Expedited Passports

Have you ever wondered how a new passport is made? In this video from the US State Department, the State Department Under  Secretary for Management Patrick F Kennedy describes the process of making  a new passport.

The raw material used to make the outside of a passport book is actually produced overseas, because the State Department couldn’t find an American firm to manufacture the radio frequency identification (RFID)  chips that are installed in all new passports.  However, according to the video, the only step in producing a US passport that takes place overseas is manufacturing the plastic covers with their embedded RFID chips.

The covers are sent to the US, cut to the appropriate size, and the chips are formatted. Then, pages are installed in the new passport books and printed with the appropriate lettering and design. After that, the blank passport books are shipped to one of the regional passport processing facilities. Once your application is received and approved, your personal information and photo will be printed on the passport. The RFID chip is also loaded with your information, as well as with encryption and security features that keep the data from being altered or read by unauthorized parties. Then, it is sent back to you.

Currently, it’s taking at least 6 weeks to process a passport application with regular service and at least 3 weeks for expedited service from the government.  If all the government has to do to issue a new passport is to put your data on a blank passport book, why does it take so long to get one?

Simply put, the US Department of State gets a lot of passport applications. Even after your application arrives at the passport processing center, you still have to wait your turn to have it processed.  A private passport expediting company can put your application at the top of the stack, so you get a much faster turnaround time without the hassle and bother of going down to the Regional Passport Agency office yourself.  With an expediting company, your passport can be processed in as little as 24 hours!

Don’t waste time waiting-order your new passport today!

When you go to get your passport photo taken,  you might be surprised when your photographer neglects to tell you to “smile and say cheese.”  That’s because the government has certain rules about what types of facial expressions are acceptable, and if you break these rules, your passport application could be rejected.  Because there are so many rules, many people are unsure whether or not it’s okay to smile for  a passport photo.

In some countries, such as Great Britain and Canada, smiling for a passport photo is strictly forbidden.  Looking serious, even downright gloomy, is encouraged. This is because these countries use facial recognition software to cut down on passport fraud.  Unfortunately, smiling can make it hard for this software to “read” your face.  For the same reason, Arkansas, Indiana, Nevada and Virginia have forbidden motorists to smile for driver’s license pictures.

However, in America, it’s still okay to smile for your passport photo. Just don’t go overboard. According to the US Department of State, “normal, un-exaggerated smiles are acceptable.” However, “unusual expressions” are forbidden. No crossing your eyes or sticking your tongue out.  Also, squinting is forbidden and you don’t want to show your teeth.  So, if you naturally have a big, toothy grin that changes the way your entire face looks, tone it down for the camera.

Before you go out for your big photo shoot, make sure to review the government’s rules for passport photos. Also, to make the passport application process go faster, consider submitting your application through a private passport expediting company. You’ll get personalized customer service from passport professionals, and since your application is delivered by hand to the US Department of State, you’ll get much quicker processing times, too. An expediting company can get your passport application processed in as little as 24 hours!

Order your passport today!

US Representative Gary Peters of Michigan has managed to get an amendment through the House of Representatives requiring the government to review the economic impact of the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The new rules, which became law on June 1st, 2009, require Americans to use passports or another special government-approved document to travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean by land and sea.

Prior to June 1st, Michigan and Canadian citizens who wanted to cross the US/Canadian border by land or water could do so with a state-issued photo ID and proof of citizenship, usually a birth certificate. Under these rules, it was still relatively easy for people to patronize businesses on the other side of the border.

The amendment sponsored by Rep. Peters made in through the House on June 10th, according to the Detroit Free Press. If it passes the Senate, it will compel the Obama administration to review the economic impact of the new rules, especially on small businesses. The state is already suffering due to the economic crisis and the financial woes of American car companies, who were major sources of employment in and around Detroit.

In the Detroit Free Press article, Peters told the paper that he sponsored the amendment because “We need to know exactly how new passport requirements are affecting Michigan’s economy.” Michigan does $67 million worth of business each year with the Canada, the largest of any US state.

Of course, chances are that the requirements will stay in place, no matter what happens to Rep. Peters’ bill. In previous interviews about the passport requirements, Janet Napolitano, head of the Department of Homeland Security, has dismissed people who worried about the economic impact of the rules.

If you need a passport to travel to Canada, remember to allow enough time when you apply. Currently, applications for passports are taking at least 6 weeks to process. Even with the government’s expedited service, expect to wait 3 weeks or longer.

The easiest way to get passports quickly is to use a private passport expediting service. These services hand-deliver your application to the US Department of State. They can get passports processed remarkably quickly, often within 24 hours.

Don’t let the rules mess with your travel plans this summer. Order your passports today!

Whenever you apply for a passport, you are required to provide your social security number, which is then forwarded to the Department of the Treasury. Does that mean that the government will withhold your new passport if you owe the IRS money?

