When international travel is approaching, every traveler dreads pulling out their passports and finding them expired. Fortunately, the US Department of State has several procedures in place for rushing applications dependent on the date of travel. To obtain passport renewal expedited service, travelers should select renewal by mail or in-person, complete their application form and submit all materials, including the old passport and rush payment, to the closest agency.

DS-82 Form

Mail renewal is the right option for most situations. Travelers may check the State Department's website, to find the estimated fulfillment times for rushed passports. Also, travelers may check the progress of their application packet on the State Department website. In addition, travelers will find the current rush delivery fee, and Form DS-82, "Passport by Mail, " online.

By Mail

Sometimes, mail renewal will not be possible. If passports are damaged or more than fifteen years old, applicants will be required to renew in person. If passports do not contain the applicant's current name and the applicant is unable to document the name change, the applicant will have to apply in person. Also, if the applicant was not yet sixteen years of age when the original was issued, the applicant will have to renew in-person, instead of through the mail.

Fees

Applicants renewing by mail should complete Form DS-82. Then, after looking up the current rush fee, applicants must contact their closest agency to obtain the address and to find out what methods of payment are accepted. Form DS-82, the old passport and the rush fee should be placed, unfolded,into a manila envelope. On the exterior of the envelope, applicants must write the word "expedited." In addition, the State Department recommends paying for two-way overnight courier service.

Faster Service

If the applicant's travel date is fewer than two weeks away, applicants must renew in person. To set up an appointment with a close-by agency, applicants should call the agency's automated telephone system. When the process is complete, travelers will have a confirmation number, an appointment time and an address. Applicants will be required to possess all application materials plus the rush fee and an itinerary or e-ticket confirming their departure date.

Five Days Or Less

Current law has a specific definition for expediting. Expedited passports are processed within five days of either receipt at an agency or the date that the processing request is approved. Currently, applications take approximately five to seven days to track online.

Private Agencies

Applicants will save a great deal of time by consulting a private expediter. Although expediters do charge a service fee in addition to the rush charge,applicants will not have to go through the hassle of dealing with paperwork or going to an agency. Applicants should take some precautions before paying an expediter including verifying the telephone number, asking for a complete accounting of fees and consulting online reviews.

Finding out that the passport online is expired shortly before scheduled travel may send citizens into a panic. However, the government allows expedited renewal via mail or, for those within two weeks of their travel date, via agency. For those who have no time to deal with passport procedures, a United States passport renewal expedited service will be able to help.