How to Expedite Your U.S. Passport

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You're only a couple of weeks away from an important international trip when you realize your passport has expired. Or maybe the chance to travel overseas arose unexpectedly and you don't even have a passport. Whatever the case, if you need to obtain a U.S. passport within two weeks or less, you'll have to expedite your passport application. Following are some tips on how to expedite your passport. If you are in a hurry and want to apply online to expedite your passport, visit Rush My Passport.

Where to Apply for a Passport

The Paths to Expedite Your 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 14 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 Expediting Fees

What You Can Expect to Pay Passport Expediters

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.

Passport Expediting Tips

How to Save Yourself Some 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.

Recommended Passport Expediters

Expediting Services We Trust

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, RushMyPassport.com has helped thousands of American citizens get their passports within 24 hours. Our process is simple, secure and affordable.

2. Visa HQ
Visa HQ is located in the heart of the Embassy Row in Washington, DC. They provides visa and passport services to U.S. citizens and residents who travel internationally.

Passport Covers and Wallets

Cover Your Passport for Better Care

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

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Passport & Travel News

The latest passport, visa and travel updates.

U.S. Passport Service Guide offes up-to-date passport and visa requirements, reviews of travel document expediters and recommendations of luggage and accessories for the well-equipped traveler.

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Comments on Passport Expediting

Let us know what you think of our lens. Add your own tips on expediting passport or other aspects of international travel.

KimGiancaterino

Nice lens! Welcome to All Things Travel.

Posted July 06, 2008

capybara

Fabulous Lens you have put a lot of work into it and it shows. Welcome to Travelmania group!
Tapir Travel

Posted July 06, 2008

Look who made this lens!

ideaguy

Visit U.S. Passport Service Guide - http://www.us-passport-service-guide.com - for passport and visa information.

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