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New Q&A: Adding Additional Pages to a Passport
I have been traveling a lot in recent years and am running out of pages in my passport. Do I need to get a new one or can pages be added? -Submitted by Nicole
Great Question! I successfully filled up my passport a couple years ago and was able to get an additional 24 pages added. I even ran out of pages again a second time, and the State Department was able to add another section (The maximum is 72 pages per passport book). The process is very simple, and inexpensive, if you plan ahead and can work with standard processing.
To get started, you will need to complete form DS-4085 which can either be completed online and printed or printed and then filled out by hand. For standard processing (estimated at 4-6 weeks), you simply put your passport and the completed form in an envelope and send it off for processing. The Department of State recommends a traceable method of shipping like USPS Priority Mail.
If you need your passport sooner, you can opt for rush processing but it will cost $60. In this scenario, it is also recommended to use USPS Priority or Express Mail to send your passport. If you include an additional fee (usually around $15, but call for the current rate), they will send your passport back to you with USPS Overnight shipping instead of USPS Priority Mail.
If you are leaving the country within two weeks, you can make an appointment at a Regional Passport Office for processing.
Some other tips to remember (which I have learned from experience!):
-The Department of State will not accept FedEx or UPS as the mailing address for both standard and rush processing is a P.O. Box and neither companies deliver to these types of addresses. You best bet is USPS Priority Mail or Overnight Mail. Both will generate a tracking number for you.
-Always make a copy of the documents you send, just to be on the safe side.
-Prefer to have your passport mailed to another address other than your home address? On Line 6, put the address where you want it mailed to and in Line 10, put your permanent address. I like to have my passport shipped to my work location since someone is available for receiving it and it won’t be sitting on my front porch all day.
-When applying for a new passport, you can request a “business-size” passport (48 pages versus the standard 24) for no additional cost. This will save you time and money in the long run if you anticipate a full travel schedule in your future.
Have any other questions about passports? Post them here and I’ll be happy to answer them.
Happy Traveling,
Kristina (currently a holder of a gigantic 72-page passport!)
