You may find that you need to obtain a passport to prove your citizenship or to travel outside of the country. They are not hard to renew, but be aware it can take several weeks to process. You will need to apply for a passport renewal if your name changes or you no longer have your passport through loss, theft or damage or if it is expiring.

You should get this done as soon as possible if you are planning on traveling since many countries require that it be issued more then 6 months before the date of entry. If you have one expire while you are out of the US, it can cause problems leaving a foreign country and traveling anywhere else. You may also have problems trying to reenter into the US as well.

You may mail your passport renewal if you meet a list of criteria. This is a very easy solution. If you were over the age of 16 when it was issued, it was issued in the last 15 years, is in the name you legally have and have it available to be mailed with the paperwork, then mail is an option got you.

You may have to do this in person if it is your first passport. You have to go if you are under 16 as well, or your passport was issued before you were that age. You will have to do id you do not have yours due to loss theft or damage or the one you have is more then 15 years old.

If you choose to mail this, enclose the forms with the passport. You should also use a waterproof envelope, since they will not accept it if it is damaged in any way, and it is a good idea to use a traceable method of mailing. It must be sent from the US and have a return address in the States or Canada.

If you go in person, you must go to an agency or facility and fill out the right forms. You need to make sure you bring all the documentation required with you; including your social security card and birth certificate as well as any other ID they want. You will need to wait to sign the forms until you are told to by an agent in your interview.

Fees must be paid at the time of application no matter what method you choose to do. If you mail it, you will need to include payment along with your passport and application. At the facility, you must pay for it before your interview. You can find the schedule of fees, forms, location of the facilities and the address to mail the application to can be obtained from the government website on the internet.

If you need emergency US passport renewal while abroad, contact the local US consulate for assistance. If you need one for international travel in two weeks, or to obtain a foreign visa in 4 weeks, then contact your regional Pasport agency for assistance. These places will help you to the best of their ability in an emergency.