Expedited Passports

Picture this: You’re getting ready to leave for an overseas trip. Your passport is the number one item on your travel checklist, but when you go to check it off…it’s not there!

There are few things more stressful than discovering you’ve lost your passport when you have a trip planned in the near future.  First, take a deep breath and RELAX…if you’ve got more than 24 hours before your plane leaves, you can get a new passport. Here’s how:

Step 1: Report your lost passport. You can do this over the phone by calling 1-877-487-2778 or by filling out Form DS-64 . Once you report the passport lost, the government cancels it and it can’t be re-validated. You might want to make one more final search for it before you have it canceled.
Step 2: Apply for a new passport in person. You’ll need to fill out Form DS-64 and Form DS-11.  Also, bring valid photo identification and proof of US citizenship.
Step 3: Wait for your new passport to arrive. Currently, regular passport applications are being processed within 3 weeks, while expedited passports take 2 weeks.

If you simply can’t rest until you have a replacement passport or you’re scheduled to depart in less than two weeks, the easiest way to replace a lost passport is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com. A private expediting service can replace your lost passport in as little as 24 hours! Plus, you’ll have expert help with each stage of the application process and be able to track your application. Even if you think you have enough time to apply without an expediter, simply having a professional to help you and make sure everything goes right the first time is invaluable.

It used to be so easy to pop in for a visit to our neighbors in Mexico and Canada. Years ago, all you had to do was verbally declare your citizenship at the border. Then, the government passed the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).  WHTI tightened identification requirements for people traveling to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. So, do you need a passport to go to Canada? Do you need a passport to go to Mexico? Right now, you don’t need a passport to go to either of these countries by land or by sea, but you do if you’re flying in. However, starting June 1, 2009, you will need a passport or another form of WHTI-compliant ID to cross the border, period. For most people, a passport or a passport card is the easiest WHTI-compliant document to obtain.

According to this interesting post on the LA Times’ Daily Deal blog, it’s a good idea to get your passport application in now if you plan to travel out of the country in 2009.  In the past, changes in passport requirements have caused massive increases in the number of passport applications the department has to process.  In 2007, a deluge of extra passport applications increased the processing time required for new or updated passports. It’s possible that the new 2009 passport laws could have the same effect. Of course, the fastest and most foolproof way to apply for your passport is to use a passport expediting service like RushMyPassport.com.  With an expediting service, you have a professional to review your passport application, catch any mistakes, and personally see that it gets processed in the promised amount of time.  It’s hard to beat that type of service!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful…Oddly enough, snow and ice is coating much of the south, and the eastern half of the country is either cold and wet or completely frozen. It’s the kind of the weather that makes you think birds have the right idea when they migrate south for the winter. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could do the same? Why not plan a vacation to a warm, exotic beach, like Lover’s Beach in Cabo San Lucas?

The good news is that last minute travel deals are available. In fact, some travel websites recommend buying tickets at the last minute to get a better price on airfare. However, you have to be flexible with your travel plans. If your quest for sunshine will take you out of the country, you’ll also need to get a fast passport.  There are two ways to apply for a fast passport. The US Department of State offers a fast passport option for an additional $60.00. You can go to the US Passport Agency website for instructions on how to apply, and you should get your passport within 2 weeks. If you need a fast passport, though, the best option is to play it safe and use a professional passport expediter like RushMyPassport.com. You can get your passport in as little as 24 hours. Plus, you’ll have a professional walking you through the passport application process so that everything goes smoothly the first time. After all, if you’re leaving the country on the spur of the moment, there’s no time for do-overs!

Every girl grows up dreaming about her wedding day. Then, she actually starts trying to plan a wedding. There are two types of brides: those who revel in deciding on every tiny detail, and those who quickly begin to contemplate the joys of eloping.  In fact, eloping to escape the obligations of a wedding is becoming increasingly common. So are destination weddings, where couples and their families hold the wedding ceremony in an exotic locale, often on a cruise ship or overseas.  After all, who wouldn’t want to get married in paradise? Hotels and cruise ships that offer destination weddings usually offer no-stress, pre-planned wedding packages so you don’t have to obsess over the details.

Whether you’re driving across the border to say “I do” or planning a fairytale wedding at a castle in Europe, a US passport is indispensable.  Right now, a US passport is required for anyone leaving the country by air-even if you’re just jetting off to Cancun.  You can use a birth certificate and driver’s license for land travel and cruises instead of a US passport, but starting June 1, 2009, you’ll need a passport for that, too.

You can visit the US Passport Agency online to find out what you need to do to get a passpport. However, if you need your US passport quickly, using a professional expediting service like RushMyPassport.com is the best way to go.  With an expediting service, you can have your passport in as little as 24 hours, and you’ll have a professional to walk you through the process every step of the way!

For international travelers, the economic crisis has a silver lining: the recovery of the US Dollar. Earlier this year, international travel was like putting a vacuum hose into your bank account. The dollar was so weak that you would lose money just by changing it to a local currency! Suddenly, international travel is much more affordable, but nobody’s sure how long that will last. Now is the time to take that overseas trip you’ve been dreaming of.

Before you go, don’t forget to check the expiration date on your passport! Even if it hasn’t expired yet, some countries won’t let you in if it expires in less than 6 months. You can renew your passport by mail as long as all of the following are true:

• Your old passport hasn’t been lost or damaged.
• Your old passport is less than 15 years old and you were over 16 when you received it.
• You have legal documents to support any name changes you’ve made since your last passport was issued.

To renew your passport by mail, complete the following steps:

1. Fill out the Department of State’s passport renewal Form DS-82. Send it along with your old passport, 2 passport photos, and any legal name change documents.
   
2. Show the government the money: renewing your passport by mail costs $75.00. An expedited passport costs an additional $60.00.
   
3. Regular passport renewal requests should be processed in 3 weeks, although it may take longer. Expedited passport renewal requests take about 2 weeks.

What if you need your passport renewed more quickly? (more…)

Renewing your passport is a fairly simple process compared to some of the other types of passport applications.  There are two ways of getting your passport renewed.  You can choose to do your passport renewal through traditional means by going to your local post office or you can use an expediting company which will get the job done in as quickly as 24 hours. If you would like to do it yourself, you must visit the US passport agency website. If you would like to use an expediter such as RushMyPassport.com, you will need to follow these easy steps:

1. Complete a DS-82 application online.  Passport renewal applications and requirements can be found here.
2. You will need a valid or expired passport.  Don’t worry, this will be mailed back to you with your new passport.
3. You will need two identical passport photos.  Passport photo requirements can be found here.
4. Travel evidence or proof of departure will be required.  If you have not purchased your ticket yet, a letter on company letterhead is accepted as long as it meets the US passport agency’s requirements.
5. A check made payable to the U.S. Department of State for $135 is required.  They are very strict as to how it needs to be made out, easy to understand instructions can be found here.
6. An authorization letter will be needed.  You will need to contact the expediting company for this letter.  It’s a very simple 1 page letter that authorizes the company to act on your behalf.

The price for expediting your passport is an additional fee which you will pay directly to the expediting company.  The fee will vary according to company and service speed. If you have any questions, RushMyPassport.com offers free live chat from 9am to 6pm, Monday thru Friday, excluding government holidays.