Advice On Adding Pages To Your Passport

If you travel frequently, whether for work or pleasure, you are likely to have to consider adding pages to your passport. A standard booklet has 24 visa sheets. If these are filled with visa stamps the document is no longer usable so must be submitted to the State Department to have another 24 visa pages added.

Booklet Process

If the passport booklet is completely full, this process is necessary for any further travel. However, it is wise to preempt this situation by applying for additional space when you're down to only a few blank spaces. Some countries require two or more empty pages for the visa process, so a nearly full booklet could lead to you being fined and sent home at your own expense.

Additional Pages
Applications for additional pages should be sent to the Department of State, which is responsible for travel documents and visas. To apply, you must have a passport that is valid for at least one more year. If this is not applicable to you, you should instead submit to be issued with a passport or to have one renewed.

Application Submission
The application process is quite straightforward. You must submit the booklet and a completed application form by mail to the State Department. The standard service comes at a cost of $82 with an additional fee if you are in a hurry to get your extra space. Payment can be made by mail using personal checks or money orders. At a passport agency or an acceptance facility, credit cards and (in some cases) cash can be used to pay processing fees.

Incomplete Applications
Take care to fill in the forms correctly as incorrect or incomplete applications will not be processed and fees are non-refundable. Furthermore, as you are mailing a valuable document, be sure to use a secure and traceable delivery method and a weatherproof form of packaging. The standard processing time for extra pages is four to six weeks. So ideally, you should plan ahead and submit your application with considerable time to spare before you next travel.

Expedited Service
However, in case you don't have very much time or travel very regularly for professional reasons, there is an expedited service available. This costs an additional $60 and processing time is reduced to two to three weeks. There is a further cost of $12.72 for the recommended overnight delivery service. If you are availing of this service, 'Expedite' should be clearly marked on the outside of the mailing envelope.

Local Agency
For those who need the quickest service available, it is possible to make an appointment with a local agency. This service is only available if the person is travelling internationally within two weeks or applying for a visa within four weeks. You will generally be required to present proof of travel, such as a travel itinerary, in order to make an appointment.

Regular Traveler

As a regular traveler with a growing collection of visa stamps, adding pages to your passport or yout second valid passport is a simple process. Those who go abroad often for work or pleasure commonly use this service. If you are careful with the application process and allow plenty of time, amending your passport won't be any inconvenience.