How Quickly Can I Get a Passport? - Expedited Passports

Most travel experts tell you to apply for a passport at least a couple of months before you plan to leave the country, and that’s definitely the safest way to go. However, depending on how much time and energy you’re willing to put into the endeavor, you may be able to acquire one much more quickly than that.

Regular  Processing

If you apply for your passport by mail or at the post office and don’t request any sort of special handling, you can expect to get it back in around six weeks, depending on the State Department’s workload at the time. Be sure you read the application instructions carefully, as mistakes can delay your passport.

Expedited Processing

If regular processing takes too long, the Department of State does offer an expedited processing option for an additional $60 charge. If you pay the $60 and spring for overnight delivery to and from the passport office, you should have your passport in about three weeks’ time.

If that still doesn’t cut it, you can get your passport even more quickly by making an appointment at one of the country’s 24 regional passport agency offices. These offices issue emergency passports only, so in order to make an appointment you must have already booked a trip out of the country that leaves in the next 14 days.

However, if you also need to get a visa for your destination country, you have a little bit more leeway and can make an appointment within four weeks of your travel date. Once at the office, you should have your passport within 24 hours provided you brought all of the required documents.

Of course, with only 24 offices serving the entire country, visiting a regional passport agency in person is extremely inconvenient for many people. Office hours tend to be limited, so people who work during the day have to take additional time off.  Plus, depending on where you live, it could take hours to get to the nearest office, or you might even have to take a plane.

An expediting service like RushMyPassport is a worthwhile investment because you don’t have to make an appointment or travel. Just go to the nearest post office, get your documents officially “sealed,” and send them to us. We personally deliver them to the Department of State, then FedEx your passport right back to you, often in as little as 24 hours. Plus, we take you through the application process one step at a time,  so you can avoid making common mistakes that might slow down your passport.

Need to get a passport quickly? Contact us today!

One of America’s oldest cities, Boston has been one of the country’s gateways to the rest of the world since before the US even existed.  Today at Logan International Airport, you can catch a plane that will take you directly to Canada. Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa. Later this year, Japan Airlines will add service to Asia, as well.

Renewing Your Passport in Boston

Of course, to take advantage of these convenient international travel opportunities, you’ll need a valid passport. If yours has been gathering dust in a drawer for too long, here’s what you need to know to renew it.

The first step is figuring out whether or not you are eligible to apply for your passport renewal by mail. Take this quick quiz to see whether or not this will be an option for you:

• Is your current passport still undamaged and in your possession?
• Was your current passport issued to you after your 16th birthday?
• Was your current passport issued to you less than 15 years ago?
• Are you still using the name that your last passport was issued under, OR do you have legal documents to support a name change request?

If you answered yes to all of the following questions, you can apply for your passport renewal by mail. Here’s how:

• Fill out passport renewal form DS-82, and send it in to the address listed on the form. Also include the following items:
• Your current passport.
• One new passport photo
• If you need to change your name on your next passport, include legal documents like a marriage certificate or court order to support your request.
• A check or money order to cover the required passport fees. Read the rest of this entry »

One question that keeps coming up again and again in the comments section is this: “Do babies need passports of their own?” It’s not necessarily an unreasonable question– after all, they don’t necessarily need their own plane tickets, so why would they need their own ID?

Alas, in most countries the era of the “family passport” has long since passed.  Even the smallest infants now require their own documents for most international travel. Let’s take a look at the question in a little bit more depth:

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) governs travel between the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.  Within these areas, your baby may be able to travel passport-free as long as you are not flying. Here are the applicable rules:

• All air travel requires a passport, no matter how young your baby is.
• For land or sea travel, adults should have a passport, a passport card, or another WHTI-compliant ID like a NEXUS card, FAST card, SENTRI card or an enhanced driver’s license (offered in a limited number of states at this time.)
• Babies (and any other children under the age of 16) traveling by land or sea may do so with just a birth certificate.
• US citizens of any age traveling on a closed-loop cruise (one that begins and ends at the same US port) may cruise with just state-issued ID (if adults) and a birth certificate.

Outside the Western Hemisphere

If you are going outside of the Western Hemisphere, your baby needs a passport no matter what your mode of travel.

