If you mailed a DS-82 renewal and left something out, do not send the missing item in a second envelope or submit another application. Wait for instructions from the State Department.
The processing center may return the entire package. It may also keep the application and ask for a photo, document, payment, or corrected form by letter or email. Follow that notice before sending anything else.
What to Do Now
| Your situation | What to expect | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The envelope has not been mailed | You can still correct the package without affecting processing. | Reopen it and review the DS-82 instructions before mailing. |
| The package was mailed but is not delivered | The processing facility cannot match a separately mailed item to an application that has not been reviewed. | Track the original package. Do not mail the missing item separately. |
| The package was delivered recently | Your status may remain “Not Available” while the intake facility reviews it. | Watch your mail, email, and application status for instructions. |
| You received a letter or email | Processing pauses until the requested information is received. | Follow the instructions exactly and respond by the deadline shown. |
| The full package was returned | You must correct the problem and resubmit as directed. | Keep the return letter with the new application and use the address provided. |
| International travel is within 14 days | The ordinary correction process may not finish before departure. | Call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 because you have already applied. |
The Package May Be Returned or Held for More Information
The State Department handles incomplete mailed renewals in two ways:
- The intake facility may return the renewal package when the passport, signature, or payment is missing.
- It may send a letter or email requesting the missing information while keeping the application in process.
A returned package should generally arrive one to two weeks after delivery to the processing facility. When the State Department keeps the application and sends a notice, the online status may show Additional Information Needed.
A status of “Not Available” does not necessarily mean the package is lost.
A mailed renewal may remain at the intake facility before it reaches a passport agency or center. The status changes to “In Process” after the application is entered into the processing system.
Follow the Passport Notice Exactly
Read the entire notice before responding. It should identify the application number, what is missing, where to send the response, and the deadline.
Use the address on the notice
Send the response to the full address printed in the letter. Do not send it to the public street address of a passport agency.
Include the letter
Include the notice when the State Department asks for a new Form DS-82 or other material. It helps the processing center match your response to the application.
Send only what was requested
Use the response method listed in the notice, which may be mail or email. Do not add documents the State Department did not request.
Respond within 90 days
The State Department generally allows 90 days from the date of the notice. The application remains on hold until the response arrives.
Check the online status after responding. Once the missing information is accepted, it may change to Information Received, In Process Again.
Items Commonly Missing From a DS-82 Renewal
| Problem | What may happen | How to correct it |
|---|---|---|
| Missing signature or date | The package may be returned or you may be asked for a new signed form. | Complete and sign the form exactly as instructed. Do not alter the original after submission unless told to do so. |
| Missing or unacceptable photo | Processing stops until a compliant photo is received. | Send a new passport photo using the attachment and mailing instructions in the notice. |
| Wrong or missing fee | The package may be returned or payment may be requested. | Follow the payment instructions in the letter. Do not mail a replacement check without a notice linking it to the application. |
| Most recent passport not included | The application may be returned or a letter may request the passport. | Send the passport only to the address and with the documents specified in the notice. |
| Name-change document missing | The State Department may request the original or certified document. | Provide the marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order requested for the passport name change. |
| Form pages missing or incomplete | You may be required to submit a new Form DS-82. | Print the complete form, review every field, and include the original notice. |
| You do not qualify for DS-82 | The renewal cannot continue by mail. | Apply in person with Form DS-11 when the passport was issued more than 15 years ago, issued before age 16, lost, stolen, or significantly damaged. |
Proof of citizenship and a photocopy of identification are not standard DS-82 renewal requirements.
Those documents are generally required for an in-person Form DS-11 application, not a standard mail-in renewal. Include them only when the State Department requests them or when you must apply with Form DS-11.
If International Travel Is Approaching
Because an application is already pending, call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778. Do not use the appointment system as a new applicant.
- Travel within 14 days: Call and provide your application number, or your last name and date of birth. The State Department may notify the agency processing the application or arrange an appointment when necessary and available.
- Travel is more than 14 days away: You may call to request an upgrade to expedited service or add faster return delivery for a passport book.
- A letter is still outstanding: Respond to the notice immediately. An expedited upgrade does not remove the missing-information hold.
Do not submit a duplicate renewal because the first application is delayed. A second application can complicate the existing case.
If the State Department Returns the Renewal
Follow the return instructions for the next submission. You may need a corrected DS-82, the missing passport or photo, updated payment, or an in-person DS-11 application.
Routine processing is 4 to 6 weeks. Expedited processing is 2 to 3 weeks, plus mailing time.
If the State Department instructs you to resubmit or apply again and your international travel is within 14 days, do not send another routine application. Attend a regional passport agency appointment, or use a registered passport courier service to review the new package and handle permitted agency-submission logistics.
A courier cannot change an application already in the State Department’s system or clear a missing-information hold. A courier may help after the package is returned, when a new submission is required, or when urgent agency logistics are difficult to manage.
Check the Resubmission Before Mailing It
Before sealing the envelope, confirm that it contains:
- The complete and signed Form DS-82.
- Your most recent passport book or card being renewed.
- One compliant passport photo.
- The correct check or money order.
- An original or certified name-change document, when required.
- The State Department letter, if you were told to include it.
- The correct mailing address for routine or expedited service.
No postal employee or acceptance agent reviews a mail-in renewal before it is sent. Use our DS-82 renewal mistakes guide to check the package yourself.
Your New Passport and Old Documents May Arrive Separately
Your new passport and supporting documents may arrive in separate mailings. The State Department says an old passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or other supporting document may arrive up to four weeks after the new passport book or card.
The old document is not necessarily lost when the new passport arrives first. Check the application status for a Supporting Documents Mailed update.
Incomplete Passport Renewal FAQs
No. Wait for a letter, email, or returned package that tells you what to send and where to send it. A loose document may not be matched to the application.
No. The intake facility may return the package. It may also keep the application and send a letter or email requesting the missing item.
The State Department generally requires a response within 90 days of the date on the letter or email. Use the exact deadline shown in your notice.
Do not submit a duplicate application unless the State Department instructs you to start over. Call the National Passport Information Center when you need help with an application already in process.
The package may be returned, or the State Department may request a new signed and dated form. Follow the notice. Do not send a signature page separately.
Your most recent passport is required for DS-82 renewal. Wait for the State Department’s instructions and send it only with the letter and to the address provided.
You may be able to upgrade to expedited service by calling 1-877-487-2778. An upgrade does not restart processing until the State Department receives any missing information it requested.
No. A courier cannot access or change an application already in the State Department’s system. It may help after the package is returned, when a new application is required, or when regional-agency submission logistics are needed.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Our role: We explain how the State Department handles incomplete mailed renewals and help travelers choose the correct response, urgent appointment, or resubmission path. The State Department controls correspondence, application review, appointments, approval, and issuance.
