In this post, I’ll go through the process of renewing a US passport by mail, my experience with expediting my passport application, and sharing some tips and information about traveling with a US passport. This information is most up-to-date since the writing of this post on August 2, 2021.
My passport doesn’t expire until 2024, but I ran out of blank spaces and Visa pages so I needed to renew my passport. Due to security concerns, US citizens can no longer request to add extra pages to their current passport (this would have saved me a lot of trouble). Because of this rule, I have to go through the whole process of renewing my passport.
I have two blank pages in my passport that are labeled “Endorsements”, but they’re not for entry/exit stamps nor Visas. In an older FlyerTalk forum, some people said that some customs/immigration officers will blindly stamp any blank pages in your passport. However, those pages are suppose to be for endorsement purposes only (ex: a note that your previous passport was lost or stolen, etc.).
I’d rather be safe than sorry, so I renewed my passport by mail. I also requested for a large book this time (no extra charge), so I should get full use of my new passport for the next 10 years.
Step 1: Determine which form to use
You have to either renew your passport by mail or renew in person depending on if you meet certain criteria. If you’re eligible, the simplest way to renew your passport is by mail. To do so, you’ll have to go to the US government’s passport travel site: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew.html.
From there, fill out the form online, print, and then sign and date it. The link also has EVERYTHING that you need to know and the process of renewing your passport.
Step 2: Take passport photo
You can complete this in one of two ways: 1) Go to CVS or Walgreens for passport photo services. Or 2) Take the photo yourself. When taking the photos yourself, you will have to follow the guidelines listed here: Passport Photo Guidelines.
It was so easy to go to my local CVS or Walgreens to get my picture taken. They have a passport option in their system so they’re able to print and cut the photos per the set guidelines. I was in and out of CVS in less than 10 minutes with the printed pictures in my hand. It costs $14.99 + tax at CVS and this includes 2 passport size photos.
Take one of the photos and staple it to the printed passport renewal form. Make sure to place the staple in the correct place where it notates “staple” on the form.
I would suggest keeping the second passport photo in a passport cover (if you have one) for when you need to apply for a Visa to a foreign country.
Step 3: Payment
Calculate the fees and pay with a check or money order, and make it out to the US Department of State. You’ll also need to include your full name and date of birth at the top of the check too. The routine passport book renewal fee is $110. If you add on the expedited service, it’s an additional $60. 1-2 Day Delivery is an additional $17.56.
You can add on the expedited services after mailing in your passport for a routine renewal. That’s exactly what I did and I’ll share my experiences later in this post.
Step 4: Mail it
Gather all the materials: signed and dated form with picture, the most current passport, and check/money order, and place it in a large envelop. Make sure to not bend or fold your paperwork.
If you live in the United States, you MUST use the United States Postal Service (USPS) to mail your renewal application. The passport website recommends using Priority Mail Express, which is the fastest trackable delivery method that the USPS offers. Make sure the method you use can deliver to a PO Box.
I went to my local USPS office and used the Priority Mail Legal Flat Rate Envelop. The printed form will tell you which of the three PO Boxes to send your package to. Shipping costs $8.25 and my receipt from USPS includes tracking information.
Step 5: Track it
I first tracked my package with USPS. Once I knew that it was delivered, I then went to track my application status through the US Passport Application Status.
My status shows “Not Available” when I first checked. From there, I subscribed to receive email notifications for every time my application status changes. Three weeks later, I received a notification that my passport application status is “In Process.”
Expedited Service- My Experience
I didn’t have any concrete plans for international travels when I was renewing my passport. Then a once-in-a-lifetime trip for October was brought to my attention and I really wanted to go.
