Renewing Passports

[JanaDee]

Around here county clerk-recorders run the whole gamut of recording duties, including grant deeds and vital records (birth/death/marriage). I've been to a few court clerks, but they never came across as anyone who really wanted to be handling passport duties. The same might be said for postal clerks, but they're the primary people who do this stuff.

Clerk of Courts also handle passports here. In fact, the time we were in the office, that was the only thing they were doing. Two groups ahead of us and 5 behind were all passports renewals or applications. Most post offices don't do it around here, as they don't have the staff to handle it and you need an appointment. At the Clerk of Courts, you can go when it is convenient for you.

 

[bcla]

Clerk of Courts also handle passports here. In fact, the time we were in the office, that was the only thing they were doing. Two groups ahead of us and 5 behind were all passports renewals or applications. Most post offices don't do it around here, as they don't have the staff to handle it and you need an appointment. At the Clerk of Courts, you can go when it is convenient for you.

We have that university rec gym. No appointments accepted and they're open on Saturdays. One county clerk requires an appointment and another has limited hours (9 AM-noon). I think it's a matter of what the agency feels like doing.

I hate all that anyways. I've done it by mail for every renewal. Always renewed early (you can renew a passport any time). The only reason for my being in a passport acceptance place for passports was for my kid, and we're probably going to do it a couple of times before reaching 16.

 

[NFLDERS]

It can be expired. There's no difference between renewing a still-valid passport and one that has expired but is less than 15 years since issue. Once it's past 15 years it starts over again with a trip to an "acceptance facility". Even so, the expired passport is proof of nationality and identification.

And going way off-topic, anyone know a non-citizen US national? It's a pretty limited category these days. They'll get a passport with a special notation.

 

[NFLDERS]

We were not eligible for online (shorter renewal process) once we had an expired passport.

 

[bcla]

We were not eligible for online (shorter renewal process) once we had an expired passport.

There's no online application per se in the US. One fills out the application online to forward the information to the State Dept. However it's not technically a request until it's sent in by mail or in person. Also - a "renewal" requires a physical passport (and/or passport card) be sent. If that passport is being renewed, it will be returned canceled.

The only exception I recall was a pilot program for passport cards as "renewals" that was solely done online. That required a passport book that wasn't actually being renewed. The photo had to be uploaded as a digital file and I recall the State Dept had a digital tool to crop photos.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/01/182345.htm

On January 24, the Department of State’s Office of Passport Services will launch a 90-day pilot program allowing adult U.S. citizens living in the United States and Canada to apply for a passport card online. By applying online, customers will not be required to mail in their current passport book and necessary forms, saving them time and money.

To participate in this program, applicants must currently possess a valid 10-year U.S. passport book, upload an acceptable digital photograph and make an online payment in U.S. dollars via Pay.gov. Applications accepted through the program will be subject to the same strict adjudication standards as in-person or mail-in applications.

 

[ols386]

It is just easier and faster to renew a non-expired passport.

This is what I plan to do. Mine expires in September this year. I'll renew it this summer.

 

[JanaDee]

We were not eligible for online (shorter renewal process) once we had an expired passport.

There is no online option in the US. No one is eligible for it, regardless of passport status.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

Just renewed my US passport as mine was set to expire in April. Mailed in my old passport , the app and the renewal fee, of course the check was cashed immediately and then it took about 4 weeks before I got the new passport...ready to start planning a trip now