Expedited Pasport Renewal Can Help To Save Vacation From Problems
There are a lot of different things that can go wrong with travel. The potential for disaster seems to double with international travel. Passport issues are just one of many potential problems that can afflict international travelers. This article, perfect for the forgetful traveler, will cover expedited American passport renewal.
We have all heard the set up before: someone has booked a trip and when it comes time to check their passport, they realize that it has expired and their whole trip is now in jeopardy. Believe it or not, there is no need to panic, even if the trip is right around the corner. There are ways to get a passport in just a few short weeks or even the blink of an eye if necessary.
This is a perfect example of a situation that warrants expedited passport renewal. Passports are only valid for ten years. After ten years, a passport must be renewed. Just like new passport applications, renewal applications may be expedited at an additional fee.
Unlike a first time passport application, a renewal application may be completed by mail. To renew a passport, the applicant must acquire and fill-out form DS-82. The DS-82 form will have detailed, step-by-step, instructions for the passport renewal process. The applicant must mail his or her old passport, and any relevant ID’s or forms, along with the DS-82 for processing. Write “expedited” on the envelope for all expedited passport renewals.
Due to the nature of the contents in this package, the US department of State recommends that applicants mail all documents in a secure package with some sort of security tracking system. The State Department recommends using a Tyvek envelope. Secure Tyvek packaging will keep the envelopes’ contents safe. A damaged or lost application could result in a nullified application, which would severely set back the application timeline. In expedited application scenarios, a damaged or lost application could be devastating.
When standard processing is chosen, the delivery time for the renewed passport is about 6 weeks. If this is not quick enough, expedited service can be ordered for an additional $60. It may sound like a lot, but the alternative is to risk not making the trip at all. That can cost thousands in unreturned payments if the trip was prepaid and insurance was not purchased.
If expedited service is used, the passport will usually be returned in under a month. If the trip is scheduled before that time, there are some other services that can be purchased that will have the passport arriving much sooner. They are of course more expensive, but that clock is not going to stop just because someone forgot to get their passport renewed.
There are so many things that can go wrong on a trip; it is a shame to add one more, like having an expired American passport, that is our own fault. The glory of this mistake is that it is still very fixable, even up to the very last moment. Using expedited U.S. passport renewal can literally turn that frown upside down and allow everyone to enjoy their trip as planned.
