Renewing a passport in the United States is not an equally easy task for everyone. According to the U.S. Department of State (DOS), those over 18 who wish to renew their passport will have to meet a series of requirements. If your passport was issued more than 15 years ago, was lost, stolen, or damaged, or was issued when the holder was under 16 years old, you will not be able to renew it automatically; instead, you will have to start the process from scratch.
If that is your case, the DOS explains the eight steps you must follow to obtain your passport again. First, you must complete Form DS-11, but do not sign it until you are in the presence of an acceptance agent. After that, you must present proof of U.S. citizenship, which can be a Certificate of Naturalization or a Certificate of Citizenship.
A photo ID, such as a driver’s license, and photocopies of all attached documents will also be necessary. A passport photo is also required, which must meet the DOS specifications. The next step involves paying the relevant fees: the cost of the passport and the passport card.
Once paid, you must take all this documentation and the payment of the fees to an authorized passport acceptance center. If you are residing outside the United States, you will need to go to the Consulate office. The average processing time is two weeks, and you can track the status of your application through your email.
Can I renew my passport?
Is the expiration date of your passport approaching? Then you should take into account the requirements specified by the U.S. Department of State (DOS). According to this department, the renewal process is not eligible for all cases.
This is known as the ’15-year rule’, meaning that if your passport was issued more than 15 years ago, you cannot renew it automatically, but will have to start the process from scratch, as a new application. This measure also affects cases where the passport has been stolen or lost, or if the applicant obtained the passport before turning 16.
How do I renew my passport then?
The DOS sets out a series of steps that need to be completed for the “renewal” of the passport for those who have to start the process from scratch. There are quite a few steps, so I advise you to take notes or save this article.
Form DS-11
This is the necessary form to start the application. You can access it through the official DOS website. It is important that you do not sign it until you are in the presence of a passport acceptance agent.Demonstrating CitizenshipAlong with Form DS-11, you must attach proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a U.S. birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate, or a Certificate of Citizenship.
Photo Identification
A photo identification must be attached, such as a driver’s license.
Copies and Additional Documents
All documents attached must include their corresponding copies.
Photograph
This requirement demands attaching a photo that must meet the DOS conditions.
Payment of Fees
Like any bureaucratic procedure, the time comes to pay the fees corresponding to the application:
- Passport (booklet): application US$130 + acceptance fee US$35, total US$165.
- Passport Card: Application US$30 + acceptance fee US$35, total US$65.
- Passport (booklet) and Card: application US$160 + acceptance fee US$35, total US$195.
Submit the documentation
Once you have all the necessary documentation and payment of the fees, you must take it to an authorized passport acceptance center. If the renewal is urgent due to an upcoming trip, you should schedule an appointment with the passport center for urgent requests. If this is not the case, you can go to post offices or local government offices.
Tracking the application
Once the application is signed and the process is completed, the center will mail it to the DOS, which will take an average of two weeks to process it. You will be able to track the status of your application through the notifications you receive in your email.