One of the scariest things that could happen to a traveler with an upcoming international trip is to find out that the passport is about to expire and needs to be renewed. In some cases, even if the person has a valid, unexpired passport that could last for months, the vacationer might still need a renewal. Airlines refuse to board passengers if their travel documents do not satisfy the destination country’s passport validity requirement. For example, most European countries require at least three months of passport validity. And quite a few countries in Asia and Africa need visitor passports to be valid six months after planned return.
Challenges of Traditional Passport Renewal Method
So, if the travel document needs attention, people in the USA often enter panic mode. They rush to book a passport renewal appointment, only to discover that no slots are available. In some areas in the USA, such as parts of Southern California, passport appointments can be “sold out” for weeks, even months.
Suppose the trip is approaching, and the passport needs to be renewed. In that case, Americans are often forced to spend more money for expedited/fast service. Or work with passport expeditors and couriers, which could cost hundreds of dollars. The services get more expensive because of the need for rushed orders and because expeditors charge several hundred dollars in extra fees.
How to Renew Passports Online: The New Process
Luckily, this is no longer the case for the majority of Americans. People in need of routine passport renewal no longer have to wait in lines for urgent renewals. They don’t need to travel hundreds of miles to find an available passport slot, nor spend hundreds of dollars with expeditors. Most importantly, folks no longer need to plan a passport appointment weeks or months in advance.
All they have to do is go through the newly announced online passport renewal process from the comfort of their home or office. The Department of State has made the online passport renewal system fully available to the public.
Benefits of the Online Passport Renewal System
The program has undergone multiple trials over the years and is finally widely available to most Americans. The online alternative aims to help Americans bypass the mail-in paper application process, which is known for causing delays. It also helps the government provide a more efficient and convenient passport experience.
The passport authorities have confirmed that renewals now take much less than the advertised six to eight weeks. The online renewal does not change in price, with routine renewal costing the usual $130.
Limitations of Renewing Passports Online
The new service has limitations. It can only process applications from applicants over 25 who want a routine service and are not making any significant changes to their renewal applications, such as gender or name amendments.
The new application process is also not available to people applying from abroad or first-time passport applicants. Millions of Americans are expected to save time and money using the online renewal service.
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