# Renew a U.S. passport

> A process map exported from forks.world (https://forks.world). Author: forks.world community. Source: https://forks.world/p/cmv3g9ne80001jk06xailhydt
> It describes who does what, in what order, and with which technology. Read the plain-language sections first; the JSON at the end is the exact, complete data.

## Summary

- 11 steps across 1 layer
- Persona: You, U.S. Department of State
- Technology / systems: Online renewal or mail

## Pain points

Where this process hurts, worst first:

- **Process the application (routine or expedited for an extra fee)** (Renew a U.S. passport; critical): Wait times swing from weeks to months; check current times before you book travel
- **Fill out form DS-82, add a new passport photo and a check for the fee** (Renew a U.S. passport; painful): Photos get rejected for glasses, shadows or the wrong size

## How to read this file

- A process is made of **layers**. The main layer is the top level; any step of kind `subprocess` opens a detail layer with its own lanes and steps.
- **Lanes** are either persona (people/roles) or technology (systems). Each step belongs to one lane; `using` lists tools a person uses for that step.
- Step kinds: `start`, `task`, `decision` (its arrows carry the answer as a label), `subprocess`, `end`.

## Renew a U.S. passport

Lanes:
- You: person / role (id `you`)
- U.S. Department of State: person / role (id `state`)
- Online renewal or mail: technology / system (id `portal`)

Steps, in the order they run:

1. **Notice your passport expires within a year, or already has** [start; You; id `a1`]
   - then Is your most recent passport undamaged, issued at 16 or older, in the last 15 years, and in your current name (or can you show a name change)?
2. **Is your most recent passport undamaged, issued at 16 or older, in the last 15 years, and in your current name (or can you show a name change)?** [decision; You; id `a2`]
   - if "Yes" go to Can you renew online? (adult, U.S. address, not traveling for several weeks); if "No" go to Apply in person with form DS-11 instead
3. **Can you renew online? (adult, U.S. address, not traveling for several weeks)** [decision; You; id `a3`]
   - if "Yes" go to Apply online, upload a digital photo and pay by card; if "No, renew by mail" go to Fill out form DS-82, add a new passport photo and a check for the fee
4. **Apply online, upload a digital photo and pay by card** [task; Online renewal or mail; id `a4`]
   - then Process the application (routine or expedited for an extra fee)
5. **Process the application (routine or expedited for an extra fee)** [task; U.S. Department of State; id `a7`] ⚠ PAIN POINT (critical): Wait times swing from weeks to months; check current times before you book travel
   - then Check your application status online
6. **Check your application status online** [task; Online renewal or mail; id `a8`]
   - then Mail your new passport; your old one comes back separately
7. **Mail your new passport; your old one comes back separately** [task; U.S. Department of State; id `a9`]
   - then Sign your new passport and check the details
8. **Sign your new passport and check the details** [end; You; id `a11`]
9. **Fill out form DS-82, add a new passport photo and a check for the fee** [task; You; id `a5`] ⚠ PAIN POINT (painful): Photos get rejected for glasses, shadows or the wrong size
   - then Mail the form, photo, fee and your old passport in a sturdy envelope with tracking
10. **Mail the form, photo, fee and your old passport in a sturdy envelope with tracking** [task; You; id `a6`]
   - then Process the application (routine or expedited for an extra fee)
11. **Apply in person with form DS-11 instead** [task; You; id `a10`]
   - then Sign your new passport and check the details

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  subgraph l_you["You"]
    n_a1(["Notice your passport expires within a year, or already has"])
    n_a2{"Is your most recent passport undamaged, issued at 16 or older, in the last 15 years, and in your current name (or can you show a name change)?"}
    n_a3{"Can you renew online? (adult, U.S. address, not traveling for several weeks)"}
    n_a5["Fill out form DS-82, add a new passport photo and a check for the fee"]
    n_a6["Mail the form, photo, fee and your old passport in a sturdy envelope with tracking"]
    n_a10["Apply in person with form DS-11 instead"]
    n_a11(["Sign your new passport and check the details"])
  end
  subgraph l_state["U.S. Department of State"]
    n_a7["Process the application (routine or expedited for an extra fee)"]
    n_a9["Mail your new passport; your old one comes back separately"]
  end
  subgraph l_portal["Online renewal or mail"]
    n_a4["Apply online, upload a digital photo and pay by card"]
    n_a8["Check your application status online"]
  end
  n_a1 --> n_a2
  n_a2 -->|"Yes"| n_a3
  n_a2 -->|"No"| n_a10
  n_a3 -->|"Yes"| n_a4
  n_a3 -->|"No, renew by mail"| n_a5
  n_a4 --> n_a7
  n_a5 --> n_a6
  n_a6 --> n_a7
  n_a7 --> n_a8
  n_a8 --> n_a9
  n_a9 --> n_a11
  n_a10 --> n_a11
```

## Full data (JSON)

```json
{
  "title": "Renew a U.S. passport",
  "maps": {
    "m_root": {
      "id": "m_root",
      "lanes": [
        {
          "id": "you",
          "name": "You",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "state",
          "name": "U.S. Department of State",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "portal",
          "name": "Online renewal or mail",
          "type": "system"
        }
      ],
      "steps": [
        {
          "id": "a1",
          "kind": "start",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "a2"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Notice your passport expires within a year, or already has"
        },
        {
          "id": "a2",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "a3",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "a10",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Is your most recent passport undamaged, issued at 16 or older, in the last 15 years, and in your current name (or can you show a name change)?"
        },
        {
          "id": "a3",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "a4",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "a5",
              "label": "No, renew by mail"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Can you renew online? (adult, U.S. address, not traveling for several weeks)"
        },
        {
          "id": "a4",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "portal",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "a7"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Apply online, upload a digital photo and pay by card"
        },
        {
          "id": "a5",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "a6"
            }
          ],
          "pain": {
            "note": "Photos get rejected for glasses, shadows or the wrong size",
            "level": 2
          },
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Fill out form DS-82, add a new passport photo and a check for the fee"
        },
        {
          "id": "a6",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "a7"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Mail the form, photo, fee and your old passport in a sturdy envelope with tracking"
        },
        {
          "id": "a7",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "state",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "a8"
            }
          ],
          "pain": {
            "note": "Wait times swing from weeks to months; check current times before you book travel",
            "level": 3
          },
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Process the application (routine or expedited for an extra fee)"
        },
        {
          "id": "a8",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "portal",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "a9"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Check your application status online"
        },
        {
          "id": "a9",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "state",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "a11"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Mail your new passport; your old one comes back separately"
        },
        {
          "id": "a10",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "a11"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Apply in person with form DS-11 instead"
        },
        {
          "id": "a11",
          "kind": "end",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Sign your new passport and check the details"
        }
      ],
      "title": "Renew a U.S. passport",
      "parent": null
    }
  }
}
```