Step One of Our Great British Move: Passports in Hand

The first big step in our Great British Move? Passports. This has been our focus over the past few weeks as we gear up for everything ahead. I renewed mine online (thankfully pretty simple), but getting passports for the kids has been a whole process… one that we’re tackling this weekend. If you’re in a similar boat (or just planning ahead), I’m sharing all the steps here so you can get yours done without the headache.

Renewing My Passport Online

When I realized my husband’s passport was expired (oops), and mine was a year away, I knew I needed to get ours sorted first. The U.S. was testing a Beta online program for renewing and just recently released the ability to do it online for everyone, saving a ton of time and energy. Renewing online turned out to be super straightforward, and here’s how I did it:

1. What You Need to Renew

• Your current passport (it needs to be undamaged and less than 15 years old).
• A digital passport photo (there are a million apps or stores that can help with this). Best part: you pick your pic.
• A valid email address and a credit/debit card for payment.

2. The Steps

1. Go to travel.state.gov and select “Renew Passport.”
2. Fill out the renewal form (DS-82) online and upload your digital photo.
3. Pay the fee: $130 for the passport book, plus an extra $60 if you want it expedited.
4. Submit the form and wait for the confirmation email with tracking info.

How Long It Takes

• Standard processing: 8-11 weeks. (Ours took 2 weeks, including arrival)
• Expedited processing: 5-7 weeks.

Honestly, I set my expectations low on timing since I know how these things go, but the online process has been smooth so far and genuinely couldn’t recommend it more.

Getting Passports for the Kids: The In-Person Adventure

Now for the fun part: passports for kids. Because our kids are under 16, there’s no online shortcut here—everything has to be done in person, and both parents need to be involved. So this weekend, we’re heading to a Passport Acceptance Facility armed with all the paperwork and snacks (because toddlers and waiting times are… an adventure).

Here’s the checklist I’ve been living by:

1. What You Need for a Child Passport

• Form DS-11: The application form. Print it or fill it out at the appointment, but don’t sign it until you’re there.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship: A certified birth certificate for each kid.
• Parental relationship: Birth certificates double as proof here, but court documents or adoption papers work too.
• Parental ID: Both my husband and I will bring our passports or driver’s licenses.
• Passport photo for each kid: I’m getting these done at Walgreens to save myself the stress.
• Payment: $100 per child for the passport book, plus a $35 execution fee. With photo and all to be done at the appointment, it will be $100 for two kids, then $200 for the passports. $300 total.

2. The Steps (AKA What We’re Doing This Weekend)

1. Make an Appointment: I scheduled ours at the post office using the passport locator tool.
2. Gather Everything: Originals of all documents + photocopies of our IDs.
3. Show Up Together: Both parents need to be there unless we bring a notarized consent form (not happening for us).
4. Pay the Fees: Check, money order, or card, depending on the location.
5. Submit and Smile: Well, we’ll smile; the kids just need a neutral expression for the photo.

How Long Will It Take?

• Standard processing: 8-11 weeks.
• Expedited: 5-7 weeks (for an extra $60).

The waiting game is real, but having this step checked off feels like progress toward something big and exciting.

Why This Step Feels Big

This isn’t just paperwork. Having those little blue books in hand makes everything feel a little more real. It’s the first tangible step in a move that’s been living in our heads and hearts for months (or, let’s be honest, years).

So, here we are, tackling Step One: passports for all of us. Next stop: sorting visas, logistics, job applications, selling furniture, preparing the house, and everything else that comes with uprooting our lives in the best way possible. I’ll share it all as we go, so stay tuned.

If you’re working on passports for yourself or your kids, I hope this guide makes it feel a little less daunting. We’ve got this.

Cheers to new beginnings and well-stamped passports! ✈️