Can I apply for a renewal at a regional agency if I am reluctant to mail in my current passport?

by Mary
(Waretown, NJ, USA)

Question: My passport expires in December. I am reluctant to use the mail for renewal. I can come to Philadelphia easily. So, do I need to make an appointment or just show up? Cost? Will I get the passport then?

Will the cost be greater if one comes to the agency in person rather than using the mail. A friend used the mail and his passport was lost.

Answer: You cannot apply at a regional agency unless you can prove the need to travel within two weeks. Regional passport agencies only expedite application forms.

There is an extra fee of $60 to expedite a passport application at a regional agency.

While passports can get lost in either the processing center or the mail, it does not happen often. A couple of things you can do to minimize this risk is use a secure means of packaging such as a Tyvek envelope and send the packet by a traceable means of delivery. Again, this will minimize the risk but not eliminate it.

Another option is to apply for a new passport instead of a renewal. This will require you to submit the application and supporting documents at a local passport application office. However, you will not be required to send in your most recent passport.

For more information, click the links below.

How to Apply for a New Passport

How to Apply for a Passport Renewal

New Jersey Passport Offices

Can I renew my passport at the Boston passport agency rather than renewing it by mail?

by James N. Russo
(Boston Ma. USA)

I have a current vaild Official Passport-Can I renew my personal Passport in Boston in person as opposed to mail?

_____________________

James,

You can apply for a passport renewal at the Boston regional agency if one of the following applies.

1) You are scheduled to travel in 14 days or less.

2) You are scheduled to travel in 28 days or less and need to both renew your passport and obtain an entry visa.

Regional agencies only attend American citizens who must travel under these conditions.

If you need to get your passport renewed in 2-3 weeks, you can apply for mail and request expedited service.

For directions and a map to the Boston agency, click the link below.

Boston Passport Agency

For information concerning the requirements to renew a passport, click the link below.

U.S. Passport Renewals

Best regards,

William

Fees for Regional Passport Agency

by Linda
(Amissville, VA)

Question: If I elect to go to a post office rather than by mail to have my passport renewed, is there an additional fee for using the post office service and is it any faster? Thank you.

Answer: The fees are the same whether you request expedited service by mail or in person at a regional passport agency. However, it is passport application acceptance facilities that are located at post offices and not regional agencies.

It takes 2-3 weeks to expedite your passport through an acceptance facility. You can get a passport the same day at a regional agency.

Presently, the application fee is $75 and the expedited service fee is $60. The application fee will be increasing soon.

The Washington DC Passport Agency serves the following region:

Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia (counties of Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudon, Stafford, and Prince William

The address is as follows:

1111 19th Street, N.W.
First Floor, Sidewalk Level
Washington, DC 20036

The agency only attend applicants to need to travel within 14 days or less. To submit your application at the agency, you must first schedule an appointment by calling 1-877-487-2778.

If you are unable to visit the regional agency but need your passport quickly, you can submit through an emergency passport expediter.

Should I go directly to a regional agency rather than expedite by mail?

by Kristine
(Troy, MI USA)

Question: This is a business trip which is tentatively scheduled for September 14th in Frankfurt, Germany. I will not have confirmation probably until the end of this week (8/27) or potentially the following week of the exact date. What I read (above) says that an expedited by mail takes two-three weeks which seems like it leaves me too close to the three week window.

Answer: While a expedited passport renewal by mail might be processed in two weeks, there is no guarantee. If you use this method, you need to understand the risk you are taking.

You can only make an appointment at the regional passport agency if your departure date is within 14 days or within 28 days if also need to get a travel visa. In order to be attended at the regional agency, you must provide evidence of your urgent travel plans.

Once your flight date has been confirmed, you can schedule an appointment at the Detroit Passport Agency by calling 1-877-487-2778.

Detroit Passport Agency

If you prefer not to spend the time scheduling the appointment (It often takes numerous attempts to get through.), traveling to the agency and waiting in line, then you can have an experienced expediting service do this for you.

While same day service can run $299, you can get their 8-10 day service for only $99. If you are interested, click the link below.

Expedite Passport Renewal