Special Cases for the US Passport Renewal Process

If you need to renew your passport because you’re planning to travel to another country in the near future, you may be feeling overwhelmed. After all, the last time you’ve gone through the passport application process is probably five or 10 years ago. The US passport renewal process may be even more difficult if your situation is considered a “special” case. Read this article to learn more about special cases for the renewing a US passport.

What Are the Special Cases for US Passport Renewal?

Most people have situations that are considered normal cases when it comes to the US passport renewal process. The special cases to consider are as follows:

• Name Change or Correction – Name changes are a very common special case. If your passport was issued to you within the past year, you can use form DS-5504 to change the name on your passport free of charge. Otherwise, you will need to fill out form DS-82 for passport renewal.
• Child Support Payers – You cannot receive a new passport or renew your old one if you owe a minimum of $2,500 in child support.
• Children 15 Years of Age and Younger – Even if a child 15 years of age or younger already has a passport, they will need to use form DS-11 to file for a new passport as if it was their first. Forms DS-3053 or DS-5525 are also applicable.
• No-fee Passports – You may qualify for a no-fee passport if you are a U.S. Government employee traveling to another country for job-related duties or an American Seaman who needs a passport for job-related duties on one of the U.S. vessels.
• Life or Death Situations – If it a life or death situation, you can get a passport even faster if normal expedition is not enough
• Adding Pages to Your Book – If you used all the pages in your passport, you cannot add new pages on your own. Instead, you will need to fill out form DS-82 to renew your passport even if your old passport isn’t expired.
• Lost or Stolen – If your passport is lost or stolen, you should report it immediately. Reporting your lost or stolen passport will help protect you from identity theft. You will then need to complete forms DS-64 and DS-11 for a new passport.
• Renewing Outside the Country – If you are renewing your passport outside of the United States or Canada, you will need to complete form DS-11 to apply for a new passport if your old passport has expired. You will need to go to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to renew your passport.

If your situation is considered a special case, it is important that you pay particularly close attention throughout the process of renewing your passport. For more information about the process of US passport renewal, don’t hesitate to contact GovFilingsOnline.org.

Kamlesh Bakshi