If your US passport has expired, then it will be wise of you to renew it as soon as possible. The unpredictability of life suggests that these things should not be left for the last moment, as you never know when you would need to travel again internationally.

In case your previous U.S. passport was issued within the past 15 years and you were above 16 years of age at the time you obtained it, or your current passport is not damaged and you still bear the same name, you are eligible to apply for it by mail. However, if you fail to meet this criterion, you will have to apply for it in person.

If the passport has to be renewed via mail, then a completed, dated and signed DS-82 application form must be filled out and sent along with the present or expired passport, two passport-size photos and the payment. The total fee for renewal comes up to $67. In case the name of the applicant has changed, he must also attach the original (not a mimeographed copy) and a legal document certifying the same. For applicants residing outside the USA, passports can be renewed at the closest U.S. Consulate or U.S. Embassy.

Keeping in mind the value of time of the customers, a reliable service is offered by bodies known as passport expeditors who help to speed up the process of renewal of a passport. This can be done in only 24 hours and can cost around $150 (depending on the passport expeditor), thereby avoiding cancellation of your travel plans.

Ross Bainbridge
http://www.e-passportrenewal.com/