Passport expiration is always a headache for travelers and businessmen since the passport renewal process seems to be daunting and time-wasting. Can I renew my passport at the post office in the United States directly? In this article, we will explore the possibility and steps involved in renewing a passport at the post office. Continue reading to see how to get your passport renewed at the post office, whether you’re a frequent traveler or a busy person looking for convenience.
Is It Possible to Renew My Passport at the Post Office
The answer to this question is YES in the United States. Renewing a passport at the post office makes the thing easier. You are free to spend time and energy going to the passport acceptance center and waiting for the passport application. However, you have to notice that the post office allows you to make an application for renewing your passport, but it is not where to process and issue passports.
Post Office Passport Renewal Appointment
The post office will train specific staff to assist with passport renewal and application issues. He/she won’t provide the service all day. Meanwhile, the passport services are always busy. Therefore, you’d better call ahead to make an appointment in order to save your precious time. You can go to the Passport Seva official website to obtain the appointment form. Then, you can search for the nearest post office on Google close to you and call its number to confirm the time and other details.
How to Renew a Passport at the Post Office
We know that we can renew our passports at the post office. So how to fulfill that step by step? What are the criteria for renewing a passport by mail? Check the detailed regulations and steps for post office passport renewal in the following instructions.
Step 1. Check Whether You Can Renew Passport by Mail
In the first place, confirm whether you are allowed to renew your passport at the post office. Not everyone can renew their passport by mail. For example, minors can’t renew their passports by mail. In addition, you have to meet these requirements to have the certificate to renew passports by mail.
- You possess the passport and it is your own application
- The original passport isn’t damaged except for normal wear and tear
- It is issued when you are older or at 16-year-old
- It is issued within 15 years
- It is issued in your name or you can document your name change
If you meet all these criteria, then you can renew your passport by mail at the post office.
Step 2. Prepare Passport Renewal Documents
Package your passport renewal materials, including the following documents:
- The passport renewal application form DS-82. (You can obtain it from the official U.S. State Department website.)
- The original passport
- The passport renewal photo
- The correct renewal fee
Step 3. Mail Your Passport Renewal Application
After gathering and packaging the passport renewal materials, you can mail those documents to apply for a passport renewal. Generally, your local post office will help you to mail and track the delivery. Make sure your mail has been successfully delivered.
Step 4. Track the Passport Renewal Process
You can track your passport renewal process from the US State Department’s official website. It might take two weeks to check your application and change the status to In Progress. Normally, the whole passport renewal process will take about 7-10 weeks. And if you apply for the expedited service, the process will be within 4-6 weeks. After the process, your renewed passport will be sent to you directly.
These are the steps to renew your passport by mail. In the beginning, you have to prepare the required documents. To renew your passport photo, you can process it at home at a low cost with the help of the AI passport photo maker below. Check how to successfully renew your passport photo in the next section.
Additional Tips to Renew Your US Passport by Mail
- Can I expedite my passport renewal at the post office?
Yes. If you want to speed up your passport renewal process, you can pay for the expedited delivery. It will mail your documents with Priority Mail Express to reduce the delivery time.
- Can I renew a child’s passport at the post office?
Yes. You can renew the passport of your kid at the post office. Just prepare related documents for the child’s passport renewal, including proof of the date of birth, address, name certification, and other complementary documents. Moreover, both the parents or legal guardians need to be present.
- Is it possible to renew a damaged passport at the post office?
Yes. You can re-issue the damaged passport by mail by providing related appointment documents, like proof of your address, ID, date of birth, and an affidavit stating how and where the passport got lost/damaged.
- How to Renew US Passport Photo
With advanced AI tech, you can create your passport photo at home effortlessly. Just take a passport photo of your own then make it compliant with an online passport photo maker. To take an appropriate passport photo, check the US passport photo criteria first.
| Size | 2×2 inches |
| Format | JPG or JPEG |
| Background | A plain white or off-white background |
| Facial Expression | Normal expression with eyes open |
| Head position | In the middle of the picture |
| Wear | General clothes without head covering and eyeglasses |
| Image quality | High resolution without blur and exposure |
The Bottom Line
This guide explores how to renew your passport at the post office. Thanks to the convenient service provided by the post office, you are able to renew your expired passport without spending a lot of time and energy. Just follow the easy steps mentioned before and prepare related documents, then you can apply for a new passport in the US by mail.
Dolores Xiao