Latest news with #passportrenewal
CNET
7 days ago
- General
- CNET
Renew Your Passport Online Now to Avoid Hassles This Summer
Even though a new Real ID is now required to fly domestically in the US, if you're planning to travel outside the country this summer, you better make sure your passport is up to date well ahead of your trip. If you wait too long, you might have to pay $60 extra for expedited processing and $21.36 for the delivery. Luckily, it's not quick and easy to renew your passport online, with only a few restrictions, and you'll receive your new passport faster than ever before. The US State Department finally opened its online renewal system for passports to all eligible citizens, and millions have already taken advantage of the opportunity. Due to the efficiency of the new online system, the routine processing time for passports is now only four to six weeks. Anyone who has an expired US passport that was issued in the last 15 years can now renew it online. The State Department estimates that the online application will take about 40 minutes, but if you have all your documents and payment information together, you can probably complete it in half that time. The big catch is that you'll need a MyTravelGov account to apply online -- we'll explain more below. Learn everything you need to know about the new online US passport renewals system, including who is eligible and how you can apply. How can I renew my US passport online? Most US citizens currently renew their passports by printing and filling out form DS-82, then mailing that form with a new passport photo and a renewal fee in the form of a check or money order. The online passport renewal system instead uses a website form and a payment system that allows credit cards, debit cards or online ACH transfers. Renewing your passport online doesn't mean that you'll receive it any sooner than usual, though. The State Department is sticking to its "routine service" for passport renewals, whether they're online or by mail. That means you'll receive your new passport in four to six weeks, no matter how you apply. If you need your passport sooner than that, you'll need to apply by mail and pay $60 more for expedited service. Who is eligible to review a US passport online? The most important qualifying factors for renewing your passport online are: You are at least 25 years old. You live in the US (state or territory). Your current passport is or was valid for 10 years. Your current passport must be at least 9 years old and have been issued within the last 15 years (2009-2015). You still have your existing passport and it's not mutilated or damaged. Along with the main eligibility requirements, the State Department provides a list of further restrictions for online renewal: You can only renew regular passports online, not "special issuance" passports (like diplomatic, official or service passports). You cannot change your name, gender, place of birth or date of birth from your previous passport. You must be able to pay for online renewal using a credit card, a debit card or ACH transfer. You must be able to upload a new passport photo. You cannot travel internationally for eight weeks after submitting your online renewal application. That last restriction is important because your existing passport, if still valid, will be immediately canceled as soon as your online renewal application is accepted. If you don't meet the eligibility requirements for renewing your passport online, you'll need to renew by mail or in person at a passport agency. Here are the steps for renewing your US passport online Before you can apply for an online passport renewal, you'll need to create a MyTravelGov account, which uses the government's system. If you don't already have a account, you can visit the MyTravelGov website, click on the blue Sign In button in the top-right corner, then click Create an account. You'll then need to enter an email address and your choice of language: is available in English, Spanish and French. After submitting your email address, you'll need to verify it by clicking on a link in an email message from after which you'll choose a password and preferred form of multifactor authentication. You'll then need to provide personal information for the account, at minimum your first and last name. Once you're finished, you should be able to access the online passport renewal page. Hit the blue Start button at the bottom of the page to begin the application. The State Department estimates that the online application process will take about 40 minutes. To begin the application for online passport renewal, you'll need the following items: Your existing US passport. A digital passport photo. Payment -- credit card, debit card or your bank's routing and account numbers for ACH transfer. In the first part of the application, you'll enter information about your current passport, your legal name and whether you want a passport book, passport card or both. Next you'll upload your digital passport photo, and then finally your payment information. MyTravelGov will send you two email verifications after you submit your renewal application: The first will confirm your pending payment, and the second will confirm that the payment has been received. One week after you apply, you can sign up for email updates about your passport using the State Department's online passport status system. You should expect to receive your new passport in the mail within six to eight weeks. The type of passport -- book or card -- that you renew depends on what you currently hold. MyTravelGov/CNET Can I also renew my US passport card online? Passport cards are objects that look much like US driver's licenses and can be kept in your wallet. They allow for travel from the US by land or sea to Canada, Mexico or Caribbean countries. They are not valid for any international air travel. You can renew both passport books and cards online. Basically, you can renew whichever US passport document that you currently hold. If you have an old passport book and passport card, you can renew both at the same time. If you have one or the other, you can only renew that specific document.
RNZ News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
India consular delays caused by errors related to application payments
Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan has rebuffed criticism on social media regarding delays in consular services provided by the Indian mission in Wellington and the new consulate general in Auckland . Kiwi Indians have been increasingly critical on social media of delays they have encountered in receiving consular services such as passport renewals and visa applications in recent months, especially if refunds were involved. Speaking at an event in Auckland on Friday to welcome Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, Bhushan said many applicants in the top of the North Island were mistakenly sending fees accompanying their applications to Wellington. "We are facing a major problem in providing timely and efficient services," Bhushan said. "There are a large number of applicants living in Northland, Auckland and Waikato who should send their applications along with the relevant fees to the consulate general in Auckland, but they are not doing that. "While they send their applications to the consulate in Auckland, they send the fees to the Wellington mission. "Later they realise their mistake and ask for refunds. ... We have no problem in doing that - it's our duty - but it delays the entire process. Neeta Bhushan is India's high commissioner to New Zealand. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom Bhushan said about half of her staff's time was being spent on processing refunds. "In the last month alone, we have refunded about $100,000 to applicants. If you add the last three [or] four months, the amount of refunds we have issued would cross $400,000," she said. "More than that, we are not able to provide timely services to those applicants." As reported earlier, the Indian consulate in Auckland offers services related to passports, Indian citizenship, attestation of documents, police certificates, birth and death certificates, liquor permits and non-resident Indian certificates, among other things. It also issues necessary certificates for the repatriation of deceased individuals' remains or ashes to India. The consulate's jurisdiction covers Auckland, Northland and Waikato. Madan Mohan Sethi, consulate general of India in Auckland, said the situation would improve once his office was fully staffed in a few months. "All efforts are being made to streamline the processes at our end," Sethi said. "We aim to start providing all consular services here in Auckland soon, including OCI [Overseas Citizen of India] and visa services." Pabitra Margherita is India's minister of state for external affairs. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom Margherita told attendees at the community event on Friday that he was delighted to see the Indian community's positive contributions to New Zealand. "It is heartening to see that our community here has been an integral part of the social fabric of this beautiful country," he said. "Your dedication and hard work have not only uplifted you and your families but also have added immense value to broader New Zealand society," he said. "India and New Zealand share a deep, multifaceted and friendly relationship." The Indian minister met Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Trade Minister Todd McClay during his three-day visit. He also spoke with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on the sidelines of a summit organised by the India New Zealand Business Council on Friday morning . The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade provided some detail on the talks between Peters and Margherita in a social media post on Friday. The two ministers discussed the progress made in the India-New Zealand relationship across a wide range of sectors, including a "broad-based agenda for bilateral security and economic cooperation", the ministry said. "[They discussed] achieving a mutually beneficial outcome to free trade agreement negotiations, our shared interests in the Indo-Pacific, the terrorist attack in Kashmir and New Zealand's support for de-escalation between India and Pakistan, and the Pacific Islands region."