The passport website and email states that it can take up to 18 weeks for passports to be processed. With recent news that there are a lot of passports being backlog and that it was going to take people many more months to get their passports, I felt the need to expedite my request. You can add expedited services to your passport application as long as it’s still “In Process” status. For more information on how to expedite your passport, check out this section of the passport’s website on: Get My Passport Fast
I found 2 phone numbers to the Passport Office, so I called both numbers. I was continuously getting a busy tone for both numbers, so I would hang up and call back every few hours. On Day 3, I was able to get into the phone queue, wait 2.5 hours, and was FINALLY able to talk to a live person! I told the rep on the phone that I need to expedite my passport.
The rep sent me an email with the information that I need to submit/send by email. I had waited for 2.5 hours to talk to someone, so I was not going to hang up after 2 minutes. I kept the rep on the phone as I confirmed the receipt of the email, scanned the email, and all my questions were answered. The rep told me this is only a request and they can’t guarantee expedited service. I won’t know if my request was accepted until my credit card is charged.
It took me maybe 5 minutes to fill out the form in the body of the email and hit send. The plan is to check my credit card statement every week for the expedited fee + delivery fee to hit my card.
Expedited Service- Within 2 Weeks of Travel
If I don’t get my passport by October, I plan to call the Passport Center (up to 2 weeks before travel) to book an appointment with my local passport agency (Dallas). The actual appointment will need to take place within 3 days of travel. I will need to show proof of international travel like flight tickets or hotel confirmation.
Until recently, you were allowed to book appointments online. However, they had to put a pause on online scheduling because third party passport agencies would take up all the appointments, and then would charge people money to take the appointments. It’s like scalping for an appointment (even though it’s actually free).
If you’re traveling really soon (like in 2 weeks), go ahead and call the Passport Center and schedule an appointment with a Passport Agency.
Here is a list of Passport Agencies. If you don’t live near an agency/center, but are able to travel to one for the day, then I would recommend booking whatever appointment is available and take a day trip there. Your actual appointment has to be within 3 business days of your travel date.
In one of the travel Facebook group that I’m a member in, some people suggest reaching out to your congressman for assistance in expediting your passport. From what I’ve read, your congressman’s office staff will look into it and get back to you. I don’t know anymore information than that.
Timeline
June 14th- Application printed, photos taken, and form mailed via USPS.
June 15th- USPS tracking shows “Package available for pickup.”
June 16th- USPS tracking shows “Delivered at 5:30am.”
July 6th- Received passport application status via email that it’s “In Process.”
July 26-28th- Called the 2 phone numbers listed for the Passport Center because I need to get my passport expedited. I keep getting busy dial tones so I had to hang up and try again every few hours.
July 28th- I FINALLY got through to a real person! Requested expedited passport service by submitting information via email.
July 30th- I received an email that my passport application status has been updated. The email said my passport has been shipped and included USPS tracking number.
August 2nd- My passport has arrived!!
Need to Know – Passport Travel Information
+ Don’t forget to sign your name on your new passport! It’s not valid until it’s signed. It’s page 3 of the passport, the opposite side of your picture and information.
+ A lot of countries will require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months. I would advise confirming how many months exactly from the embassy’s website.
+ A lot of countries will require at least 1 blank visa page in your passport for entry.
+ Your old passport may be mailed back separately after receiving your new passport. I’ve had both scenarios happen where my old passport was sent back separately. To my surprise with the new passport, my old one was sent together in the same package.
+ Your new passport will have a different passport number from your old passport.
+ You will need to update your Global Entry information with your new passport number.
+ Take a picture of your new passport and save it in a folder where you can pull it up easily if something were to happen abroad.
+Make a photo copy of your passport and take it with you abroad just in case something happens.
+ For those traveling internationally for your honeymoon, it’s best to book your flights with the name that’s on the passport that you’ll be using to travel. You can update the name on your passport after returning from your trip.
My Thoughts
I’m honestly shocked that my experience was this fast and (some-what) smooth. I know this isn’t the case for a lot of people. I wonder if it’s because my passport hasn’t expired yet and I just needed more pages. That and just getting lucky.
Let me know if you have any questions or need help.
Happy Travels!
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