Also, when taking your baby to any foreign country, if you aren’t traveling with the other parent, you may need a signed, notarized letter granting permission for the trip. Some countries require this as a safeguard to prevent child abduction. Contact the embassy of your destination country for details.

Now that you know whether or not you need a passport for your baby, here’s  How to Get a Child Passport.

Bear in mind that your child’s new passport may take six weeks to come in if you apply with regular processing.  Pay an additional $60 for expedited processing, and you’re still looking at 3 weeks processing time. For faster service, either make an appointment at one of the nation’s 24 regional passport agencies, or use a private company like RushMyPassport. We personally deliver your child’s paperwork to the Department of State for processing in as little as 24 hours. Plus, there’s no need to make an appointment or wait in line at a passport agency with a fussy infant.

For help getting your child a passport quickly, contact us today!

Until yesterday, it was impossible to apply for a US passport exclusively online. Sure, there are application forms and other resources available to get the ball rolling, but you had to use snail mail to send in the application. Now, if you already have a passport and would like a passport card as well, you can take advantage of a new online application procedure that allows you to send off for the card without entering a post office or even licking an envelope.

This option may not be around forever- at the moment, it is part of a 90-day pilot program being conducted by the Department of State.  According to a State Department press release, “This pilot program is the Department’s signature initiative under Presidential Executive Order 13571 to simplify customer service interactions and streamline related processes, making them more efficient.”

The online application is available here. To be eligible to participate, you must already have a US passport book, valid for ten years from the date on which it was issued.  You’ll also need a digital passport photo that meets the applicable State Department requirements, and a credit card and/or a bank account so that you can pay for your passport card on the Pay.gov website.Finally, you must have an email address so that the Department of State can communicate with you about your application. Read the rest of this entry »

You can apply for everything from a credit card to a driver’s license via the Internet these days. But how do you apply for a passport online?

Unfortunately, the Department of State’s procedures do not allow you to complete the entire passport application process online. If you’re applying for a passport renewal, you’ll have to use snail mail to send the documents in. If you’re applying for a new passport, a visit to a passport office is in your future.

This may seem inconvenient, but it does guard against passport fraud. However, there are a variety of online resources available that make the passport application process easier.

Online Passport Application Forms 

Passport application forms are available online for new passport applications, passport renewals, corrections, adding pages and more. You can either print copies of the form to fill out by hand or fill them out online and print them. Either way, remember to sign  the forms by hand where requested and to use a black ink pen.

Locating Passport Offices

Some passport renewals can be handled by mail, but other passport situations require you to apply in person at a passport office.  To help you locate the nearest office,  the Department of State has a handy search page that allows you to search by zip code or by city and state.

Ordering Documents Online

If you need a copy of your birth certificate to include with your application as proof of citizenship, you can order online from Vitalchek in order to save yourself a trek to the Department of Vital Records where you were born. There are a range of shipping options available if you need your documents in a hurry.

Expedited Passports Online

Regular passport processing takes about six weeks. Expedited service is available through the State Department for an additional $60 fee, but even if you choose this option you should allow at least three weeks to receive your passport.

If you need faster passport service and you don’t want to travel to one of the country’s 24 regional passport agency locations, you can apply online with a service like RushMyPassport.com. We walk you through the paperwork one step at a time, and then hand-deliver it to the Department of State for processing in as little as 24 hours. With super-fast shipping through FedEx, you get your passport ASAP and can track your package every step of the way.

Need a passport fast? Apply online with us today!

Just married? Newly divorced? Whatever the story behind your new name, you need to make sure that the change is reflected on your passport. Here are the steps to take to make that happen.

If Your Passport is Less Than a Year Old

If your passport is less than one year old, you can get your name changed free of charge.  Simply complete passport application Form DS-5504 and mail it in to address listed on the form, along with the following documents:

• Your current, valid US passport.
• Legal evidence to back up your name change request, such as a copy of your marriage certificate or a court order referencing the change.  Send either the original document or a certified copy, not a photocopy.
• One new passport photo.
• The Department of State will correct passports less than one year old for free. However, if you need your updated passport in the next six weeks, it’s a good idea to go ahead and pay the $60 expedite fee. This will reduce the processing time to approximately three weeks.

