If you plan to travel out of the country you will need to have a passport. This passport must be in good condition, as well as accurate and up to date. This includes reflecting any name changes you may have had as a result of marriage or other personal reasons. If you have any changes in personal information, you need to renew your passport.
The passport renewal process is simple. There are some conditions that must be met in order to be able to have it processed through the mail. You simply need to fill out form DS-82 and send it overnight in a padded envelope to the National Passport Processing Center in Philadelphia.
There is a 15 year period on a passport, so if you’ve had yours for longer than that period you will need to apply for a new one. The post office will process the necessary paper work, providing you have the proper documentation and a recent passport photo. You will need your ID and birth certificate to complete this process.
Damaged passports must be replaced and if they appear tampered with there may be a penalty. To replace a damaged passport you will need to appear in person and process a DS-11. You will also need to provide the damaged passport for examination and proof that reside within the country.
You will also need to provide two passport photos and the application fee. In addition, the renewal requirements include providing your social security number and a DS-64 statement of damage. When you send in this information you will also need to provide an envelope for returning the replaced passport to you.
In order to renew your passport by mail, you will need to have been over 16 at the time you received your current passport. You will also have to have received your passport within the last 15 years. If either of these factors does not exist in your situation, you will need to apply for a new passport. When applying for a new passport you can do this process over the Internet via the US. State Department’s website.
If you have changed your name then your passport must reflect this. If your current passport does not reflect this you will need to get a passport name change. There are two different forms for this process. The form you use will depend on whether you have had your passport for a year or less.
You can renew your passport through the mail as long as you meet certain requirements. These requirements include accurate information regarding your name and all other information on your passport. The National Passport Processing Center in Philadelphia will allow you to renew a U.S. passport only if your current passport is in good condition. If it is not, then there is a process that you must go through to obtain a replacement. It is also necessary to be residing in the US. Or Canada in order to apply through the mail. In the situation that you are residing outside of the United States, you’ll need to consult your local embassy or consulate.