When the time comes to get yourself a new passport after the old one expires, it’s when you need the Form DS 82 for passport renewal. You may order it in the Department of State office, but it’s easier to use a Form DS-82 printable template, prepare it, and send it by mail.
What should you know before doing it? First of all, it always takes the regular post service to file the form. Yes, it means that you need to send this form printed and hand-signed in an envelope. A color photo is an obligatory attachment; without it, a new passport just cannot be issued.
On the site, you can find a Form DS-82 fillable PDF that you can print at home and fill by hand. To do this, do the following:
You can print the DS-82 form directly from your browser, but you better save the file locally, in case you need to repeat the printing. It takes one slip to make the form incorrect, so you may need another printed copy. Probably a Form DS-82 sample may help in filling it correctly. You can also find it on the site, with all the instructions required.
Then you must send it. If you’re currently in the US passport renewal DS 82 form should be sent to one of the offices specified in the form, either in Irving, TX, or in Philadelphia, PA. If you are currently in Canada, you can also mail it to the office in Philadelphia, but the expedited service will require extra fee. If this urgency caught you when abroad, you’ll need to turn to the nearest Embassy of the U.S. to deliver your Form DS-82. But still, you better download Form DS-82 printable and prepare it beforehand.
As the law states, a passport of the U.S. is valid for ten years. You need to make sure you have mailed the form with all the attachments in time to get a new valid passport and save inconveniences. You better check the date of expiry now and set the reminder, even if it’s years later. You won’t regret it when the time comes.