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Expedited Passport Renewal: A Small Fee For The Last Minute Emergency
By CruiseDirector | July 5, 2010
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 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.
The good news in all of this is that there is no need to have to wait in any lines again. Renewals services are done via the mail. All the applicant has to do is go on the Internet and download form DS-82 from the State Department website, fill it out, put in the required documents and fees and send it on its way.
Since the contents of this package are obviously very sensitive in nature, it is important to make sure that the packing is secure. The State Department has on their website that it is best to use Tyvek packaging. The applicant can take it one step further and ship it via overnight mail and pay for the proof of delivery. It will add a little reassurance that the old passport and documents were received safely.
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.
The State Department estimates a two to three week turn around on expedited passport applications. Any applicant that needs a passport in less than two weeks, be it a renewal or new application, is encouraged to make an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency. Applicants that need to secure a foreign visa in less than four weeks are also encouraged to make an appointment.
Of all the things that can go wrong with international travel, it is never good to succumb to a preventable disaster. Trying to travel with an expired USA passport is most definitely a preventable disaster. Anyone that finds themselves with an expired passport right before a big trip should consider paying the extra fee for an expedited U S passport renewal. Sixty dollars is a small fee for peace of mind.
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