Passport Renewal questions - need help

[phil100a]

Hi, Hope all are well.

My Italian passport is due for renewal. I obtained citizenship via jure sanguinis in 2010 and I am in the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Consulate.

I just went to the Consulate website to discover that passports are no longer renewed, but one has to apply for a new passport by submitting a number of documents.

I went to the website and made sure I was registered and in the system, but from there the (English) instructions are so opaque as to be virtually unintelligible due to a lack of logical and linear steps to complete the process, with *clear* directions to necessary upload and other links.

They Consulate website says I have to have an "Aire" form to sign, but I don't see any link to that form or any way to way to download that form.

They also ask for a copy of my Italian and American passports, respectively, and proof of current residence. None of the foregoing is any problem, but I don't see any *transparent* instructions on how/where/what link to upload the information to.

Does anyone have a sequential diagram or *clear* instructions on which procedures I have to follow in order to simply obtain my passport, which, again, is a *renewal*. Why on earth have they stopped simply renewing the passports and instead make us jump through all these hoops to get a new passport when the original passport expires?

Any and all help appreciated. Stay safe out there.

Cheers,
Phil

[Italysearcher]

YOu have to be registered as AIRE (Italian registered outide the country) in the town of residence. YOu should probably do that first.

[Desolina]

You can't renew passports anymore - you need a 'new' passport. You can make an appointment for one; they are accepting new appointments for people with existing passports, but not (unfortunately) for new Italian citizens trying to obtain their first Italian passport.

From the SF consulate's website under "passports":
[
"RENEWALS and EXHAUSTION OF PAGES

It is no longer possible to renew Italian passports. Those with an expiring (or expired) Italian passport must follow instructions for the issuance of a new passport booklet. Similarly, it is no longer possible to add pages to Italian passports. Citizens in possession of a valid Italian passport with no more available pages must follow the same intructions for the issuance of a new passport booklet."

[phil100a]

you said:
"You have to be registered as AIRE (Italian registered outide the country) in the town of residence."

OK, I live in in San Francisco. Are you saying that I have to register as AIRE, living in SF?

I already vote in the Italian elections; they send me voting cards; they know where I live. Are you sure I have to register with AIRE?

I did register with the "FAST" application the other day, but the website at one point says it will link to AIRE, but it doesn't. I'm completely baffled by this process.

[TerraLavoro]

From San Francisco consulate's website:

COVID-19 NOTICE:

Due to the current COVID-19 public health crisis and the recent restrictions enforced by local authorities (San Francisco Public Health Order on March 16, 2020 and Executive Order N-33-20 on March 19, 2020), the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco will be open to the public for appointments ONLY on WEDNESDAYS and FRIDAYS from 9 am to 2 pm beginning May 18th (or until further notice). As such, please DO NOT come to the Consulate unless we have previously confirmed your appointment by email.

The passport office is currently accepting appointments EXCLUSIVELY AND ONLY FOR PROVEN URGENCIES AND EMERGENCIES.

To schedule an urgent appointment for passports or Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs), citizens MUST email the Passport Office at passaporti.sanfrancisco@esteri.it and include proof of legitimate emergency and their Scheda Consolare from their Fast.it account (if resident in our jurisdiction).

Appointments for passports and/or ETDs should not be booked through PrenotaOnLine during this time.

I would send them an email, explain your situation, ask them if a phone call would be helpful, and proceed accordingly.

[phil100a]

Thanks for this suggestion. For anyone else trying to renew a passport at the San Francisco Consulate - or questions about passports - the correct email to send requests is:

passaporti.sanfrancisco@esteri.it