The U.S. State Department recently announced several updates to the expedited Passport renewal process for credentialed merchant mariners, including a nominal change in the fee.
All members of American Maritime Officers and applicants who need to renew their Passport should use the expedited procedure for mariners provided by the U.S. State Department. AMO members and applicants SHOULD NOT use the standard procedure for renewing a Passport.
AMO Member Services can provide the new State Department fees, mailing address and complete instructions for expedited Passport renewal under the procedure developed by the State Department specifically for mariners. Member Services can also provide a letter from the union, which is required for this expedited renewal procedure.
AMO members and applicants are asked to contact AMO Member Services at or by phone at 800-362-0513 Ext. 1050 during East Coast business hours for assistance with filing for expedited Passport renewal.
If the application is completed properly, mariners should receive their new Passport within a week, according to State Department estimates. Normal procedures could take months.
Please do not submit your renewal application using the standard method. Once your application has been submitted, it may not be possible to have it switched to the expedited Passport renewal track.