How to Expedite Your U.S. Passport

You can requested expedited service for any type of passport application - new, renewal, replacement, name change, additional visa pages.

To expedite a new passport, you need to take a completed but unsigned Application for Passport (Form DS-11), proof of identity, proof of citizenship, passport photos, fees and social security card to the nearest passport acceptance facility.

Passport renewals, name change and additional visa pages can be requested by mail if you meet certain criteria. If you mail in your application, you should write "Expedited" very clearly on the envelope. Expediting your passport through an acceptance facility or by mail takes two to three weeks or more.

If you need to obtain a passport in less than two weeks, there are a couple of option. One, you can schedule an appointment at one of 15 Regional Passport Agencies.

Two, you can contract a private passport and visa expediter. Due to a special relationship with passport agencies, expediters can hand-deliver your passport application and pick up your passport in as little as 24 hours.

Passport expediter's fees vary widely. One factor that determines the amount you will pay is the return time. The quicker you request to receive your passport, the more you will pay.

The fee paid to the expediting service is above and beyond the fees paid to the U.S. Department of State Passport Services.

You need to be very careful when choosing an expediter. If you are facing an emergency situation, you can't take the risk of having your passport returned late. Unfortunately, there are a lot of small operations that don't live up to their claims.

If you do find yourself in a situation in which you absolutely must expedite your passport, the best thing you can do is to compare passport expediters. You can do this online. It really doesn't take much time and it could save you a lot of headaches.

When you only have a few days to obtain your passport, there is little room for errors. Expediters make sure you get your travel document quickly. Another advantage is that you can actually talk to a person and not a machine. Any questions you have or problems you face during the application process can be dealt with quickly and efficiently through an expediter.

Here are three tips gained from years of working with expediting services.

Get your new passport application adjudicated.

Before you mail your application for a new passport to an expediter, you have to take it to an acceptance facility where an authorized agent will witness the signing of the application.

Send an Authorization Form.

No passport expediting company can present your passport application to the State Department without your written authorization. You can get this form from the passport expeditor you choose to contract. Print the authorization form, fill it out and sign it.

Send your itinerary.

If you purchased your ticket online (e-ticket), you can print either the confirmation message in your browser screen or the email confirmation and send that. If you go through a travel agency, ask your travel agent to print off a copy for you. If no printed itinerary is available, you can personally type one and print it off.

There are hundreds of passport and visa expediters from one-man operations to large, multi-location companies. After careful evaluation of more than 40 expediting services, our recommendations go to the following two in order of preference.

1. Rush My Passport
Rush My Passport is the leading U.S. Passport expediting company. Featured on Forbes.com and MSNBC and with clients from Mariott hotels, Starbucks and Microsoft, RushMyPassport.com has helped thousands of American citizens get their passports within 8 days to as little as 24 hours.

2. Travel Visa Pro
Travel Visa Pro (TVP) team members have been helping thousands of people to navigate bureaucracies and solve passport and visa problems for over 8 years. Their experience and contact list provides you with a direct link to the best professionals in US Passport and Travel Visa Expediting industry.

Passport covers and wallets are great for protecting your passport from damage. Wallets also offer the added advantage of having your travel documents all on one place. Here is a few I liked.

Cashmere Passport Cover


The Cashmere Collection is the heart of Osgoode Marley. This collection has no rival for styling, craftsmanship and touch. You will feel the difference.


Cashmere Passport Cover

Rainbow Travel Pouch w/ matching Passport Cover


This 9.25" x 5" travel pouch has a matching passport cover included. Zippered pocket and card case pocket inside and outside back pocket.


Rainbow Travel Pouch w/ matching Passport Cover

RFID Shielding Passport Wallet


This beautiful Italian leather passport wallet, in the stylish printed Crocodile pattern, features the exclusive DataSafe%u2122 Technology. This patent-pending technology uses multiple layers of radio-frequency (RF) shielding material to protect your personal information which is stored in the new ePassports, and the new 'contactless credit cards', from the threat of wireless identity theft. This stunning and classic design has a total of ten pockets/slots and each one of these is lined with our DataSafe material!


RFID Shielding Passport Wallet

DataSafe® Italian Leather Travel & Passport Wallet


This beautiful Italian leather Travel & Passport Wallet features the exclusive DataSafe%u2122 Technology. This stunning and classic design will hold all your travel documents, your passport, credit and travel cards, currency, and tickets. This wallet has a total of twenty pockets/slots and each one of these is lined with our DataSafe material! Inside you have multiple pockets for currency, receipts, etc. along with a zippered pocket for coins. On the rear panel you have two EZ-Access pockets for boarding passes and/or your passport. This is a stylish wallet that you will cherish for years and one that will protect your personal information at the same time!


DataSafe® Italian Leather Travel & Passport Wallet

Passport Travel Wallet


This is fun and functional two tone top grain nappa leather wallet you will not want to leave at home. It is a great traveling piece but serves very well if you just want to go out shopping.


Passport Travel Wallet