If Your Passport Was Issued More Than a Year Ago

If your passport was issued more than one year ago, you’ll need to go ahead and renew it in order to get your name changed.  To start, fill out passport renewal Form DS-82. Send it in to the address listed on the form, along with the following documents:

• Your current, undamaged US passport.
• One new passport photo.
• Legal documentation, such as a marriage certificate or court order, that supports your request for a name change.
• A check or money order to pay the fees. A passport book alone is $110, a passport card (valid only for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean) is $30, and both together are $140.

Passport applications are generally processed within six weeks, though you can pay an additional $60 expedite fee to cut that time down to three weeks. If you need the name on your passport changed more quickly than that, you have a choice of either making an appointment at one of the State Department’s 24 regional passport agency offices, or using a private company like RushMyPassport.

We take your paperwork and deliver it directly to the State Department for priority processing, often in as little as 24 hours. There’s no need to make an appointment, wait in line, or travel out of town to a passport agency. Plus, we walk you through the process, step-by-step, reducing the chance of errors that can cause delays.

For a quick passport name change with a minimum amount of hassle, contact us today!

At RushMyPassport, people come to us to replace lost passports all the time. For one British man currently living in Australia, though, his passport is impossible to lose- it’s tattooed across his back!

According to the Sun, Richard Ashton decided to have the tattoo done in 2006, to commemorate a backpacking trip to the country he now calls home. The tattoo includes all of the information on the identification page of his passport, including his passport number. What possessed him to have all of that tattooed across his back in permanent ink? He explains:

“I wanted something to remember my holiday by, but also wanted something patriotic. My girlfriend at the time thought I was a bit daft, but eventually she found it hilarious. That seems to be the general reaction.”

Of course, the tattoo is basically useless for international travel. Customs and Border Protection made a point of debunking a Canadian citizen’s claim that he used a scanned copy of his passport stored on his iPad to crossd the border; there’s no way a copy stored in your skin would ever be considered legit.

That said, Mr. Ashton has been able to use his passport tattoo to withdraw money at the bank.   Apparently the teller figured that if he was willing to go through the cost and pain involved in getting the information tattooed on his back, the chances were good that it was actually his information.

Travelers are advised to travel with a printed copy of their passport in addition to the original, which makes it easier to replace a stolen or lost passport overseas. In theory, Mr. Ashton’s tattoo could serve the same purpose, making it so that he can always access his biographical information and passport number. Keep in mind, though, that your passport number changes every time you renew or replace it. Tattoos, on the other hand, are for life.

If you need to replace a lost passport, see Passport Replacement Services for detailed information on how to do that in the United States.  If you are overseas and you’ve lost your passport, see How to Replace a Lost Passport Overseas.

If you’re in the US and you need to replace a lost passport quickly for travel, you have two options: make an appointment on one of the country’s 24 regional passport agency offices or use a private passport agency like RushMyPassport. RushMyPassport hand carries your paperwork to the Department of State for processing in as little as 24 hours. Plus, by going through a private company you avoid the twin hassles of having to make an appointment and having to travel to a passport agency office.

To replace a lost passport in a hurry, contact us today!

Home to one of the fastest-growing international in the United States, Houston is a convenient place to start an international journey. Hundreds of international flights leave from George W. Bush Intercontinental Airport each day, carrying travelers all over the globe. Soon, when flights from Houston to Auckland, New Zealand commence, the airport will become one of only four in the world that offers service to all six continents.

In other words, living in Houston means living with the world at your doorstep. But to actually see it, you’ll need a valid passport. If yours has expired, no worries: this guide will help you through the process of getting a passport renewal in Houston, step by step.

Passport Renewal by Mail

Most Houstonians are eligible to apply for a passport renewal by mail.  You can replace an expired or expiring passport by mail as long as all of the following statements are true:

• Your current passport is in your possession, has never been reported lost or stolen and is not damaged.
• Your current was issued after your 16th birthday AND it was issued less than 15 years ago.
• If your name has changed since your last passport was issued, you have the necessary legal documents to support your name change request.

