In order to do a renewing USA Passports by mail, you must comply with a few simple requirements and your existing passport must be unmarred. Basically, the previous passport must have been issued when you were at least age fifteen. The existing passport must not more than fifteen years old. You must not have had a name change in the period since your passport was issued.

Another alternative is to apply for a passport card. This card can be issued by mail if you have not received a passport card through the mail previously. You must quality for the mail-in passport requirements. Overdue child support will keep you from receiving a passport. When mailing in your documentation for a passport or card, be sure to use a secure envelope. Make the necessary purchases to be able to trace the documents through the mail.

If your passport has been damaged, lost or stolen, you must apply for a new passport in person. The application and signature are prepared in the same way as with the original passport application. Don’t sign until the passport agency representative approves it. You must show your valid social security card for approval of the application.

The next step in the application process is to prove your citizenship. You can do this through many different means. One of the easiest is with a previous passport; if this is not available, a certified birth certificate will do. A naturalization certificate or a certificate of citizenship is also a way of proving your citizenship status.

Identification documents are needed as well. The passport agency can accept military ID or government ID cards. A driver’s license that is current will suffice, as will an existing passport. Sometimes, you will need to find secondary ID methods, such as getting a person to vouch for you. The other person must be able to prove identity in this instance.

All forms of identification must be photocopied on white 8.5-inch by 11-inch paper. The ID can be expanded to fit the paper size, but the ID cannot be reduced to a smaller size. Each form must be presented on a separate piece of paper. You cannot use both sides of the paper.

You must submit the correct fees along with the application. The fees may be split into two different payments, one to the agent and one to purchase the passport renewal. Some agents will only accept money orders for the exact amount. If you purchase additional services, such as expedited delivery or overnight service, you must include the appropriate fees for the additional services. You can pay by credit card, money order or checks in most cases. Personal checks may need to clear before the passport is issued.

A renewing USA Passports application must include two new passport photos. These are to measure two inches by two inches and be a full-face view against a white or off-white background. You should not do anything in the photo that would differ substantially from your normal appearance. If you wear a wig, glasses, hearing aid or other devices normally, wear them for the pasports picture. Tinted glasses require a doctor’s statement that they are medically necessary.