After having carefully planned your trip by checking out cheap traveloptions, such as cheapairplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, discounttravel deals, and cheap vacation packages, youdont want to have to scurry about trying to renew your passport at the lastminute.
17.4 million passport applications are expected this yearwith another 22.9 forecasted in 2017. The State Department encourages passport applicants to apply for orrenew U.S. passports well ahead of planned travel. Longer than average wait times for passportprocessing is expected over the coming months.
What is driving the increased demand for U.S. passports isthe REAL ID act, which makes it mandatory to use a passport for domesticflights for 25 U.S. states and territories, and the Western Hemisphere TravelInitiative (WHTI) which requires a passport to travel to Bermuda, theCaribbean, Canada, and Mexico.
Given that U.S. passports expire for adults after 10 yearsand it has been almost 10 years since WHTI was implemented, there is ananticipated surge as these applicants renew their passports.
March is the busiest month of the year for passport renewalprobably because so many people are preparing for spring trips. As a general rule of thumb, individualsshould renew passports in the winter, when the number of passport applicationsreceived is at the lowest.
Currently processing passport applications is averaging sixweeks. While that is up from four weekslast year, the Bureau of Consular Affairs considers six weeks within itsservice standards.
While there is an option to expedite the process for anadditional fee, there is no reason to pay this fee if you plan ahead.
The U.S. Passport Service Guide recommends that applicationsfor a passport renewal should be turned in about nine months prior to apassports expiration date. Thefollowing is the reason for this lead time:
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The earlier you apply,the less likely you will need to pay more for expedited services which aregenerally quite expensive.
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It can take up to threemonths to process a passport renewal application. While the usual process is completed within 4to 6 weeks, it can take longer, particularly during peak travel periods or whennew passport requirements are being implemented.
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Many countries requirevisa applicants to submit valid passports that have a minimum of six monthsvalidity remaining from the time of entry into the country.
You can apply to renew your passport at any time. To do so you will have to pay the passportrenewal fee and lose the remaining validity on your existing passport. Your new passport will be valid for 10 yearsfrom the date of issuance.
To avoid any complication, it is recommended that youinclude a letter explaining the reason for renewing a passport (such as wantingyour passport to display your new married last name) if it is submitted morethan 9 months prior to its expiration date.
The following are the disadvantages of applying for apassport renewal prior to it expiring in 9 months:
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You will have to pay arenewal fee, which currently is $110.
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You will lose theremaining validity in your current passport.
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You will most likely berequired to apply for new visas, if you have any, to replace the ones that arecurrently in your passport.
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