirements, such as size, quality, background color and expression. You can find more details on photo requirements here.
Once you submit your application, you can track its status online using your last name, date of birth and last four digits of your social security number. You can also sign up for email notifications to receive updates on your application progress.
I hope this blog post was helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below.
And don't forget: got passport?
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