When it comes to travel, there are plenty of things that can go wrong. The perfect trip can be ruined by a late flight, lost bag or a missed connection. However, while there is very little that can be done for those situations, making sure that the passport has been renewed is something that can be controlled. If it has somehow slipped through the cracks, expedited U S passport renewal can solve the problem.

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 an example of something that happens to people almost every day. Either they didn’t realize that they needed a passport or they haven’t used one in so long that they didn’t realize that it had expired. Passports are only good for ten years, so if the old blue book has some dust on it, it may be time to check the expiration date.

The beauty of passport renewal is that there is no need to have to wait in line. The whole process can be handled through the mail with little to no worries. The DS-82 form can be picked up at most post offices or downloaded right off the Internet. It will have to be filled out and then put in an envelope with the old passport and a new one will be on its way in about two months (sooner if the expedited service is paid for).

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.

Currently, the Department of State estimates the processing time for a normal passport application to be about four to six weeks. Any passport needed in less than six weeks is a candidate for an expedited application. The fee for expediting a passport is $60 dollars, plus the normal application fee, and the two-way overnight delivery fee.

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.

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 US 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 American passport renewal. Sixty dollars is a small fee for peace of mind.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!