Bid farewell to appointments and say hello to renewing your passport at the comfort of your home!

Imagine you are on your way to the airport. You have your passport as the key to unlocking your travel goals until a custodian declares it invalid. 

Huh? What is going on? 

This is where renewing your passport comes into play.

Before announcing a new passport renewal system, Americans only have personal appointments to rely on when renewing their soon-to-expire travel cards. However, this process can pose delays and inconveniences and travelers may have to deal with unexpected mishaps concerning various documents. 

In response to this, the U.S. State Department introduced a feature that allows American passport holders to undergo renewal procedures without the need to appoint. To those who have been accustomed to leaving their homes and traveling to another area or state to have their passports renewed, this online feature will be a breath of fresh air!

This system requires specific criteria to be met before you are declared eligible. According to the U.S. State Department, you must live within the United States. Thus, those residing outside the country cannot access the online renewal portal. Other requirements are that passports should not expire at the time of renewal and you must at least be 25 years of age.

A Step in the Right Direction

American passport holders can now expect to minimize the amount of time devoted to renewing already existing passports. Frustrations brought upon by the mishandling of documents, delays in processing and mailings, and long queues are now being solved by establishing an online renewal system.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken declared that the new online system called MyTravelGov account would no longer require any physical documents to be mailed. In short, it skips processes that are done through prolonged periods such as shipping and tracking of deliveries. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, mailing documents proved to be time-consuming because it would usually range from 9 to 12 weeks whereas the online renewal system is said to range from 4 to 10 weeks at most. 

Like personal appointments, completing the online renewal procedure requires a fee to be paid, which is calculated to be around USD 130. An optional fee of USD 60 is also available for applicants who want the renewal process to be done at the soonest possible time.

The feature also intends to capitalize on reducing the money and effort spent on renewing passports. With these in mind, travelers have assured the opportunity to undergo lesser stages and nuisances when renewing their passports. This is especially true for American travelers who intend to visit another state or country without having to experience delays.

Personal Details Should Not be a Threat

As customary in every system and feature that is done online, personal details are of utmost importance, especially to travelers who are required to submit their identities when applying for passports and other identification cards.

Since the online renewal system is mainly done over the internet where hoaxes, scams, and identity thefts are prominent, applicants are more likely to be wary of the system and would instead prefer to set up personal appointments.

According to Lynn Minnaert, Professor, and Head of Subject, Tourism, and Languages at Edinburgh Napier University, this online renewal feature should not pose any trace of anxiety. This is because it is unlike any other platforms and is organized by a governmental agency where privacy and security serve critical purposes. 

As long as you are aware of the basic “netiquettes” and online safety protocols that include but are not limited to: (1) ensuring the website you are accessing is related to the U.S. State Department, and (2) avoiding registering when connected to a Wi-Fi that is hosted by the public, then your details should not be at risk.

As technology and globalization continue to advance in the contemporary world, methods that adhere to the easing of travel limitations and improvements towards traveling between local and international destinations will remain a priority because traveling is focused on the entertainment aspect and the security of the traveler. 

The U.S. State Department aims to release a completely functional version of the online passport renewal system early next year to cater to Americans who prefer to have their travel cards renewed online and who intend to travel as soon as possible.

If you need it fast, Expedited service is still available offline
 
If you wish to renew your passport in 1-8 business days, you must apply in person using Urgent Travel Service at the nearest Passport Agency by making an appointment first. In this case, your passport can be ready within one day.

Alternatively, you can renew your passport by mail within 5-8 business days through an authorized agency for an extra fee starting from $450 and up.