An expired US passport renewal is possible if you meet its requirements and conditions. Many US citizens do not know how to go about renewing their soon-to-expire or expired passport; in fact, some only start the process when there is an upcoming trip, and they discover they cannot apply for a visa because their passport expires in less than 6 months. We understand your frustrations, just like many others, so we have compiled all the information you need to apply to renew your passport.
Where Can You Do An Expired US Passport Renewal?
The first thing you should know is where to apply for a passport renewal. The US Department of State has the following outlets for applicants.
Passport Agency: Agencies are opened by the State Department in every state of the union, including overseas territories. These agencies will book an appointment with you which you must attend in person to apply for a passport renewal. Passport agencies offer appointment bookings to applicants facing a life and death emergency or an urgent need to travel.
Passport Office: There are designated passport offices operated by the state department where your biometric data will be captured, and a new passport will be produced. These offices are few and often congested, which is why applicants are advised to explore other alternatives.
By Mail: If you don’t live close to a passport agency or office, you can still apply for a renewal by sending your documents to the State Department by mail. There are several collection centers in the US that receive renewal applications sent by US citizens from home and abroad. The applicant must package their application form, old passport, ID card, cheque, money order for the processing fee, and any other document inside a mail envelope and mail it to a designated state department address.
Passport Renewal Eligibility
Many people make the mistake of assuming they are eligible for renewal because they have an expired or old passport, but this is not the case. If your passport does not meet the eligibility criteria, your application will not be accepted. To avoid disappointments, here are the eligibility criteria to keep in mind if you want to renew an expired passport.
Not Damaged: The passport office or agency will not renew a damaged passport. If your passport is mutilated, you cannot renew it. Only passports in good condition can be renewed.
Not older than 15 years: The passport must not be older than 15 years; I’d expired it must not have expired more than 5 years ago.
Same name: Your current name must be the same on the old passport you want to renew. If you have changed your name, you must prove your new identity with a marriage or divorce certificate or a Court order.
16 years or older: The previous passport must have been issued when you were 16 years or older. If you are younger than 16 years, you can’t renew it.
Limited: The old passport has not been limited due to non-compliance, theft, or damage. Passports under any of these restrictions cannot be renewed.
If your old or current passport doesn’t meet any of these criteria, you will be unable to renew it; you should apply for a new passport instead.
Status of An Expired Passport
An expired passport cannot be used as a means of identification or to prove citizenship. It cannot be used to apply for a visa or international travel between countries. Do note that children's expired passports can’t be renewed, so a new one must be applied for by their parents on their behalf. The DS – 82 form is the wrong document for new passport applications as it is only for renewals.
New passport applicants must fill out the DS-11 application form instead.
Who Cannot Apply For Passport Renewal
Here are the conditions that will invalidate a passport renewal application.
Limited Passport: Those with limited passports caused by personal errors or court injunctions such as child support payment violations cannot apply for a renewal.
Damaged Passport: Applicants with damaged passports are not eligible for renewal.
Old Passport: A passport issued more than 15 years ago cannot be renewed.
Child Passport: Passports issued to minors can’t be renewed, especially if they were under 16 when the old one was issued.
Tax Violations: Applicants who are severely indebted to the IRA cannot renew their passports.
Expedite Your Application
If your passport has expired and you need assistance applying for renewal because you live far away from a passport Office or agency, VisaHQ can serve you. We ensure that your documents are in order and that your package gets to the designated address of the Department of State on time. However, you will have to pay for expedited shipping, which will cost you extra. Just visit the VisaHQ passport service page for your expired US passport renewal.