American Passport Renewal

[Karen in Ohio]

I knew my passport was going to expire this year. Me being the American half, I'm thinking better get ready to send it in.
So, I look online.. Have a couple questions, I had already done my name change back in 2002 so that had a specific page stamped for that.
List your future travel plans... ummm not any at the moment so do I leave blank????
Call the 1-800 number...

Me: I state I want to renew passport, so I need to send my marriage certificate again for name change, I have already done that once. and its stamped.

Rep: No, just send passport and one photo.

Me: I have no travel plans at the moment, do I mark that NA???

REP: No travel plans?? Why do you want to renew it then??

Me: Husband is from Australia and he has family there. Elderly mum / his kids and we might need to travel on short notice.I have to be prepared.

Rep: Well, you will need to write a letter stating why you want to renew without travel plans and attach it to the application.

Me: Ok, thank you.

You would think that the us government would willing take my $110. Don't think I'm on a no fly list LOL
I am thinking it might be better just to write a travel date down that is after my passport expires. I can just see them rejecting it because I don't have travel plans.!

[Wim]

When I renewed mine 3 years ago, I just put Australia in 2009. Pretty sure they don't want the exact dates. I didn't have a problem.

[Jacaranda]

Why do they need to know that info anyway? seems very nosy. If you already had one and you're not on the no fly list they shouldn't need to ask that stuff. IMO. Some people use them for ID too.

[Karen in Ohio]

the rep just thought it was odd i guess. way i look at it, its my 110.00 to spend not theirs lol

[aussiechicka]

I think they ask for that date incase it's in the near future and they'll try and do it quicker. I don't imagine they actually check and you could probably put Dec 2012 or something.