First of all, you must be in possession of your most recently issued passport and it cannot be damaged. Travelers who have lost their passports or whose passports have been damaged cannot apply by mail. Also, the passport had to be issued no more than 15 years ago and you had to be age 16 or older when you received it.
Anyone who meets the criteria listed above can submit the passport renewal application form DS-82 along with their most recent passport, two passport photos and payment of fees to the address on the application by mail.
Unless you request expedited service, your application will take 4 to 6 weeks to process. Expediting a passport renewal by mail can get your travel document delivered to you in 2 to 3 weeks. Need to get it faster?
New York residents can obtain emergency passport renewals as quickly as the same day if they can submit proof of urgent travel plans. This can be accomplished in one of two ways. Either you set up an appointment and visit the New York Passport Agency or submit the application through a reliable expediting service provider.
Both routes have a cost. The DIY route will cost you quite a bit of time - calling to set up an appointment (usually it takes numerous attempts), traveling to the regional agency, parking (if you drive), waiting in line, food (it may take a while) and did I mention waiting. The agency is not open on weekends or late in the evening which might mean you have to miss a day of work so factor that in, too.
Expediters' fees run from about $65 for getting your passport in 10 business days to $299 for same day service. There are other options available. Only you can decide if it is worth it or not. Calculate your expenses for doing it yourself. Don't forget to determine a value for your time. It is worth something, right? Then compare with what an expediting service charges. This will give you a more accurate idea of which is the better deal.
If you opt for a professional expediting service, I recommend It's Easy Passport. They are located in New York and are the only service I know of that has had zero complaints registered with the Better Business Bureau.
For more information about emergency passport renewals, visit It's Easy Passport.