Perhaps, but it’s not likely. The IRS can keep you from getting your passport, but they only use this power in extraordinary circumstances-like if you owe so much in back taxes that the IRS is garnishing your wages, or if you’ve been charged with a criminal offense for tax evasion. For example,  actor Wesley Snipes had his passport pulled after he violated his parole while waiting to appeal his conviction for tax evasion (see this post on Don’t Mess With Taxes For Details). If he applied for a new one, he would most likely get turned down.

So, yes, if you owe the IRS you might have problems getting a new passport-but usually, if you’re in that much trouble with them, you already know you have problems.  If you have any questions about your tax status before you apply for a new passport, you should contact the IRS.

Applying for a new passport can be time-consuming and a little confusing. If you need to get a new passport quickly, consider using a private passport expediting company to submit your application. You’ll get personal service and assistance from passport professionals, as well as a much faster turnaround time than you would if you submitted your form directly to the government.

To see why we’re industry leaders in speed and customer service, let us help you with your new passport application today!

How would you like to travel to Europe this year?  One of the major expenses of a European vacation is the cost of a flight across the ocean. However, would-be globetrotters are in luck- the New York Times just reported on some amazing travel deals on European flights! And by amazing, I mean round trip flights as low as $208 (from Philadelphia to Madrid) to $392 (from New York t0 Paris).  Not long ago, these prices would have been considered “deals” if they were just one-way fares!

Yes, these low ticket prices are exciting…just don’t get so excited that you forget to turn in your passport application! Getting a passport takes some time. In fact, if you apply using the regular government processing service, you can expect to wait at least 6 weeks, and possibly longer, for your passport application to be processed. If you apply using the government’s expedited service, you’ll wait at least three weeks.

However, there is an easy way to get your passport application processed quickly, so you can take advantage of these excellent travel deals. A private passport expediting company can hand-deliver your passport application and associated materials to the US Department of State. These services allow you to put your application at the top of the stack for faster processing. By using an expediting service, you can get your application processed in as little as 24 hours!

RushMyPassport.com has a range of expediting options to meet your needs and your budget. Save yourself time and stress: let us submit your passport application today!

The US Department of State is adding additional regional Passport Agency offices this year, to make it easier for Americans to obtain passport services. One of the new passport offices will be in Vermont, according to this report in the Rutland Herald.  Montpelier, Vermont is one of 5 locations in the US to be included in the US Passport Agency’s expansion. The others are: Buffalo, N.Y., El Paso, Texas, Atlanta and San Diego.

This will make obtaining passport services  easier for Vermonters planning on traveling internationally, including those who regularly cross the border into Canada.  Regional Passport Agency offices are appointment-only offices that issue passports for US citizens traveling within the next 14 days.

However, even with the additional passport offices, these passport services will still be hard to get for many Americans. That’s because regional Passport Agency offices are only open for a limited number of hours during the day, so most people have to take off work to visit them. Also, even with the additional offices, many Americans still won’t have a passport office nearby.

If you have an international trip planned for the near future and you need passport services, a passport expediting service is the easiest way to get them.  When you use an expediting company, all you have to do is fill out your application, get your documents “sealed” by a passport acceptance facility (usually your local post office), and send them to the expediting company. The expediting company handles the rest of the passport services for you. So, you don’t have to take time off work, make an appointment, drive to a regional Passport Agency office or wait in line.  Plus, you passport application will be processed quickly-often in as little as 24 hours!

For exceptional speed and great customer service, apply for passport services with RushMyPassport.com today!

As a consequence of the new travel regulations that went into effect on June 1, many places in Canada and Mexico that depend on tourism are expecting  a slow summer, according to TampaBay.com. The report noted that some Niagara Falls tourists that were surveyed said they would not be back due to the new rules, which require adults to carry passports for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

The article also noted that only 20% of Americans have a passport at this time.  Why such a low percentage? Part of the reason is cost: a passport book, good for 10 years, is $100.00 for Americans aged 16 and older. That’s only ten dollars a year, but it’s still a significant upfront expense for many Americans. Also, getting a passport can be kind of a hassle-there are a lot of forms to fill out, your passport pictures have to be “just so,” and you have to gather up supporting documents. So, people tend to put off getting a passport until they are sure they will actually need one for travel.

The problem with putting off getting a passport until the last minute is that passport applications take some time to process. For example, right now, if you apply for a passport with regular processing, it can take approximately 2 months to get your new passport in the mail. If you apply using the government’s expedited service, it can still take at least 3 weeks.

Fortunately, there is a faster and easier solution to the problem of getting  a passport. A private passport expediting company can help you with the paper by providing clear, easy to understand directions. Then, they can hand-deliver your application to the US Department of State. This drastically reduces processing times, so your new passport could be on its way back to you in as little as 24 hours!

Order your passport from us today, and see how easy and fast getting a passport can be!

For most people, a vacation means relaxing, whether on the beach or beside the pool. However, other people prefer to kick it up a notch, to do something that gets their blood and their adrenaline flowing. If you fall into the latter category, “adventure travel” is probably your idea of a perfect vacation. Adventure travel usually involves activities like wilderness hiking, kayaking, or whitewater rafting. However, many adventure travel providers also offer luxurious accommodations so that you don’t feel like you’re back in summer camp.

