I just looked at my passport and it’s expired – Need some help

[Guest]

Need some help. I booked a cruise in Greece as a surprise for my partner (who has never been to Europe). The cruise leaves Oct 30th. I just looked at my passport and it’s expired -- I’ve never let it expire before so I’m not sure on timing.

Theoretically if I get it expedited, it could get in in time… but what are the odds that actually happens? Do I have any other options?

[Jenni]

Expedite both to and from with the overnight shipping option added. I did this last year and it still took 10 weeks.

[Smiley]

You have more than sufficient time if you expediate immediately. I just expediated my husband and my passport, sent via post office on a Saturday, check cashed by the Wednesday.

Then 4 wks later passport. P.S. I'm in Maryland if that helps.

Don't miss: I sent my passport in for renewal early April and it was received April 10

[Vinod]

Expedited supposedly takes 7-9 weeks. If you apply right away, you'll likely get it.

[Reagan]

I suggest doing it as soon as possible and hoping it comes in time.

[Sheri]

Renewals go a bit faster. 6 weeks for me. Don't waste on expedited. If you can't get an appointment fast, you may want to either move back the date or just cancel if you can get a refund.

Good luck

Explore these too: Does anyone know how to renew his passport in one day? «We are in San Francisco Bay Area»

[Jill]

Get it expedited …. Do it both ways and make sure you have everything it asks for.

You should be fine.

[Daniel]

Go ASAP to your nearest passport office. Pay to expedite.

You’ll likely get it in time but if you don’t you can call a passport office and show up in person if necessary.

Don't forget to take a look at: Anyone know the costs associated to receiving an emergency temp passport?

[Cathy]

Expedited is your best option. Do that ASAP and if it gets to October and you don't have it back (crazy times at passport office) then reach out to your US Congressperson for assistance..

[Brenda]

Yes, it should if you act now. My DIL had theirs expedited recently and it worked seamlessly.

Good luck!

[Jeff]

You were lucky to find out today, while there's still time to get an expedited passport renewal by October, that your passport had expired. Do it today.

Here's what bad luck, thinly disguised as good luck, would have looked like. Suppose you had glanced at your passport today, saw it wouldn't expire until December, and casually assumed all was well. Fast forward to October, when you are denied entry into the Schengen Area (or more likely, denied boarding on the flight to it), because you don't have a passport valid through at least January (90 days from the end of your trip if they believe you) or possibly April (90 days from the end of the 90-day tourist period they'd normally give you in Schengen). Yeah, that would really suck.

Cautionary note to all: if your passport doesn't say that it's valid at least six months longer than you think you need it to be, then depending on the country you're visiting it might not *really* be valid at all.