Expired Passports
Section 215 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1185) states:
Citizens:
Except as otherwise provided by the President and subject to such limitations and exceptions as the President may authorize and prescribe, it shall be unlawful for any citizen of the United States to depart from or enter, or attempt to depart from or enter, the United States unless he bears a valid United States passport.
(c)Definitions
The term "United States" as used in this section includes the Canal Zone, and all territory and waters, continental or insular, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The term "person" as used in this section shall be deemed to mean any individual, partnership, association, company, or other incorporated body of individuals, or corporation, or body politic."
This means that it is the traveler’s responsibility to ensure that his/her passport, and the passports of the traveler’s family members, are valid prior to departing from the U.S.
In addition, an expired passport does not constitute an emergency that warrants the issuance of an emergency passport. The processing time for a U.S. passport averages two weeks. U.S. Embassies overseas do not offer expedited processing.