If you’re holding a US passport and you like to travel, listen up. After December of 2015, you will no longer be allowed to get extra pages added to your existing, valid passport.
What This Means For You
1. If you are due for renewal soon and your passport has enough empty pages to last you until then, don’t worry about it.
2. If you are an avid traveler and still have some time before you’ll need a new passport, you might want to consider getting additional pages added before the end of the year.
To Add Pages to Your Passport*
Complete, sign, and date a DS-4085 – easiest to do it online and print it out
Present these items in person (make an appointment at a Consulate General) or mail them in:
- Current and valid passport
- Passport fee in the form of a check made out to “US Department of State” with your full name and DOB written on the front
- Form DS-4085 that you just printed out
*Routine services are taking 4-5 weeks right now, expedited 2-3 weeks.
For Routine Service
National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90106
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0106
For Expedited Service (Additional Fee)
National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90906
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0906
*Be sure to read the instructions on the form carefully. I’m only here to guide you to the right place. Making sure you turn in everything correctly and timely is your responsibility!
Silver Lining
The redeeming bit of good news in all this is that after December 2015, any new or renewed passports we apply for will come with more pages automatically, which should counter the need to add extras in the first place.