Expedited Passports

What do you do if you live in Chicago and you need to get your passport renewed? No matter where you live, the first step is to figure out whether you are eligible to renew your passport by mail, or whether you will have to apply again in person. You can renew by mail if you meet all of the following qualifications:

• You were at least 16 years old when your last passport was issued.
• Your passport is less than 15 years old.
• Your passport hasn’t been lost, damaged 0r stolen.
• If your name has changed, you have the legal documents to prove it.

If you qualify t0 renew your passport by mail, simply fill out passport renewal form DS-82 and send it in along with:

• Two passport photos
• A $75 check or money order
• Legal documentation of any name changes (more…)

These days, identity theft is a serious concern. Robbers are just as likely to steal your personal information and documents as they are to go for actual money and valuables. Of course, if your passport gets stolen, you should report it immediately-but what if the thief only gets your passport number, or a copy of your passport? In that case, they would have your passport number, but you would still have the physical passport in your possession.

According to the representative I spoke to at the National Passport Help Desk, you should be fine as long you still have your passport in your possession. There isn’t anything that can really be done with just a passport number-you need to have the actual document to do any damage.

If your passport is lost or stolen, here’s how to go about getting a new one:

• Report your passport lost or stolen by calling 1-877-487-2778.
• Apply in person for a new passport. You’ll need to fill out both a passport application and Form DS-64.
• Provide 2 new passport photos.
• Bring proof of ID and proof of citizenship
• Pay the $75 application fee along with the $25 execution fee (if you’re over 16, along with an additional $60 fee if you need your application expedited.  (more…)

US passport holders should be aware that if they are planning on traveling to China any time in the near future, they’d better be healthy when they leave home! The Chinese government has introduced some pretty strict quarantine measures to try to stem the spread of the H1N1 “swine flu” virus, and international travelers are receiving extra scrutiny.

For example, this article in the New York Times tells the story of a mother whose daughter went to China for a language camp. It turns out that one of her classmates was ill with the H1N1 strain of flu. When her daughter starting running a fever, the Chinese government made her go into quarantine in a hospital.

From the story, the girl seems to have been well-taken-care of, but being forced into hospitalization in a foreign country is kind of unnerving experience for anyone. US passport holders should be aware not only of the risk of contracting swine flu during travel, but also of the risk of being detained until you are deemed no longer contagious-a much greater inconvenience than the illness itself, in many cases.

Of course, before you travel to another country, you need to be aware of all travel warnings and requirements. You also need to apply for your US passport well in advance, to ensure that you have all of your documents in time for travel. A passport expediting company can help smooth out the application process and speed up processing times.

Get your US passport today!

Are you tired of your job, or just ready to take some time off to travel?  Or, perhaps you, like millions of other people, have been victimized by the economic downturn? If you don’t mind living abroad, there’s actually an exciting career with lots of job openings available: teaching English overseas.

Becoming an English teacher in a foreign country has lots of advantages: learning a new language yourself, meeting new people and seeing new places. Plus, you’ll come back with experience overseas that looks great on a resume.

You don’t have to be a schoolteacher or even have a college degree to take advantage of this opportunity.  However,  in many cases you will need an ESL teaching certificate. You can take a course for the certificate either in the US or overseas, and companies that offer the courses usually offer job assistance or even guaranteed placement after you’re through.

As Doug from TheCanned.com notes in this blog post: “As crazy as the idea sounds, it may just be the thing to get a break from the 9-5 grind, give some thought to your career or prepare to go back to school.”

Before you jump on a plane to another country, don’t forget this important first step: obtaining a passport. Given current processing times, you need to allow at least 6 weeks after you submit your application for your passport to arrive in the mail. Even if you request expedited service from the government, you should still allow 3 weeks  or more.

Obtaining a passport more quickly than that is possible, but it’s best done through a private passport expediting company. An expediting company will submit your passport application by hand to the right people in the US Department of State, resulting in much faster processing times. In fact, if you choose the fastest option,  Rushmypassport.com can reduce your passport processing time to as little as 24 hours!

Are you ready to to take the plunge? Get started on obtaining a passport today!

Summer’s almost over. Can you believe it? In about a month, school will be starting back again, the weather will start cooling down, and you might find yourself wistfully daydreaming about kicking back on the beach with a nice frosty cocktail.

If you aren’t ready to wave goodbye to summer yet, don’t despair! Starting September 8th, JetBlue will fly you to paradise for cheap! Leave from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to catch a flight to the Bahamas for $29.00 each way. You can get from New York to Montego Bay, Jamaica for just $119.00, and from New York to St. Lucia or Barbados for just $129.99 each way. You can view all of the fares here!

Of course, if you’re flying to the Caribbean, there’s one piece of essential travel gear that you’ll need to get your hands on-a US passport. If you apply for a passport with ordinary processing, you need to allow at least 6 weeks for it to be processed. Even if you apply using the government’s express passport processing, you can expect to wait at least 3 weeks. That might be cutting it close, and JetBlue’s tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

For last-minute trips, the best way to go is to get an express passport using a private passport expediting company. An expediting company can forward your application directly to the US Department of State, where it will be placed on top of the stack, so to speak. The result is passport processing times that are much faster than the regular government service-anywhere from 24 hours to a little over a week, depending on what option you choose.

Go ahead-order an express passport today and extend your summer just a little bit further!