Adventure travel opportunities are available almost everywhere, especially places that are a little remote, located away from “civilization.” According to Road and Travel Magazine, two of the best places for adventure travel are Brazil and Australia. Travel prices to Australia are the lowest they’ve been in a long time, too, so now is a great time to go!

The Caribbean also has some wonderful adventure travel-oriented resorts-check out this travel deal from Puntacana Club and Resort in the Dominican Republic. You get three nights in a Deluxe room, a biking expedition, horseback riding, guided hiking and more for $262 per night.

Canada is also a great adventure travel destination. National Geographic’s Adventure Travel Deal of the week is for a stay in British Columbia’s God’s Pocket Marine Provincial Park, a great place for sea kayaking with marine life like dolphins and otters.

Wherever you decide to go, if you want to leave the United States this summer, you’ll need to get a fast passport.   For most people, the quickest and easiest way to get a fast passport is to use a private passport expediting company to submit your passport application. An expediting company can hand-deliver your application to the Department of State for super-fast passport processing, sometimes as quick as 24 hours.

Don’t miss out on your summer adventure-apply for a fast passport today!

The Department of State put a lot of effort into publicizing the changes to US travel requirements that became law on June 1st. They added a clock to US Passport Agency’s web site, counting down to the second when the new rules would go into effect. They made announcement after announcement, starting months ahead of time.

However, for all their outreach, there were at least 2 people that the State Department failed to reach with their warnings: Former US Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.  The two ex-presidents were asked about the new requirements during a joint appearance in Toronto on Saturday, May 29th.

As reported in the Winnepeg Free Press, here’s how they responded:

“I’ll be frank with you Frank, I don’t know about the passport issue,” Bush told the crowd of 6,000.

“I thought we were making good progress on using a driver’s licence to cross the border. What happened to the easy-pass card?”

Clinton too said he’d only heard about the passport requirement a day earlier, adding that in all likelihood most Americans were completely unaware of it as well.

Apparently, our two former presidents would have benefited from reading our blog! The new requirements were put into place as part of the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). To sum them up:

• All adult American citizens traveling to Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean must have a US passport or another document approved by Homeland Security to get back into the country. Previously, you could use your driver’s license and a birth certificate if you were crossing by land or by sea, but that is no longer the case.
• Children under the age of 16 can use a birth certificate when traveling by land or sea.
• Children ages 16-18 can use a birth certificate when traveling by land or sea as part of an organized, chaperoned group, like a sports group or school group.
• Passengers of any age can use a driver’s license and birth certificate (or naturalization certificate) if they are on a closed-loop cruise that begins and ends in the same US port.
• Air passengers of any age need a US Passport Book.

If you need a passport to travel to Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean, you should be prepared to wait. It’s currently taking at least 4 to 6 weeks to process a passport application submitted with standard processing. New passport applications submitted using the government’s expediting service take at least 2-3 weeks, and that’s if you pony up the cash for overnight shipping to and from the Passport Agency.

Can’t wait that long? A private passport expediting company is a convenient way to get your passport more quickly. An expediting company hand-delivers your application materials and then sends you your new passport. Because your application goes to the top of the stack, it gets processed much more quickly-in as little as 24 hours!

Don’t let the new passport regulations interfere with your summer vacation-order your passport now!

Recreational boaters in the Great Lakes region have long enjoyed sailing across the Canadian border to visit our neighbors to the north.  However, security concerns and regulations have made what was once an easy trip a little bit more complicated.

On Monday, June 1st, another set of restrictions became effective as the US Government rolled out the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). With the WHTI, US citizens traveling to Canada by land or by sea now need to carry a government-approved travel document, such as:

• A US Passport Book
• A US Passport Card
• An Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) , which is only available if you live in certain states
• NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST card

In addition, pleasure boat operators have some additional responsibilities when it comes to entering Canada.  If you’re the captain, you need to steer your boat to the nearest marine port of entry and have the following information handy:

• Name
• Birthday
• Citizenship information and  passport numbers for everyone aboard the boat
• Your boat’s name  and registration number
• Home port, current location  and contact information.

Only one person (usually the boat’s owner) should exit the boat to report that you’ve arrived. For more information on taking a pleasure boat into Canada, check out the following brochure from the New York Sea Grant.

A US passport book is more expensive than a passport card or some of the other acceptable documents, but it has some  advantages. First, passports are good for 10 years, longer than Enhanced Driver’s Licenses. Second, a US passport book is necessary to travel to and from Canada by plane. The other documents, including a passport card, are only acceptable for land and sea travel.

When you apply for your US passport, it’s best to allow at least 2 months for it to arrive. Even with the government’s expedited service, you’re advised to allow at least 3 weeks.  But have no fear-if you need a US passport to take your boat into Canada, you can get one in plenty of time to do so this summer. A private passport expediting company can offer faster service. Different processing options are available, ranging from 24 hours to a little over a week. Plus, you’ll get personalized service from knowledgeable professionals, greatly reducing the hassle of applying for a passport.

Apply for your US passport today!