expiring passports

[mpk]

We are going to be in the Abacos or on our way to the USVI when our passports expire. Has anyone renewed passports in St Thomas? We would like to keep travelling to the BVI depending how long it takes in the USVI.

mpk

[Pblais]

Even if you submit a renewal appication at St Thomas they don't do it while you wait nor is it done at the local office. Most any US post office can do it so if another location is closer it won't matter. You can spend extra money for expidted service that basically fedex's the application from St Thomas to where they actually do it (maybe Seattle), then they fedex it back plus while it's there they expidite more. I think you can get it down to a reasonable turnaround if you don't mind the fees. You still need new pictures and need to submit your old passport along with an application and fees. Regualr service is not fast at all. My wife just renewed hers this summer.

[exposure]

I think you can get passports renewed in about a week or two. I went to our local county offices and they did the paperwork. They gave it to me with instructions to express mail it to the Miami office with a prepaid return express mail envelope enclosed. There was an extra fee involved as well. The passport web site covers it well.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get_first_quickly.html

Woody