Centuries ago, in medieval Europe, fierce pirates known as Vikings left Norway, Denmark and Sweden in search of treasure. They gained a fearsome reputation that persists to this day, but they were also imaginative storytellers, cunning tradesmen, and politically savvy administrators. They left behind giant carved runestones, stories and mythology that has inspired fantasy novels like the Lord of the Rings, and very little else.

Right now, you can cruise through Denmark and Norway for a very reasonable price.  Check out this last-minute deal from Royal Caribbean (via Expedia): A five-night cruise  starting at just $282 per person for an inside cabin!  Coincidentally, Scandinavian Airlines is also having a sale, with round-trip fares from the US to Copenhagen starting at $500!

Of course, if you don’t have a valid passport, you’ll have to get a new one before you travel.  The cruise special runs from August 16 to August 31.  At this point, the safest way to secure a new passport in time to take advantage of the special would be to go through a private passport expediting company. When you submit your new passport application directly through the government, you’ll have to wait at least 6 weeks for regular service and at least 3 weeks for the government’s expedited service.

However, a private passport expediting company will deliver your application by hand for immediate processing, so your new passport could be on its way back to you in as little 24 hours! To see what’s required, check out this step-by-step guide to getting a new passport before you apply.

Are you ready to set sail? Order your new passport today!

Have you ever wanted to visit Ireland? Then, check out this excellent last-minute travel deal from Aer Lingus- round-trip airfare and a car for a week for $599 per person in August.

You can fly in to either Dublin or Shannon with this special, and you can add lodging from $55 per day. Please note, if you don’t drive a stick, it will cost you an additional $50.00 to rent an automatic for the week.

What should you do once you get there? Well, stopping in a pub for a pint would probably be first on my agenda after a long plane ride. After that, check out this list of 10 Must-See Attractions in Dublin to help you plan your itinerary.  You can walk down Grafton and Henry Streets, check out the Dublin Zoo, catch a game at Croke Park, or view the masterpieces in Ireland’s National Gallery.  Also, don’t forget to check out St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the castles of Mallahide and Ardgillan.

Of course, you can’t take advantage of this special if you don’t have a passport. So, go get one! To take advantage of this deal in August, you’ll need to get an express passport. If you apply for an express passport directly through the government, you may not get it in time, since it can take 3 weeks or longer for their expedited processing. However, a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com will hand-deliver your application to the Department of State, and can have it processed for you in as little as 24 hour.

Don’t miss out on this excellent Emerald Isle vacation-apply for an express passport today!

As part of a court settlement, the US Department of State has created a new set of procedures to govern passport services for applicants who were delivered by midwives near the US/Mexican border. The settlement was the result of a court case brought by the ACLU against the government for denying passports to US citizens born near the border and delivered by midwives. 75 midwives near the border have been convicted of birth certificate fraud since the 1960’s.  These convictions made the government suspicious of anyone who was delivered by a midwife near the border and applied for a passport. Many were asked to provide additional documentation, and others had their applications denied outright.  (more…)

The U.S. Department of State just announced the opening of the 22nd Regional Passport Agency in Dallas, Texas on their website. The new office will serve applicants who need to travel within the next 14 days by providing same-day passport application processing.

Regional passport agencies exist to help out travelers who need emergency passport services, but for a lot of people, they are not the easiest solution. First of all, you can’t just go to a regional passport office at your own convenience-you have to make an appointment. Second, the passport agencies have limited office hours. For example, the Dallas office opens at 8 am and closes at 3 pm, and is not open on weekends at all. This means that most visitors will need to get additional time off work to get a same-day passport. Third, there are only 22 Regional Passport Agencies to serve the entire country. Many people live so far away from the nearest passport agency that it simply isn’t practical to drive.

Fortunately, there is an easier way to get same-day passport service. Private expediting companies like RushMyPassport.com can often have your application processed the same day they receive your paperwork. Even better, you don’t have to make an appointment or wait in line. All you have to do is send in the appropriate paperwork and supporting documents, after having your application envelope “sealed” at a place that accepts passport applications, such as post office or library.

Visit RushMyPassport.com for same-day passport service without the hassle!

Question: When is a valid passport not a valid passport?

As the Washington Post warns travelers in this article, even if your passport is valid, you may not be able to travel with it. That’s because some countries require that your passport be valid for a certain number of months into the future, even if you plan to return to the US before your expiration date.

For example, the Washington Post describes the unfortunate situation that happened to Indiana grad student Kyle Lenz. The poor guy booked a trip to Quito, Ecuador, to attend his best friend’s wedding. He checked his passport expiration date, but unfortunately, he didn’t check Ecuador’s entry requirements. The country requires that US citizens have a passport that will be valid for at least the next 6 months before they can enter the country. Mr. Lenz was turned away, and the wedding went on without him.

To ensure that this doesn’t happen to you, check your destination country’s travel requirements at the US Department of State’s website.  What if you find out you need your US passport renewal processed at the last minute?  With current processing times, it’s taking at least 6 weeks for passport applications to be processed with normal processing. Even if you choose the government’s expedited service, your US passport renewal may take 3 weeks or longer to go through.

If you need your US passport renewal processed quickly, the easiest thing to do is to submit it using a private passport expediting company. An expediting company makes things easier by helping you with the paperwork to prevent mistakes on your application that could increase processing time.  Then, they’ll forward the application to the Department of State by hand for priority processing. With an expediting company, your passport renewal could be completed in as little as 24 hours!

Don’t let what happened to Kyle Lenz happen to you-apply for your US passport renewal today!