US Passport Update

[Hogpatrol]

Unless a life or death emergency requiring international travel, getting a passport and renewals are now delayed.

Passport Renewals During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Unless you have a life-or-death emergency, please wait until we resume normal operations to renew your passport.

Reminders

• You do not need to renew your passport before it expires unless you are planning to travel internationally.
• Most countries require that your U.S. passport have at least six months of validity beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not let you board an international flight if this requirement is not met.
• Though an expired passport cannot be used for international travel, customers eligible to renew their 10-year passport have up to 5 years to renew the passport using Form DS-82 after it expires.
• After the 10-year passport has been expired for 5 years, you cannot renew it and you must apply in person using Form DS-11 if you want a new passport.
• You cannot renew your child's passport. All children under age 16 must appear in person with both parents or guardians and apply using Form DS-11.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew.html

 

[wesheltonj]

Unfortunately, I am painfully aware of the delay. I tried to get my daughter to renew in December, but as usual she blew it off until the the first of March, and it's been sitting at the passport office.

 

[Dee S]

This is good to know information and I'm appreciative of you posting it. My daughter and I were just talking about her passport yesterday and how it would expire a week after we are planned to return from our trip next June. I was unaware of the six month rule. Now that I have read this information, I will make sure her passport is updated as soon as possible, all things considered.
Thanks again, a very useful post for us all.

 

[jeanes]

Wife and I renewed ours the middle of Feb. and got them back the week the pandemic was declared. I'm not usually that lucky. Now if there was only somewhere to go.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Unfortunately, I am painfully aware of the delay. I tried to get my daughter to renew in December, but as usual she blew it off until the the first of March, and it's been sitting at the passport office.

Mine runs out in July. Couldn't travel international even if everything opened up in the fall. It'll be pandemonium at the passport office when they do reopen.

 

[Hogpatrol]

FYI: I called the Philadelphia office to see if walk-in renewal was an option. Was told they were not open to the public and mail in would be several months delay.

 

[Dee S]

Thanks to this thread, my wife and I checked the expiration dates on our passports, both expire in April 2021. We had to push back our trip to May 2021, so that could have been bad for us had we not checked.
The online process seems simple enough. We just download the form, submit it, along with a new picture, our old passport, and a check by mail. No need to go into a post office. We will start the process tomorrow.
Again, sure appreciate this forum and this thread.

 

[SafariA]

Besides the 6 month rule most African Countries also want to have at least 2 open pages left ....so take note of that too.

This can be overcome sometimes by paying a (spot fine ......) but rather stay on the safe side .

 

[Dee S]

Wife and I sent our renewal packets in Wednesday. Trip isn’t until next May. Fingers crossed.

 

[Ryan]

FYI: I called the Philadelphia office to see if walk-in renewal was an option. Was told they were not open to the public and mail in would be several months delay.

Hadn't noticed this post until now. I sent mine in in early April since I may have a trip at the end of the year and like it or not most countries want at least 6 months left on it. This could get interesting.

 

[Dee S]

Hadn't noticed this post until now. I sent mine in in early April since I may have a trip at the end of the year and like it or not most countries want at least 6 months left on it. This could get interesting.

Please let us know when you receive yours back from the gov't. Curious as to how long it is taking to complete and return.

 

[leslie hetrick]

i renew my passport at least one year before it expires. so i only get nine years instead of ten, but i feel better.

 

[Ryan]

Please let us know when you receive yours back from the gov't. Curious as to how long it is taking to complete and return.

I still have the postage receipt, one month as of yesterday, and counting. I'll try and remember to let you know.

 

[wesheltonj]

My daughters says received 3-10 and still in process.


Know Before You Apply For A U.S. Passport

If you are thinking about applying for or renewing a U.S. passport now for international travel, please read the Department of State's current international travel advisory. Because of public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we have extremely limited U.S. passport operations. If you apply or renew now, you will experience significant delays of several months to receive your U.S. passport and the return of your citizenship evidence documents (such as birth certificates or naturalization certificates). Unless you have a life-or-death emergency, please wait until we resume normal operations to apply for or renew your passport.

4. What if I applied before passport operations were limited on March 19?

Because we have limited staff due to COVID-19, if you applied on or before March 19, you will experience significant delays of several months to receive your passport and the return of your citizenship evidence documents. If you received a letter from us requesting additional information to process your passport application, you may mail your response to the address in the letter. Expect significant processing delays.

 

[Hogpatrol]

If you're sending it to Philly, PA is still in the yellow/semi-lockdown stage. I need to renew but also need to keep reminding myself I'm dealing with a government agency. Rather than send it in, I'm waiting for them to allow walk-ins and I'll make a day trip to the Customs House.

 

[Dee S]

Well, the gov't got our packets and have cashed the check! Progress?

 

[Hogpatrol]

Well, the gov't got our packets and have cashed the check! Progress?

Just curious as to where you sent your renewal.

 

[Tracey Colson]

You can check the status of your passport on the web. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html My wife applied for hers just as the COVID stuff was getting started. According to the link above her info was received on March 17 and is still in process. We have a trip planned for April of 2021 so have some time yet but it looks to me like anybody needing to get or renew within a year should get on it ASAP

 

[Dee S]

Just curious as to where you sent your renewal.

Irving, Texas office

 

[johnnyblues]

I’m glad I’m anal in some respects, I renewed mine last October and it didn’t expire until this past March. I’m not the type for last minute stuff.