Updating your us passport

You can also get information on circumstances under which you would not be able to renew by mail and what to do if you need expedited service.

Applying for a passport cannot be done online and it can't even be done by mail. When you apply for your passport for the first time, you need to do so in person at a passport acceptance facility, which is often your local post office or government building. Visit the State Department's website first so you can get all the instructions and clarifications that you need online. The site will tell you what forms need to be filled out, provide you with forms to print and give you a detailed list of the information you'll have to provide to get your passport.

Travel Tips. Cari Oleskewicz, Leaf Group. Check the current processing times before you submit your application. The Department of State has rules to prevent children from being issued U. It also has programs to protect children involved in custody disputes. They work to prevent a parent from taking a child abroad without the other parent's consent. Except for some 16 and year-olds, all children must apply for a U. Children under 16 need consent from both parents.

Renew their passport by mail if it was issued when they were 16 or older. Go alone to apply for a passport if they:. Provide a signed, notarized statement from one legal parent saying they approve of the teen getting a passport. If you're living overseas, contact a U. If you think your child has been abducted internationally, call the Department of State at Ask to speak to a prevention officer.

The Department of State has other resources to help parents and children in custody disputes. Passport application processing times vary depending on the time of year. If you have questions about passports, go to the State Department's website.

The passport application fee and the execution fee are non-refundable. They are collected and retained by law even if a passport is not issued. If you are outside the U. Embassy or consulate what forms of payment they are able to accept. Legal Matters. Renew my Passport. Change or Correct a Passport.

Replace a Limited Validity Passport. Get Copies of Passport Records. Report my Passport Lost or Stolen. Do you need to correct or update your U.

Pick the topic below to learn how. The process to change your name on your passport varies depending on your situation. Please see the chart below to find the process that applies to you. If you are not eligible to renew your passport by mail using Form DS, you should apply in-person. Please submit the following:. A passport issued with a data error e.

Please see our Selecting Your Gender Marker page for information. If your photo looks bad because of a printing error on our part, you can use Form DS to reapply at no cost to you. If your photo is printed correctly and you just dislike your photo, you may use Form DS if eligible to reapply.

How to Apply. Passport Help. Legal Matters. Apply in Person. Children Under Applicants Age 16 and Apply Outside the United States. Apply for a Passport Card. Application Status. Selecting your Gender Marker. Respond to a Letter or Email. Crossing the U.

Application Status Description Not Available This update means your application is still in transit to us. During this time, your application is delivered to a mail facility, your payment is processed, and your application is entered into our system. When your tracking number says "Arrived," your application has reached the mail facility.

When your payment is processed, your application has reached the intake facility. It may take up to 2 weeks from the day you apply until your application status is "In Process" at one of our passport agencies and center.

In Process Your application is being reviewed at one of our agencies or centers. The length of time your application remains In Process depends on the service you selected and our current processing times.