Title: U.S. Citizens Can Now Renew Passports by Mail, Avoiding In-Person Visits and Long Wait Times
In a bid to streamline the passport renewal process and make it more convenient for U.S. citizens, the U.S. Department of State has announced a new option for renewing passports without the need for in-person visits to passport acceptance facilities. Effective immediately, U.S. citizens can now renew their passports by mail and avoid long wait times at busy passport offices.
The passport renewal by mail option is available to eligible U.S. citizens who meet the criteria for renewing their passports by mail. This includes those who hold a 10-year adult passport that is undamaged and was issued within the last 15 years or those who were at least 16 years old when their most recent passport was issued. Additionally, the passport must have been issued in the U.S., and the individual must have the same name as on their most recent passport, or they must have legal documentation to support a name change.
To renew a passport by mail, eligible U.S. citizens must complete the DS-82 application form, which can be downloaded from the U.S. Department of State’s website or obtained from a passport acceptance facility. The completed form must be accompanied by the applicant’s most recent U.S. passport, a recent passport photo, and the renewal fee, which can be paid by check or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of State.
Once the application, supporting documents, and fee are received, the U.S. Department of State will process the passport renewal request and mail the new passport back to the applicant. The processing time for passport renewals by mail is generally between 4 to 6 weeks, so applicants are encouraged to submit their renewal requests well in advance of any planned international travel.
The new passport renewal by mail option is expected to alleviate some of the pressure on passport acceptance facilities, which have been experiencing long wait times and backlog of applications due to increased demand for passports. By allowing eligible U.S. citizens to renew their passports by mail, the U.S. Department of State hopes to make the passport renewal process more efficient and accessible to all U.S. citizens.
In addition to the passport renewal by mail option, the U.S. Department of State has also introduced a new expedited processing service for passport renewals. For an additional fee, eligible U.S. citizens can request expedited processing of their passport renewal request, which reduces the processing time to between 2 to 3 weeks. This option is ideal for those who need their passports renewed quickly for urgent travel plans.
The introduction of the passport renewal by mail option and expedited processing service is part of the U.S. Department of State’s ongoing efforts to modernize and improve the passport application process for U.S. citizens. By providing more convenient and efficient options for passport renewal, the U.S. Department of State aims to ensure that U.S. citizens can easily obtain or renew their passports for international travel.
Overall, the new passport renewal by mail option is a welcome development for U.S. citizens who are looking to renew their passports without the hassle of in-person visits to passport acceptance facilities. With the option to renew passports by mail and expedited processing service available, U.S. citizens can now enjoy a more streamlined and convenient passport renewal process, allowing them to focus on planning their international travel adventures without the stress of passport renewal delays.
