How to Renew a U.S. Passport With Form DS 82

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Renewing your U.S passport can be a relatively straightforward process. If you can answer "yes" to five questions, you're eligible to renew your U.S. passport with the easier form, Form DS-82.

Steps

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  1. If you can answer yes to all four, you're eligible to use the form. [1]
    • Can you submit your most recent passport book/card with the application?
    • Were you at least 16 years old when the passport book/card was issued?
    • Was your most recent passport book/card issued less than 15 years ago?
    • Do you use the same name as printed on your most recent passport book/card? If not (such as a name change due to marriage, or legal name change) can you submit the proper documentation supporting the name change?
    • Are you over 16?
    • If any of the the five questions above are not true You must apply in person. Otherwise, If all of those questions apply to you, you can renew it by the mail, so follow these steps below to see how you can renew your U.S. Passport.
  2. Access the https://www.travel.state.gov web site, and click Passports (on the horizontal blue menu bar), Get or Renew Passports (left hand blue menu bar), click the Renewing or Renewing your passport links to access the How to Apply for a Passport Renewal page, and scroll down to access the Click here to download the DS-82 Application form link. [2]
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  3. https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds82.PDF
  5. Passport by Mail.
  8. Staple one 2-inch-by-2 -inch recent color passport photograph in the designated area of the form (attach using 4 staples as indicated in the box on the form). [3]
  9. Sign the form, [4] and make a copy for your records.
  10. Review the https://travel.state.gov web site for the applicable fees; access the Passport Fees page at https://travel.state.gov/passport/get/fees/fees_837.html .
  11. Enclose a check or money order for the appropriate amount; add expedited service fees, if applicable.
  16. To better protect the contents, use a Tyvek envelope.
  17. [5] You will (should) receive your new and old passports in separate envelopes. If you provide an email address on your application, the passport agency will contact you through email if there are any issues with your renewal application.
    • Plan on starting your renewal about 10 weeks before you need your passport. That way you allow some additional time for processing just in case.
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  • Question
    Do I need two photos?
    Community Answer
    For the DS-82, you only need one photo. It reads, "Attach one photograph to the application. To avoid processing delays, be sure your photo meets all the photo requirements."
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  • Question
    Do I need to mail all 6 pages of this form?
    Community Answer
    No, just mail page 1 and 2 and then keep the other pages for your information.
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  • Question
    Do I send the instruction pages with my application?
    Community Answer
    There is no need to even print the instructions. You do not send them in with the application.
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      Tips

      • To help improve the renewal processing time, complete the form by typing in a downloaded .pdf. The forms are read by automatic scanners that have a higher error rate on handwritten forms than typed forms.
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      Warnings

      • Traveling on a soon-to-expire passport (one with six months or less validity) will cause you problems and traveling delays in many countries. You should consider your U.S passport truly valid for only nine and a half (9.5) years, not ten years.
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      • When you renew your passport, you must send in your current passport in order to verify your identity and you may be without one for multiple weeks. Therefore, most travelers agree you should begin thinking about renewing your passport around the one year out mark. This ensures enough time to plan the renewal around any other plans that might be interrupted for being without your passport.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds82.pdf
      2. ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/renew-by-mail.html
      3. ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/renew-by-mail.html
      4. ↑ https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds82.pdf
      5. ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/requirements/processing-times.html
      6. U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs ("Home"): https://www.travel.state.gov
      7. U.S. Department of State - Passport ("Home > Passport Home"): https://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
      8. U.S. Department of State - Get or Renew a Passport ("Home > Passport Home > Get or Renew Passport"): https://travel.state.gov/passport/get/get_840.html

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      • Erik Anderson

        Feb 1, 2018

        "Called local Passport Office (Federal Way, WA City Hall) and was given general instructions but advised to followup ..." more
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