As any traveler will discover, your passport is a valuable document. You will come to know it well the more frequently you travel. Unfortunately, many people do not travel enough (or just do not keep on top of their paperwork) to know when they need to renew a passport. Many people are sitting on expired passports, thinking they can still travel whenever they want. This is going to be a rough situation if some emergency comes up. Six months before you passport expires should be your warning time to renew it.

Some don't think they need a to renew a passport so far in advance. It is good planning and common sense to do so though, because it is an official document which requires much processing and changing of hands before it is given to you. There could be numerous delays and problems, so if you are planning on traveling, save yourself a big headache and never run the risk of being caught without a valid passport. You can also on occasion find deals when the passport might not cost you as much.

So where to begin? Many people do not know the first step to take. For many, passports can be renewed through the mail. It is easy and fairly convenient. The only problem is that this option can't be utilized by everyone. If the below statements are true, you CAN renew through the mail.

Your passport is undamaged and available to submit. Your passport was issued when you were above sixteen years in age. Your passport was issued in the last fifteen years. You still have the same name as on your passport or, if you do not, you can prove your name change by mailing the proper documents. If this is all true, you can then get form DS-92 from the website: travel.state.gov.

If you have a problem with one of those statements or your passport was stolen or this will be your first ever passport, applying in person is your only option. Find the DS-11 form on the same site. Make sure you have all of your proper documentation ready to go. Do not even go if you are missing one of the documents as it will waste everyone's time.

Go to the Passport Agency with your form and documents. These documents can be any number of many things. Marriage licenses and birth certificates, for example, are a few among many.

To help you locate these areas, go to the site and look for the search engine or locator. You just have to type in your zip code. This will help you find people or areas near you. Some people may be certified to do it, such as notaries and town clerks.

Note, too, the special renew your American passport pages on the web site. Things become a bit more complicated if you are under eighteen years old. There are requirements for sixteen year olds and different ones for seventeen year olds to USA passport requirements. If you have any diplomatic or official status, you will also get a specialized passport.