To maintain your legal right to return to the United States, you must renew your passport before it expires. However, this doesn’t mean that you cannot extend the duration of your passport. You may apply for a renewal up to one year before its expiration date. This article from Daily Collegian will discuss all the details concerning passport renewal and the steps that you need to take to complete this process as efficiently as possible.
When Should You Renew Your Passport?
You must consider a few factors when renewing your passport, including your age and the number of times you have traveled abroad in the past decade. If you are over the age of 16, your passport will have a 10-year validity. If you are under 16 years of age, your passport will have a 5-year validity.
Most people apply for a renewal when they have reached the expiration mark. In this case, you will have to submit all the required documents and pay the same fee charged for a new passport. If you have not traveled abroad in the past decade, you may skip the renewal and obtain a brand new passport. However, if you need to travel abroad, it is better to renew your passport and reap the benefits of the extended validity.
Check the Expiration Date of Your Passport
All passport holders should keep an eye on their passport’s expiration date. If you don’t, you could end up missing your flight or, even worse, be denied entry into your destination country. If you have a valid passport, it is recommended that you renew it 6 months before the expiration date. If you fail to do so, you may have to apply for a renewal and wait up to 3 months for the new passport to arrive at your address.
How Should You Renew Your Passport?
If you decide that you want to renew your passport, you should know that the Department of State will not cancel your old passport. Instead, they will extend its validity by 10 years. Instead, you will receive a receipt with your new passport number and estimated delivery date.
Depending on your age, you must submit proof of citizenship and identity. If you have ever applied for a passport before, you will not have to fill out a new application form. Simply use the same form and information you used during your original application process.
How Long Does it Take to Renew Your Passport?
The length of time required for a passport renewal depends on your specific situation. If you are renewing your passport, you can expect the entire process to be finished in 3-4 weeks. If you are applying for the first time, your passport application will be processed within 6-8 weeks. You can track your passport renewal or application process using the Department of State’s website.
Get Your Passport Renewed Successfully
The passport is a very important document that is used for traveling abroad. This document permits you to enter another country, and you need it for every trip outside the United States. Follow the tips and steps above and read more about Daily Collegian, and you will get to renew your passport successfully in no time.
