How to Make Passport Renewal Painless

What documents do you need to renew your passport? That depends on your situation. If all of the following conditions apply to you, you are eligible to renew your passport by mail, using Passport Renewal Form DS-82:

Your passport has not been lost, damaged, chewed on, burned or otherwise mutilated.

You were over 16 when your last passport was issued.

Your passport was issued less than 15 years ago.

You have legal documents to corroborate any name changes.

If all of the above are true, you can simply fill out Form DS-82 and send it in with 2 passport photos and your old passport. If not, you'll need to apply for a brand new passport, just like a first-timer. Instead of Form DS-82, you'll use Form DS-11, and you'll have to appear in person at a Passport Acceptance facility. You'll need to bring all of the following documents:

Proof of Idenity for Passport Renewal (Such as your driver's license, a naturalization certificate, a military ID, an expired or valid passport or a government ID)

Proof of Citizenship for Passport Renewal (Your birth certificate, a naturalization certificate, a certificate of citizenship, an old passport or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad)

2 mug shots..er, passport photos.

The cost for a passport renewal by mail is currently $75.00. If you have to apply for your passport renewal in person, you'll spend $100.00.

The amount of time it takes to
renew your passport varies depending on how busy the US Passport Agency is. Expect it to take several weeks if you apply to the US Passport Agency directly.

If you have an international trip scheduled, you may not be able to wait weeks for your passport renewal. Or, you may not be able to rest comfortably until you're holding your shiny new passport in your hands. Either way, there is another option-using a private passport expediting service to jump to the front of the line. Expediting companies like RushMyPassport.com can get your passport to you in as little as 24 hours!

An expediting service will take all of your passport renewal application materials and documents and deliver them by hand to the US Passport Agency. Then, after the new passport is issued, the expediting service sends it back to you using an express shipping service. Your passport renewal application goes to the "top of the stack," and is processed quickly. Neat, huh?

To get your passport renewal expedited, you'll need to have all of the documents listed above, plus a travel itinerary showing your departure date. If you're traveling for business, a letter from your company will work, too. If you have to apply for a passport renewal in person, you'll need to take your documents to a passport acceptance facility and have them "sealed" before you send them in.

Also, RushMyPassport.com will send you an authorization letter via email. This allows the company to submit your passport renewal application for you. Print a copy of the letter, sign it and send it in.

Of course, you'll also need to include a check to pay the government. The government is somewhat picky about how the checks are made out, so make sure that you follow these guidelines:

You must use a check or money order. Starter checks are verboten, and the check must have a printed, physical address.

Make the check payable to: US Department of State.

Write out the full amount you wish to pay. For example, "$135.00" would be "One Hundred Thirty-five and 00/100."

Write the applicant's name and full date of birth on the check.

Don't forget to sign the bottom!

RushMyPassport.com offers several processing options based on how quickly you need your passport renewed and how much you are willing to pay. The most expensive option, of course, is 24-hour service. Even with the least expensive option, you'll still get your passport in 8-12 days, faster than you would if you went directly through the Passport Agency.