Pro Tips for Passport Renewals

Passport renewals are one of the most commonly utilized US passport services. It is a fairly simple procedure that does not require visiting a passport acceptance agent. Although it's a straightforward and frequently used service, there are some nuances to the procedure that you may not know. Here are our pro tips and insider information about renewing a US passport!

Tip 1: You don't need to wait until your passport is expired to renew it.

We recommend renewing your passport at least six months before it expires. Many countries, including popular destinations like Mexico, enforce the "six month rule," which means that you must have at least six months of validity remaining when you enter the country.

Tip 2: There are reasons to renew a passport other than validity time.

Some travelers may need to do an early renewal of their passport, which means renewing the passport more than one year before it expires. Reasons for renewing your passport early include:

• Your passport is low on blank visa pages.
• Your name has legally changed and your passport is more than one year old. (If your passport was issued less than one year ago, you can do a "re-application" service to change the name on your passport.)
• Your passport is looking worn but is not badly damaged enough to be considered mutilated.
• Your appearance has changed significantly since your passport was issued.

“Apply Early” Initiative Urges Travelers to Beat the Rush

The US State Department has launched a new “Apply Early” passport initiative to encourage travelers to apply for passport service well in advance of any travel. Every year, the State Department’s Passport Agencies are inundated with more and more passport applications, and the number of applications is expected to rise rapidly in the next two years. Why? The answer lies in recent history.

In 2007, the US government implemented the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which required that US citizens carry a passport for all travel outside of the country, even to countries like Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean nations which would previously allow travelers to enter without a passport. Because of this, the State Department saw an unprecedented flood of passport applications. The surge was particularly intense in late winter and spring of 2007, as travelers scrambled to get their passports in time for spring break and summer travel to Mexico and the Caribbean. Unfortunately, many travelers who waited until the last minute were not able to get their passports in time, as the overloaded Passport Agencies struggled through their backlog and processing times slowed down.