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Passport Renewal Tips

Janine Zabel

Check passport requirements before booking international travel.

When was the last time you checked the expiration date on your passport? Do you even know where it is? Before you plan that dream vacation, you better find it and check the date carefully prior to booking any international travel. Did you know that in most European countries, your passport must be valid for three months beyond your departure date? In some countries, you need six months remaining, regardless of how long your stay is. Don’t wait until the last minute, or you might not even be able to board the plane. Passport renewals are at an all time high, since Americans are finally traveling overseas again. The U. S. State Department is currently processing 500,000 passports a week. The wait times are ten to 13 weeks for routine service and seven to nine weeks for expedited service, which costs an extra $60. There was a pilot program to allow for some people to process passports online, but that program has been temporarily halted.

Don’t panic if your passport is expired. You’ve got options.

What happens if you’ve already booked international travel and you realize your passport is expired, or doesn’t meet the guidelines of the country you are planning to visit? I found myself in this predicament not long ago. Fortunately, there is an option to renew your passport in person at a passport agency, if you have international travel booked within 14 days or less. However, you must have an appointment to go in person, and the only way to make that appointment is by phone. There is only ONE phone number for the entire country to call in order to make that appointment. 1-877-487-2778 Don’t bother trying on a Monday, it’s practically impossible to get through. Be patient and try again on Tuesday. Don’t expect an answer on the first ring. Keep trying. It took me several tries to get through to speak with someone. If you are one of the lucky ones, like me and do get an appointment, you can renew and receive your passport the same day.

Contact state lawmakers if you need passport renewal assistance.

If you have trouble getting through on the national hotline, senators in some states are offering assistance through their offices, especially if they happen to have a passport agency located in their state. Before I was able to get through on the national hotline, I did inquire about assistance at the state level in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, and found both offices to be very helpful. (A live person answered on the first ring!)

Come prepared with all essential forms filled out prior to your appointment.

Eventually, I was able to make my appointment at the Chicago Passport Agency. It’s imperative that you bring a printed copy of your international itinerary, or you will be turned away. Typically, if you have your forms filled out, you drop them off at your scheduled appointment time, pay in advance and get assigned an approximate return time between 2:00 and 3:00 pm for pick up. The doors to the office close promptly at 3:00pm, so don’t be late and be prepared to wait. For me, the entire process took a full day, although my appointment was for 8:00 am, and my scheduled pick up time was 3:00pm, I didn’t receive my passport until 4:30pm. Fortunately, I still had a few days to spare before my trip and had no problem making it home in time to pack and catch my plane. Some other people in line with me, weren’t so lucky. A few folks even missed their flights and had to reschedule trips. Be sure pack your patience and plan accordingly.

Beware of promises from private passport services.

Many private passport services promise faster service and claim to have a close relationship with U.S. Passport Office. However, there are no guarantees when you are on a deadline and waiting for a passport to arrive in the mail. Several people waiting with me at the passport agency had used those services and didn’t receive theirs in time. Reapplying in person was the only way to go if they wanted to board their flights. Some private passport agencies are legitimate, but none are officially endorsed by the government.

Passport Renewal Links

The Rest of the Story

As I write this tip sheet now, I can laugh about it. When I initially realized the new passport guidelines might prevent me from making my trip, it was no laughing matter. I was panicked and did my best to handle the situation as quickly and quietly as possible. In fact, I even snuck out of the house before dawn to head to Chicago without mentioning my “appointment” to my husband. Fortunately, I was able to convince one of my kids to join me on my secret mission, just in case I encountered any trouble. Thank goodness for that, it turned out to be opening day for the Cubs and they were playing the Brewers, so traffic was a nightmare, and I really needed a copilot to help navigate my way out of the city. We managed to have quite the adventure that day in Chicago, and of course I made a few new friends in line at the passport agency. The next time I need to apply for a passport, I’ll be a senior citizen.😲 I hope the next ten years don’t sneak up on me as quickly. If they do, I’m always up for an adventure in the “Windy City.”

Things to do nearby the Chicago Passport Agency:

*If you do a museum tour, be sure to allow enough time to be back before 3:00pm, when the doors to the passport office close to the public. All three are a short cab ride away.