If you’re eligible to renew by mail, submit all of the following to the address listed on the passport renewal form:

• Your current passport
• A completed copy of passport renewal form DS-82
• One new passport photo
• A check to pay the required fees

Houston Passport Acceptance Offices

If you aren’t eligible to renew by mail, you’ll need to apply in person at one of the city’s 29 passport acceptance offices. These tend to be located in post offices and other government buildings; you can find the closest one to your home or work by visiting the Department of State’s website.

Houston Passport Agency

The standard processing time for a passport renewal application is about six weeks. If you pay an additional $60 expedite fee, you can cut streamline the process somewhat, but it will still take about three weeks to get your passport.

If you are traveling sooner than that, you can make an appointment at the Houston Passport Agency office, located in the Mickey Leland Federal Building on Smith Street. This office can issue emergency passports and passport renewals within 24 hours, but the downside is that the office is only open by appointment only and has limited operating hours between 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.

A more convenient option is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport. We hand-deliver your paperwork to the Department of State for processing in as little as 24 hours.  Contact us today for quick, courteous passport renewal help!

Adopting a child is an incredibly stressful process, especially if you choose to adopt from another country.  Though the reward of giving a child a family is immeasurable, international adoption often requires an intense commitment in the form of time, energy and money.  You’ll also need to pay extra-special attention to your new child’s citizenship status and the associated paperwork. When it comes time to get your child a US passport, additional documentation is often required. Here’s what you need to avoid delays and added frustration when getting a passport for a child adopted overseas:

Citizenship

To qualify for a US passport, the child must be a US citizen. Fortunately, since 2001, children adopted overseas by US citizen parents automatically become citizens, saving adoptive parents time and energy. However, there may still be a few loose ends for you to tie up. If your child’s adoption was finalized in their home country, and you brought them to the US on an IH-3 visa, your child will automatically become a US citizen when you enter the United States, and you will be automatically sent Certificate of Citizenship. This is proof that your child is a US citizen and can be used when applying for their passport.

One the other hand,  if the child came in on an IH-4 visa and the adoption needs to be finalized in the United States, your child will only automatically be issued a green card when you arrive in the US.  After the adoption has been finalized, your child will automatically become a US citizen, but if you want a certificate of citizenship you will have to apply for one (this is handy but is not required).

Documents Needed

Before you apply, gather all of the necessary documents:

• Proof of identity for both adoptive parents, such as a driver’s license or other state-issued photo ID.
• Proof of your relationship to the child- in this case, the adoption decree.
• Proof of the child’s citizenship. If you have a certificate of citizenship for your child, that will do.  Otherwise, you’ll need to show the paper trail by which your child became a citizen, including: a certified copy of the final adoption decree (translated if the original isn’t in English); the child’s passport from their country of origin, showing  the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security (USCIS) I-551 stamp in the passport; proof of your identity as per above and proof of your US citizenship.
• Parental consent: If the child was adopted by two US citizen parents, both parents have to consent for the passport to be issued. To prove parental consent, either both parents must appear in person or one parent must appear with a signed, notarized consent form signed by the other parent (passport forms available here).
• One passport photo.
• The applicable passport fees. Read the rest of this entry »

It was the travel story of the week:  a 33-year-old Canadian man named  Martin Reisch left on a road trip for the US without his passport, but managed to convince Customs to let him across the border by showing them a scanned copy of the document on his iPad.

As Mr. Reisch told the Montreal Gazette, the US border guard wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about the situation, but after taking his iPad off to another location temporarily, the official waved him on through:

“I guess he looked me up in the computer and saw I’m not a criminal or a terrorist or anything.“He didn’t say much besides ‘Merry Christmas.’ ”

On his return trip, Mr. Reisch also reportedly got into Canada without a hitch, again by bringing up the scanned copy of his passport on his iPad. He told the Montreal Gazette that he believes Steve Jobs would be proud:

“He’d probably say: ‘Here’s something to work on for the future.’ Maybe have some kind of digital certification or encryption to let people travel like this.”

Ah, the triumph of technology over bureaucracy. It makes for a great story, but there’s just one catch- it might not have actually happened. Read the rest of this entry »