Can I renew my US passport by mail while I'm outside the country?
I'm sure this is a pretty unique situation I've gotten myself into, and it's certainly complicated. I'm not sure what I should be doing.
I came to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in May of 2013. I got a tourist visa good for 90 days. In August of 2013, I went with my Brazilian girlfriend to the Federal Police at the airport and extended the visa until mid-November. On November 7, I married my Brazilian girlfriend.
My intention is to stay in Brazil until my wife is granted a visa and allowed to enter the United States with me. That should take us about a year. So right now I'm in the country illegally and have been since about November 15th. From everything I've read, this isn't an ideal situation, but not much can happen. Worst case scenario is I get deported or have to pay a fine when I leave or return. If I was asked to leave the country, I'm fairly certain there would be a legal way around it since I'm married to a Brazilian national. Perhaps applying for the permanent visa. So it's cause for some anxiety, but I'm not particularly worried about it.
My problem is this. I just realized my United States passport expires in mid-March. I'm supposed to renew it at a local embassy or consulate. Due to my illegal status, I obviously don't want to do that.
So, I'm wondering. Is there anything to stop me from mailing my current passport to the United States and having a family member have it renewed by mail for me and then send it back to Brazil? Are there any considerations to be taken in doing this? What are the risks?
Best Answer
I once had extra pages put into my passport at a US consulate when I had "overstayed my welcome" in the country in question. The US consulate displayed exactly zero interest in my immigration status in that country.
You ask
Are there any considerations to be taken when doing this?
Yes: you're making life much harder for yourself than you need to, in light of the fact that the US embassy does not care about your immigration status in Brazil.
Pictures about "Can I renew my US passport by mail while I'm outside the country?"
How do I renew my US passport outside the US?
Renew a Passport from Outside the United StatesCan you get a US passport while overseas?
American citizens can get the same full passport services outside of the United States, through the Overseas Passport Issuance Program. If you are living or traveling outside the United States and can claim a right to U.S. citizenship, you can apply for a passport at any U.S. embassy or consulate.How do I renew my American passport in Canada?
U.S. citizens living in Canada are also eligible for passport renewal by mail. You may write a Canadian mailing address on the DS-82 form and Passport Services will mail your new passport to that address. Visit passports.state.gov to see whether you can meet the requirements to renew your U.S. passport by mail.Do I have to send my old passport when renewing us?
When it comes time to renew a passport, one of the most common questions we hear is \u201cCan I keep my old passport?\u201d The answer is yes \u2013 eventually. While you do have to submit your old passport as part of the passport renewal process, your old, cancelled passport is usually sent back to you once the renewal goes through.US Passport Renewal Process | How to Renew Your US Passport by Mail
More answers regarding can I renew my US passport by mail while I'm outside the country?
Answer 2
Regarding your fear of being illegal in Brazil and not being able to renew your passport at the U.S. Embassy:
Your illegal status is relevant to Brazil.
Spain doesn't care about your Brazilian status and neither would America, because you're not breaking those countries' laws.
The U.S. Embassy is on American soil, with American officers, without legal jurisdiction in Brazil.
Moreover, the U.S. Embassy is seen as a safe haven for American citizens. I don't see them handing you over to the Brazilian government. Imagine the news headlines: U.S. Embassy Betrays American Citizen because he Fell in Love
Bottom line - I wouldn't be too concerned about going to the U.S. Embassy if I was illegal in another country.
(standard disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. But I am a 7-year travel veteran with a passport almost full of stamps and multi-page visas.)
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Ketut Subiyanto, Ketut Subiyanto, Element5 Digital, Brett Sayles