The worst feeling in the world when there is an international trip coming up is to look around for the passport and realize that it is going to expire right in the middle of the trip. They are good for 10 years so it is pretty easy to forget about it if there is not a lot of traveling going on. When that day arrives, know that renewing a passport is not the time consuming or difficult task that it once was.
To renew a passport, all that now needs to be done is hit up the Internet and subscribe to a service. There will still be some running around in regards to getting passport photos and such, but the waiting around for the passport is no longer a worry. These online services have perfected the art of getting a passport back in hand in just a few days if necessary.
When the time comes that the trip is sooner than expected or the passport is dangerously close to expiring, there are numerous options to getting it back quicker. The standard time for the regular services to get the passport back will average about four to six weeks. While this is much faster than it has ever been, it still may not be soon enough for some people.
All of the forms are available right on the government website as well as the site for many of these expediting companies. There should also be a list of documents that will have to be included with the forms for the passport application to be accepted and pushed through. Knowing how sensitive these documents are, it is may be best to use an overnight service so that the documents get to where they are needed and back to you as soon as possible.
Most services, including the government sites, will tell applicants that they should use a reliable carrier such as UPS to handle the overnight delivery. Don’t worry, they are not getting a kickback by recommending them, it is just that they have guaranteed delivery and cant track the document trough every step. Since these documents are so sensitive, this is money well spent.
The agency will get the process rolling as soon as they receive the package and check to make sure that everything is in order. This is why it is so important to double and triple check and make sure that everything is in there. It is not uncommon for people to miss something and then have to send everything back again. One item that is often on the “oops list” is the passport photos.
Along with the new photos, the old passport must also be sent in along with any documentation supporting informational changes such as name or address. This can be in the form of a court document, such as a marriage license for the name change or a court order stating that this has been obtained legally. These documents must be from the issuing body and not copies, even if they are certified or notarized.
The service is invaluable that these websites offer for updating and renewing a pass port. They take all the hassle out of filing the paperwork and getting your new U S passport back in record time. By going online and doing a brief but detailed search, all of these providers will be brought directly to you for comparison.
