Passport renewal (Austin, Round Rock, Jollyville: cost, post office, station)

[MIA2DIA2AUS]

Hi all, new to Austin and I need to renew my passport. Is there a post office or passport office that has the forms that I need to fill out. I know I can go online and get it but was wondering if any one has done this here in Austin at a local place. Please fill me in on any thing that would be helpful. Thanks!!

[sayulita]

I would guess that you could go to the post office for your renewal application. You can here in Oregon, and it's the USPS, so you probably can there too.

[readymade]

Funny, I just renewed my passport myself 2 days ago! There's a couple of ways to do it. There's definitely a passport office in the 6th street Post Office. (be warned, I stood there for about 5-10 minutes with everyone ignoring me before I finally left). I'm pretty sure you pay an extra $25 processing fee if you do it in person. They're open on Saturday until 2pm.

You can also go to one of those "Get your passport overnight!" places. There are a few of them in Austin, and you can Google them. Again, they cost more as well.

The way I did it was I went here: https://pptform.state.gov/ - and filled out the form online (you'll probably have to do this no matter WHERE you go). Printed it out. Then I went to Kinkos (downtown) and got my picture taken (you need 2 pictures, and it cost $14 for both).

I put in my check for the correct amount, my old passport, my two pictures, and the correct forms and overnighted it to the address on the form. It was pretty easy.

[Moonlady]

There are also passport offices at the post office in Westlake and the Balcones Station post office on Jollyville Rd.

[mickey65]

If you go do it at the Post Office, be prepared to wait in line. Every time I go to the post office, there's always a long line of people waiting to get their passports done.

[readymade]

Originally Posted by mickey65

If you go do it at the Post Office, be prepared to wait in line. Every time I go to the post office, there's always a long line of people waiting to get their passports done.

I was at the downtown one this past Saturday at around noon and there was no one there. I was just mailing my passport stuff in, and had a quick question. Despite the fact that no one was there, there were a bunch of people in the office but no one at the front desk. And no one would help me or talk to me. One person smiled at me and I smiled back thinking they would say "can I help you?" but they rushed into the other room.

Oh, here's another tip: If you overnight your passport, you can't use Fedex or UPS. You have to do it through the post office as you'll be sending it to a PO Box.

Another thing to note: I think it takes up to 6 weeks (maybe 8) to get your passport. You can expedite it (by paying extra) and it should get to you in 2-3 weeks. That's what I did. It cost me about $145 for everything (except for my overnighting it to them which was about $17)

[mickey65]

Originally Posted by readymade

I was at the downtown one this past Saturday at around noon and there was no one there.

The one here in Round Rock always has a long line.

I don't think they do the passports on Saturday - just Mon-Fri.

[Chelito23]

You can go to any post office and pick up the RENEWAL FORM. Most people give advise as if you are doing it for the first time. Get the form, fill it out, send in your pictures (Wal Mart, CVS, etc take them). Then you mail them a $75 check with the old passport and it comes in about 2 weeks even though they tell you it's more. It couldn't be easier, and your old passport comes in a different envelope a few days later. BTW the new passports are "magnetic" or elecontronic, whatever that means. The good thing about renewals is you do it yourself, at any post office, etc. Any schedule as long as the branch is open!!

[XLadylawX]

I'd suggest you go see the interesting character at the Round Rock Post Office. He is quite proud of how helpful he is to those seeking to obtain or renew their passports. Still, despite his shameless self promotion, he IS very helpful.

[statefan]

Originally Posted by readymade

Funny, I just renewed my passport myself 2 days ago! There's a couple of ways to do it. There's definitely a passport office in the 6th street Post Office. (be warned, I stood there for about 5-10 minutes with everyone ignoring me before I finally left). I'm pretty sure you pay an extra $25 processing fee if you do it in person. They're open on Saturday until 2pm.

You can also go to one of those "Get your passport overnight!" places. There are a few of them in Austin, and you can Google them. Again, they cost more as well.

The way I did it was I went here: https://pptform.state.gov/ - and filled out the form online (you'll probably have to do this no matter WHERE you go). Printed it out. Then I went to Kinkos (downtown) and got my picture taken (you need 2 pictures, and it cost $14 for both).

I put in my check for the correct amount, my old passport, my two pictures, and the correct forms and overnighted it to the address on the form. It was pretty easy.

We've renewed several times between us and the kids and have never gone to the post office. It is so much easier to renew than to get a first one.