www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I just had to renew my passport - getting down close to only 6 months left on it. I renewed by mail, and sent my old passport to the State Department on Friday April 25 by regular mail. I did not request expedited service or anything else fancy. I just got an e-mail from them stating the passport is finished and on its way back. I should expect to receive it no later than May 7.

Just thought I would give everyone a heads up that if you are needing to get yours renewed, now seems to be a good time.

quiet

That's good news considering last year's backlog fiasco.
I've always had good luck renewing my passport. Always got the new one far sooner than anticipated.

My next problem: I'm running out of blank space, the dang passports don't expire for so long these days. I'll now have to renew or something to get blank pages!

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

You can get blank pages added to a valid passport. No need to renew.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Are you familiar with the process?
Can you elaborate?

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

The process begins by using Google which returns this as the top result and should answer all your questions: http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/add/add_850.html

An update - I got the renewed passport today - Saturday May 3.

So it took 8 days from when I mailed it off. I do not remember exactly how long it took when I last renewed it a little over 9 years ago, but I do not remember it being that quick. Maybe they made some improvements to fix the fiasco of last year with the big flurry of applications.

qm

Getting pages added to a US passport is easily done at a US embassy or consulate outside the US. I had it done in Singapore. About an hour of getting to and from the embassy and a 15 minute wait. No charge.

It's discussed in detail here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=802694

I don't like having my passport out there in the mail somewhere.

true, i went to the us embassay in sanjose- actually it is near park sabana now, they added pages ; it took about 1 hr

they also told me i can get new passport there- takes 10 days
so keep that in mind if your on an extended trip