There is a growing demand for fast passport application processing due to last-minute bargain vacations, foreign business trips and family emergencies. The US Department of State can take six weeks or longer to process applications. If you plan to travel in the near future and need a passport fast, you have three options.

Expedited Service

If you have at least three weeks before your departure date, you can take advantage of the department’s expedited mail service for obtaining or renewing passports. You will have to pay an extra fee as well as two-way overnight delivery charges. Expedited applications are usually processed within ten days, although a number of factors can result in delays.

Passport Agencies

If your travel date is within two weeks, you may be able to speed up the process by applying in person. There are thirteen regional passport agencies located throughout the US. You can schedule an appointment by phone. You will need to supply proof of your plans to travel within fourteen days and you will be charged the standard fee for expedited passports.

Private Companies

If you are only given a few days notice before you need to leave the US, a private expediting service can help. These companies have connections with government offices that allow them to deliver passports to their clients in as little as two working days. They charge substantial service and shipping fees on top of the payment for expedited Department of State processing.

Required Documents

For any kind of fast passport application processing, you will need to have your official documents in order. This includes regulation sized passport photos, legal proof of identity, and proof of US citizenship. Delays will almost certainly result if any of the required documents are missing or unacceptable.

Preparation

If a professional expediting company is handling your case, you still have plenty of work to do. You will need sign a letter authorizing the company to represent you. You must them bring all of your documents to the nearest designated processing center. A State Department Acceptance Agent will go over your materials and witness your signature on the application form before it is delivered to the expediter.

Website

The government’s travel website contains useful information on applying for passports and details all the documents that can be legally used to support applications. Private expediting companies have checklists on their websites to guide clients through the process of applying. They also provide phone representatives to help customers with any problems or concerns.

Tracking

Individuals can track the status of expedited passports online through a facility offered by the Department of State. However, it may take a week for the information to become available. Expediting companies send their customers regular status updates by email. Their phone representatives are on hand to respond to any queries.

If there’s any possibility that you may need to travel beyond the US boarders, it could pay to do your homework. Ensure that you have the documents the government requires for issuing passports. You may need to request an official copy of a missing certificate. You can greatly reduce the cost of fast pasport application processing by preparing in advance and applying as soon as possible. This can also be done for a child U.S. pass port as well as replacing a lost or stolen passport.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!