How to renew a U.S. passport in North Carolina

Are you living in North Carolina and planning a family vacation to Europe, only to realize that your U.S. passport is about to expire? If you find yourself in this situation, it's vital to kick-start the renewal process promptly, as it can take several weeks to get a new passport.

We totally understand that dealing with the government process might make the whole thing seem a bit complicated; so much so that you might already be considering exploring the Great Smoky Mountains nearby rather than dealing with this passport puzzle.

Well, don’t give up just yet! Here’s a complete guide for renewing your U.S. passport in North Carolina easily and in time for your upcoming trip.

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Is an in-person appointment needed for a U.S. passport renewal in North Carolina?

Although U.S. passport renewals typically can't be done entirely online, the process doesn't need to be overly complex either. The good news is that most adult passport renewals don’t require an in-person appointment.

Only in certain circumstances, or if you do not meet the requirements for the mailing process, visiting a passport acceptance facility near you is needed.

There are some simple eligibility criteria you'll need to meet for the mail-in option:

You must be 16 years of age or older.
Your current passport must not be older than 15 years.
Your current passport must have been issued with a 10-year validity period.
Your passport must have been issued in your current name, or you must be able to provide legal documentation to prove that you changed it (such as a marriage certificate).
Your current passport must not be damaged, lost, or have been stolen.

If you don’t meet the above requirements or you want to apply on behalf of your child, we recommend checking the government information on how to apply in person and finding the nearest passport acceptance facilities.

How to renew your passport by mail in North Carolina

Start the simple process online with us by completing the following steps:

Step 1: Visit our passport renewal page, fill out your current passport details, choose how quickly you need your new passport, and pay the iVisa service fee.

Step 2: You’ll receive a dedicated passport renewal kit by mail with all that’s required for the mail application, ready to be reviewed and signed. If all is correct, complete, and signed, drop it off at the closest mailbox or post office with the attached envelope.

Note that the government fee must be prepaid on our website. After doing so, you’ll receive a completed bank check in the renewal kit to mail to the government.

After paying the fees, you’ll be asked to fill out some extra details and upload a copy of your passport and a recent passport photo.

Step 3: Track the process and receive your passport in 4 to 10 weeks, depending on the option you’ve chosen.

It’s as simple as that!

When to renew my U.S. passport?

Even if you don't have any international travel plans in the near future, take a moment to check your passport expiration date. Even if it isn't set to expire immediately, you may want to start the renewal process sooner rather than later.

The actual process can take between 4 and 12 weeks, depending on your chosen option and the current government processing times in North Carolina. Additionally, it's worth noting that the U.S. Department of State's estimated processing times don’t account for the time it takes to send the application.

The iVisa passport renewal process looks like this:

Shipment 1: We send the reviewed and completed application and the supporting documents from our office to your delivery address.
Shipment 2: You send your signed documents including the bank check to the U.S. State Department with the included USPS envelope.
Shipment 3: The U.S. State Department sends the new passport to your delivery address.

Moreover, the department cautions that it may take up to two weeks for your application status to be officially marked as in process.

All this should be enough reason to renew your U.S. passport today!

Can I apply for a renewal with an expired passport?

Yes, you can renew any U.S. passport that meets the above criteria by mail, as long as it’s been issued within the last 15 years.

It does not matter if your passport is expired or still valid.

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Benefits of renewing your U.S. passport with iVisa

Our team of experts at iVisa handles all the heavy lifting for you. With our complete passport renewal kit, you don’t have to print a thing, fill out daunting paperwork, or navigate government bureaucracy.

Our passport renewal kit includes the following:

DS-82 form: Fully completed based on your provided information and ready to sign.
Passport photo: Printed and stapled as per the government requirements. We offer an affordable online service to get 100% government-compliant passport photos here!
Bank check: To cover the government fee.
USPS envelope: With postage and address included, ready to ship!

Our secure online system, equipped with encryption, ensures the confidentiality of your personal information while providing a hassle-free passport renewal experience.

About two weeks after mailing your renewal information, you can track your application’s status online on the U.S. government website and subscribe to email updates.

Costs of renewing my U.S. passport in North Carolina

The process, from the moment the government receives your application, usually takes around 10 weeks. If you need your passport faster than that, the U.S. government offers expedited passport services for an additional fee to get your new passport in 4 to 6 weeks.

The costs of renewing your passport in North Carolina can be divided into two parts: the iVisa service fee for the renewal kit and the government processing fee.

Choose from the following iVisa processing options:

Same-day processing: Processed by our specialists and shipped the same day via USPS First Class Mail for a fee of US$120.
2-day processing: Processed by our specialists and shipped within 2 days via USPS First Class Mail for a fee of US$100.
4-day processing: Processed by our specialists and shipped within 4 days via USPS First Class Mail for a fee of US$80.

Government renewal fees:

The U.S. government fee is US$130.
The processing time for passport renewal can vary, but you can pay an additional fee for expedited service if you need your passport even quicker. The expediting costs are an additional US$60.

If the U.S. government rejects your renewal application, iVisa offers a 100% refund of the iVisa passport service fees.

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