US passport...what should I do?

After two years of marriage I have officially changed my name.  All that's really left is my passport. I could send it off to have the name change page put it, but it expires in August 2012. Can I apply for a new one now or will they make me pay for the name change fee this year, then pay for a new one next year? Basically, how far in advance can you request a new passport? I know I can travel on my passport as it is (just booking it in my maiden name), but it would be nice to have everything finally changed over.

PS - I don't have any visas or anything in it that are still valid. Well, my Irish one is, but I can just travel there as a visitor and get a new resident's visa if we were to move back. That's only valid until August 2012 too since that's when my passport was set to expire.

It doesn't look like there are any timeline requirements for changing your name (which apparently includes renewal).

(Also found a blog post by the US Embassy in London stating that you can renew at any time before/after your passport expires. Apparently the US gov't is happy to take your renewal fee as often as you want to send it. )

Thanks for doing my research for me.  That sounds easier than I thought! Just send them more money!

It's the same fee either way. As your passport is due to expire soon, it wasn't issued in the last 12 months so changing your name is the standard renewal and your new passport will cover the 10 years from your most recent birthday.  If you want your married name in your passport do it now (to expire in 2021) and if you're not bothered, do it next year (to expire in 2022).

As your passport is due to expire soon, it wasn't issued in the last 12 months so changing your name is the standard renewal and your new passport will cover the 10 years from your most recent birthday.

Just FYI, I recently renewed my passport (no name change) in May (set to expire the following Nov) and the new passport's expiration date is Nov, so they may be going off the date you renew it, not off your birthday (which would've also been Nov for me).

Just FYI, I recently renewed my passport (no name change) in May (set to expire the following Nov) and the new passport's expiration date is Nov, so they may be going off the date you renew it, not off your birthday (which would've also been Nov for me).

I'm confused.

your new passport will cover the 10 years from your most recent birthday.

Unless the process is different for doing a name change with a renewal, this was not my experience, as my new passport dates were the 10 years from the date they issued it, not my most recent birthday.