Taxing Matters
Overtaxed Member
And since when did they allow you to renew it at the embassy?....
Actually, that has been the case for years, and is still the case today. Indeed, if you live outside the U.S. and need to renew a passport or get any other passport services, you must visit a U.S. consulate or embassy (with the exception of special rules that apply for Canada). The State Department expressly tells you this on it's page Apply Outside the United States:Well it is currently not allowed. Maybe this was 30 years ago. But it is not allowed any more.
See also the same information on the agency's page regarding renewing a passport:If you live in any other country besides Canada, you must apply in person at a U.S. embassy or consulate for all passport services. Each U.S. embassy and consulate has different procedures for submitting and processing your final documents, but the forms, supporting documentation, fees, and finished products are similar.
Note that last sentence: if you live outside the U.S. or Canada and want to renew your U.S. passport you must do it at a consulate or embassy.If you live in Canada, you may be eligible to renew your passport by mail and avoid a trip to a U.S. embassy or consulate. If you live in any other country, you must renew your passport at a U.S. embassy or consulate.