As travel resumes and safety guidelines are continually updated, one aspect will remain constant: all international travelers must have a passport. No passenger can board a flight without one, and a passport must be current and not about to expire for many months or up to a year, depending on the country the traveler is visiting. The process for passport renewal Los Angeles varies depending on whether the passport being renewed is active or has expired.
Renewing an Active Passport
If your passport is active, the process is fairly simple and straightforward. You can choose to renew your passport by mail, or you can get your passport renewal in Los Angeles at one of multiple acceptance facilities.
By mail, the process is straightforward and recommended as not all acceptance facilities are open:
- Fill out form DS-82, which is available on the U.S. Department of State website.
2. Send in your expired or soon-to-be expired passport. Make sure you have no international travel planned in the coming months as you will be without a passport. The State Department will return your expired passport to you in a separate envelope from your new passport.
3. If you have changed your name since your last passport, include name change documentation. Acceptable documents include a marriage license, divorce decree, or a court-ordered name change document. This document will be returned to you in a separate envelope.
4. Provide a photo, which must be stapled to the application and meet all passport photo requirements.
5. Calculate Fees.
6. Send in complete application.
7. Track your application status.
If you wish to renew your passport at an acceptance facility, use this page to figure out which site is the most convenient location. Many of these locations are by appointment only, and because of social distancing measures getting an appointment time may take a while so scheduling an appointment as soon as possible is recommended. As of July 2020 expedited passport service is still not an option.
Renewing an Expired Passport
Provided that your expired passport does not meet the following criteria, you can still procure your passport renewal in Los Angeles at any available location listed above, or by mail. However, if the expired passport meets the following criteria, a renewal can only be obtained in person.
- If the passport is more than 15 years old.
2. If the passport holder was younger than 16 when the passport was issued.
3. If the passport is severely damaged.
4. If the passport holder’s name has changed and does not have official name change documentation.
If any of the preceding apply, then the passport holder must go through the process as if it was a first time application.
