renewing a passport
addiemoose said:
do all the local post offices let you renew your soon to expire passport there? I've always gone to south orange but mwood is closer. thanks!
You have to mail it in. I mailed mine from the MW office and the clerk there was very good about making sure I had dotted my "i"s and crossed my "t"s but ultimately, it has to be mailed to the processing center.
How soon does the passport expire? I followed instructions on-line and renewed my passport by mail. It took a few weeks and was easy. Website at the time did not offer an in person option at a local post office. I don't know if they do now. I understand that Short Hills Post Office still does passport applications (Maplewood no longer does). I don't know if this is just new passports or if it includes renewals.
If you don't mind a half-hour trip, there is a post office in Clifton that is basically dedicated to passports and they even have Sunday hours. I think every one gets mailed for processing and there can be a line, but a location that focuses on passports, they have the most up-to-date information and people whose sole focus is passport issues.
https://www.passportofficelocations.net/clifton-passport-center-po1500
I think we had to go to the post office for our kids' passport renewal ID review/approvals before sending in. Adults may only need to send in. (I don't remember exactly).
Here's the link to find post office passport hours/make online appointments if needed. We went to the one in Springfield a year ago, which was fine.
https://www.usps.com/international/passports.htm#echo--tab-link-1
We did the Essex County Clerk's outreach - 5 min, so long as you have everything. Got it back in two weeks.
Adult renewals (with limited exceptions likely not applicable) are by mail.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/renew-by-mail.html
In related news, I’ve just read this alarming article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48486672
I’m going to have to declare MOL membership and show my posts, if I apply for a US visa. I’m also going to have to breach confidentiality (apparently) and reveal my clients’ email addresses. (I’m not in a protected profession like a doctor, even though I work in social services for aged & disability care) I can’t remember all my email contacts for 5 years - does that mean I’ve lied???
Wow, joanne! what a giant nuisance (and intrusion)! Since the article mentions work and student visas, I wonder if the new rule applies to tourists/visitors too? If so, seems as though our tourism/hospitality providers would be hit.
If another country required this amount of info, i think i'd just skip going there, not from any principle but just to avoid the hassle. I wouldn't even know how to find/present my MOL or Facebook posts (all of which are completely noncontroversial, some might even say inane, iirc, unless Snopes or Politifact is a flagged website....). 
strange new world
joanne said:
In related news, I’ve just read this alarming article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48486672
I’m going to have to declare MOL membership and show my posts, if I apply for a US visa. I’m also going to have to breach confidentiality (apparently) and reveal my clients’ email addresses. (I’m not in a protected profession like a doctor, even though I work in social services for aged & disability care) I can’t remember all my email contacts for 5 years - does that mean I’ve lied???
I interpret this as user names the applicant has used on social media over the five years immediately prior to filing the visa application and all of the applicant's own phone number(s) should they have multiple phones (landline + cell phone + work phone with changes over the year period) and all email address(es) the applicant had over the prior five years, Multiple email address would be all those used by the applicant during the five year period immediately prior to application (personal/business/any other).
Yep, Joanne: every email address and contacts, plus all your passwords and the various names you're known by and they're known by - previously, both your country and mine have made attempts to require all work contacts too.
I literally can't remember everyone I had contact with socially via email last year, and had to rebuild my contacts files three times since October. I know not everyone is there (not needed to be either). Five years??? Ridiculous task.
And who is going to check this info????
I'm not sure how that is legal. Has it been challenged in the courts?
over here, they get around it with the ever-looming threats of international/cyber terrorism.
There’s always just enough going on to justify the need for intrusion.
do all the local post offices let you renew your soon to expire passport there? I've always gone to south orange but mwood is closer. thanks!