Resolve to Go Paperless in 2022

December 30, 2021

In January, follow the example of the U.S. government that has committed to moving to a paperless archival system by December 31, 2022. The Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) directive for government agencies to transition to electronic records has prompted them to take steps in their modernization journeys.

The government faces multiple challenges with paper records, such as burdens on the workforce and high costs to manually create, use, and store nonelectronic information. As an individual, you may face similar dilemmas in dealing at home with your printed files, insurance records, and other important documents that would be difficult to replace if damaged or destroyed by natural disasters or accidents.

As government agencies transition to electronic records, many are experimenting with new technologies to sort through electronically stored information. Universities and businesses also have guidelines for storing electronic records in online repositories that they strive to:

  • Back up regularly
  • Comply with all privacy and security requirements
  • Allow for shared access through a network or a cloud-based program
  • Organize in such a way that records can be identified and purged appropriately
  • Set up to migrate content to a new system upon replacement
  • Maintain through regular software updates

InsureYouKnow.org

After you review the electronic storage practices of the government, universities, and businesses, establish your own ground rules for storing your important records at InsureYouKnow.org. Keep in mind the following tips:

  • A systematic plan for keeping track of important documents can save you hours of anxious searching for misplaced items. It also can help you reduce the number of nonimportant papers cluttering your home.
  • It is important to carefully store valuable papers which would be difficult or time-consuming to replace. Original hard-to-replace documents are ideally kept in a safe deposit box or a fire-proof, waterproof, burglar-proof home safe or lockbox. Scanned copies can be stored at InsureYouKnow.org where they will be readily accessible.
  • Electronically stored records must be legible, readable, and accessible for the period of limitations required. It is important to back up electronic files at InsureYouKnow.org in case of a computer malfunction in your home office.
  • Wherever you live, there is always a risk of fires, floods, and other disasters, and your home and important documents could be destroyed. If you have stored photographic images, you’ll have records accessible whenever you need them, including keeping peace of mind knowing documents are indestructible at InsureYouKnow.org.

Valuable papers can be sorted into two types: those needed for day-to-day use and those needed occasionally.

Examples of valuable papers used frequently include:

  • Drivers’ licenses
  • Credit cards
  • Health insurance cards
  • Bank account records
  • Identification cards
  • Special health documentation such as COVID-19 vaccinations, allergies, disabling conditions, prescriptions, and blood types for family members

Examples of valuable papers used occasionally include:

  • Birth, marriage, and death certificates
  • Deeds, leases, and property records and titles
  • Income and employment records
  • Passports
  • Contracts
  • Insurance policies
  • Income tax records
  • Military papers
  • Divorce decrees
  • Social Security records
  • Retirement and pension plans
  • Wills

Regular filing and reviewing of paper and electronic documents are important. Making decisions on when to discard old, printed files and purge electronic versions may be difficult but worth the effort to keep accurate, up-to-date records.

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Processing Passports

October 15, 2021

If you’re ready to start planning an international trip that you’ve postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic, first on your checklist should be to find your passport and see when it expires. Or, if you’ve never applied for a passport, cool your jets because your journey may be delayed due to current slow processing times for passport services.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused myriad service disruptions and delays, and while most services are relatively back to normal, obtaining a passport remains lengthier than it was prior to the pandemic. Passport adjudicators, who are essential to processing passports, can’t work from home; they must work within federal offices to process passports since passports are intended to be among the most secure documents a citizen will carry.

Officials recommend applying for a passport at least six months ahead of planned travel to avoid last minute complications. Individuals who do not have plans to travel abroad but have a passport that will expire within a year, are encouraged to apply now by mail or at an acceptance facility, such as a post office or library.

Effective October 8, routine service can take up to 14 weeks for new passports and passport renewals from the day an application is submitted to the day a new passport is received according to the State Department website. Information on passport fees can be found online here. Expedited service (for an additional $60) can take up to 10 weeks from the day an application is submitted to the day a new passport is received. These door-to-door timeframes include both processing and mailing times.

Here are a few suggestions from the State Department:

Select trackable mail

Send your application via USPS Priority Mail Express and pay an extra $17.56 for 1-2 day delivery of your completed passport. These services provide the fastest turnaround and protect your important documents.

Use self-service tools online

Get your questions answered immediately by using one of the available online self-service tools. Check online for your passport status. Customer service representatives will not give status updates over the phone. 

Apply early

Apply at least 4-6 months before your planned travel. Due to limited availability for urgent travel appointments, you can’t be guaranteed to receive in-person service at a passport agency or center. Customers with life-or-death emergencies are prioritized. You won’t be charged a fee to make an appointment. Visit the Passport Agency and Center page to learn more.

Schedule a limited appointment by phone

Call 1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, Mondays through Fridays. The appointment line is closed on weekends and federal holidays. The online appointment booking system has been temporarily disabled to ensure that very limited appointments go to applicants who need them for urgent travelLearn more to see if you qualify for an appointment.

Renew by mail

Adults with 10-year passports can renew them by mail instead of appearing in person.   

Respond to request for more information

If you applied more than 14 weeks ago for routine service or 10 weeks for expedited service and have not received your passport, the State Department may have sent you a letter requesting more information and can’t continue processing your application until you respond to this letter. Learn more on the Respond to a Letter or Email page. 

If you’re applying for a first-time passport

Children under age 16, first-time applicants and applicants who had their passports lost or stolen must apply in person and cannot renew by mail. But due to staffing shortages and other COVID-19-related issues, it can be tough to get an appointment at a local acceptance facility, which is typically a post office, library, or city clerk’s office.

Appointments are required at some, but not all, locations. Once you’ve applied at an acceptance facility, expect those same lengthy processing times that the renewal folks will experience as well.

Make time to gather your application materials, which includes evidence of U.S. citizenship for new passports. If you need time to track down your birth certificate or need to request one from an authorized issuing agency, your international trip may be even further than 18 weeks out.

Allow at least six months’ validity remaining

A valid passport that’s set to expire soon might be insufficient to assure international travel. Some countries require passports to be valid at least six months beyond your trip dates. So, even if your passport doesn’t expire until 2022, your 2021 holiday travel plans may be in jeopardy if your passport expires within six months of your trip. Some airlines won’t even let you board with a passport set to expire within that window. See which countries have such requirements via the State Department’s Country Information page.

Download passport forms

If you need to renew your passport or apply for one for the first time, you can download forms on the State Department website.

InsureYouKnow.org

At insureyouknow.org, you can keep track of your passport application or renewal journey. Here, you also can file copies of your valid passport, driver’s license, and birth certificate for safekeeping in case you lose them or need to refer to them while traveling.

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