Thanks all! If I give her the money for the renewal is there any reason I have to go to the embassy with her - I assume I don't have to sign the form since it's for her passport. She is quite independent, and could go herself in the morning when I am at work and kids are in school.

Will they return her original passport with the new one? I think we will need it in order to transfer her visa into the new passport.

Thanks again.