Urgent Passport Expediting – Three Ways to Get a U.S. Passport Fast

A rush passport can be obtained three ways if you find yourself in an emergency and need to get your travel document quickly. Regular processing takes at least three weeks and, usually, longer during peak travel seasons. When you need to get a passport sooner, your only option is to expedite the application. The three methods for obtaining your passport quickly are discussed below.

Request Expedited Service When You Apply

When you apply for a new passport, a renewal, or a replacement for a lost or stolen one, you can request that it be expedited. You can apply for a renewal by mail if your most recent U.S. passport is available to submit and not damaged, was issued when you were age 16 or older, was issued within the last 15 years, and was issued in your current name (or you can legally document your name change).

When applying for a new passport or a replacement, you will have to appear at a passport acceptance facility so that an agent can witness the signing of your application. Whether you mail in your application or take it to an acceptance facility, you will need to include an extra $60 for the expediting fee to the U.S. Department of State Passport Services. You should also write “Expedited” on the outside of the envelope and use an overnight delivery service to both send your application and have your passport returned to you.

Visit a Regional Passport Agency

If you need a U.S. passport in less than 2 weeks for international travel or within 4 weeks to obtain a travel visa, you will need make an appointment and visit a regional U.S. Passport Agency. These are currently located in the cities Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Houston, New Orleans, Miami, D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, and New York. Two others are located in Aurora, Colorado and Norwalk, Connecticut.

You can make an appointment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using the Automated Appointment System at 1-877-487-2778. It is sometimes difficult to get through and may take several attempts. If you plan to visit a passport agency, you need to take the application form with you and not fill it out.

Keep in mind that passport agencies are closed during all Federal Holidays and some special occasions. For example, the Washington, D.C. agency is closed on the day of the Presidential Inauguration.

Contract a Private Passport Expediting Service

Due to your location or your schedule it may not be possible for you to visit a regional agency. There are also times when it is almost impossible to make an appointment. In these cases, your only option may be to contract a private expediting service. Private expediters have a special relationship with Passport Services which allows them to present the application on your behalf and pick up your passport when it is ready.

U.S. Passport Service Guide provides step-by-step information and proven tips to help you expedite passport applications and get your passport fast without any problems. You can also discover how to expedite visa requests to popular destinations.