Expedited Passport: For When You Need It Now
Under normal circumstances, a passport application requires about four to six months to complete. If you absolutely must have a passport sooner, there are measures you can take in order to obtain an expedited passport. Depending upon how soon you plan to travel, passports can be processed in as little as 24 hours. Additional costs are required in order to receive the rush passport.
Passports are necessary in more travel situations than prior to 9/11. U. S. Citizens must have a passport to travel to Canada or Mexico. Previously, a birth certificate and driver's license was enough documentation to cross the borders and return to the United States. If you know six months or more in advance that you will be traveling to another country, you can go through the standard passport application process.
2-3 Week Turnaround:
If you will not be leaving on your journey for 3-4 weeks, you can expedite the passport process yourself. When you apply for a new passport through a passport application office, you request expedited service for your application. You will pay extra to for special handling. If you need the passport in your hands in two to three weeks, this procedure will allow you to obtain the passport in plenty of time.
Less Than Two Weeks:
There are two ways to get a passport in time if you have less than two weeks before it is needed. The first method is to take your passport application and documentation and visit the regional agency personally. You will need to schedule an appointment, but by doing so, the passport can be available to you on the day of your visit. For some locations, visiting a regional office is quite a distance to travel and again, there are extra costs involved to expedite it.
The second method for getting a passport in less than two weeks is to retain the services of a private expediter. This method is intended for people who need the passport in two weeks or less, but cannot take the time to travel to one of the regional passport agencies. Private expediters offer services for rapid delivery of your passport document.
Private Expediters:
The times for passport delivery through a private expediter can be as soon as the same day. Delivery times can be set at two days, three to four days, five to seven business days, eight to ten business days, or eleven or more business days. Rates vary according to the number and kinds of services provided by the agency.
Expediters offer services with varied processing times. Choose the level of service based on how soon you need the passport in hand. When you use a private company, depending upon the desired delivery date, the passport specialist may arrange to pick up your documents and hand deliver them to the US Passport Agency. Fees for obtaining a passport through a private agency are significantly higher, but if the alternative is canceling your travel plans, the extra costs may be worth the price.
By getting an expedited passport through a private passport service, you remove the time stress from the process. You are free to do the other planning and preparation needed instead of traveling to the U. S. Passport Agency. Once you have your new U.S. Passport, you won't need to renew for a full ten years.
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