Expedited Passports

Students at Kentucky’s Centre College get an extra perk this year: the school, which strongly encourages students to study overseas, is paying for their passports, according to the Lexington Herald Leader.

Already, 85% of the student body spends at least one semester studying abroad. The college would like that number to reach 100%. To encourage as many students as possible to spend time overseas, the school runs a number of low-cost overseas study programs in various foreign cities.

In the Lexington Herald-Leader, Milton Reigelman, director of Centre’s Center for Global Citizenship, explained why the school believes so strongly in the value of studying abroad that they are willing to pay for students’ passport services:  “It kind of focuses their attention … that to be educated in today’s world, you have to do more than just read about other places, you have to live there.”

No matter where you go to school, there are plenty 0f options for studying abroad-and it really does broaden your horizons to be immersed in another culture.  However, before you can study abroad, you must have a valid US passport.

It is also important to apply for passport services well in advance of when you plan to leave. Currently, the US Department of State is processing regular passport applications in approximately 6 weeks, and expedited passport applications in about 3 weeks.  However, you should apply well before these deadlines-delays can and do happen, and an accidental mistake on your application can mean you have to start over from scratch.

Requesting passport services from a private passport expediting company like RushMy’Passport.com makes the process much easier and faster. You’ll work with a trained passport professional and get simple, easy-to-understand instructions that help you avoid common mistakes. Then, we’ll deliver your application by hand to the Department of State for the fastest possible passport services-often as quick as 24 hours!

Apply for passport services with us today!

Good news for Arizona residents who need emergency passports: The US Department of State opened a new passport office in Tucson, Arizona on September 8, 2009, according to this press release.

The new Western Passport Center is located  at 7373 East Rosewood Street and is open by appointment only to help travelers who need a passport issued for travel within the next 14 days. It brings the total number of passport processing centers in the country up to 23, of which 19 are open to the public.

At this point, if you’re mathematically inclined, you might be thinking “Wait a minute…only 19 passport offices in the entire country? Is that enough for everyone?” It’s true, a lot of Americans don’t live within easy driving distance of one of these facilities.  In fact, the closest passport offices to the one in Tucson are in Los Angeles and Aurora, Colorado.

Plus, the offices operate on an appointment-only basis and they have limited hours of operation.  For example, the Tucson office is only open from 8:30am to 3:00pm from Monday through Friday. Even if you live near Tucson, that can make things difficult if you work during the day. If you already have an overseas trip coming up, you might not be able to take additional time off work to go to the passport office.

Oh well, getting an emergency passport is supposed to be difficult, right? Wrong! With a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com, you can get an emergency passport without having to make an appointment at a passport office. All you have to do is go to a passport acceptance facility (often a post office or library), get your application and documents sealed and send them in. The expediting company then hand-delivers your documents to the Department of State, where they will be processed in as little as 24 hours.  Doesn’t that sound easier?

Apply for your passport with us today!

Right now, students are eligible for some excellent travel deals from STA Travel, with flights to Europe marked down up to 40%. That means you can fly from New York to London for $307 round-trip.  Chicago to Paris is $382, and Miami to Rome is $389. If you’d like to hang out in Amsterdam, round-trip tickets start out at $438 if you fly from New York.

You can also get an additional $100 off your flight if you book a room at a hotel or hostel, buy a Eurorail pass or purchase an adventure travel package from STA Travel.  You can see more flights and get more information here.

To qualify for these deals, though, you will need an International Student Identity card. Your college ID won’t cut it.  International Student Identity Cards are available to all full-time students ages 12 and up. You can apply for one here.

In addition to an International Student Identity Card, you’ll also need a valid passport.  You should fill out your passport application and turn it in well before you actually plan to leave the country. If you request regular processing with your application, you can expect to wait at least 6 weeks before you get your passport. If you expedite your passport application using the government’s expedited service option, you’re still looking at about 3 weeks for processing.

If you need your passport more quickly, a private passport expediting company is the most convenient option. RushMyPassport.com will hand-deliver your passport application to the Department of State, resulting in processing times as low as 24 hours.

Submit your passport application today!

All Larry and Gladys Williams wanted was to go on a cruise to Alaska. However, their dream was denied when they showed up  at port in Seattle without passports, according to the Dallas Morning News. Larry Williams had assumed that passports weren’t necessary for the journey, since the cruise began in Seattle and ended in Alaska.

However, the ship wasn’t sailing straight from Seattle to Alaska-there was also a stop at a Canadian port.   The final part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, a new law that went into effect on June 1, 2009, requires Americans traveling from the US to Canada (or Mexico, or the Caribbean)  to carry their passports.

Since they didn’t have the appropriate documentation, the couple was sent home.  They planned to try again this year, but the US Department of State required additional documentation when Gladys wasn’t able to present an acceptable birth certificate.  She finally has a new passport now, and they plan to set sail next year!

The moral of the story? Apply for a passport as soon as possible.  As Gladys told the Dallas Morning News, “You just never know what kind of problem you may run into. I should have done this years ago.”

If you need a new passport, an expediting company like RushMyPassport.com can assist you with the application process. You’ll work with a professional passport specialist and get detailed instructions to help you navigate the application process. Plus, we’ll forward your application by hand to the Department of State, resulting in processing times as short as 24 hours.

Apply for your new passport with RushMyPassport.com today!

Until last week, Susie Williams-Allen, a newspaper columnist for the Purcell Register in Purcell, Oklahoma, wasn’t aware of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The WHTI, which has been in effect since June 1, 2009,  requires that American citizens returning from Mexico prove their identity and citizenship with a US passport on their way back across the border.

Last week, she and her husband decided to take a day trip into Mexico without first obtaining a passport.  Unfortunately, on her way back across she learned about the new laws the hard way…from a decidedly unsympathetic border guard. Mrs. Williams-Allen and her husband faced a stern round of questioning before they were eventually allowed back across, treatment that she did not expect from a US border patrol officer as a US citizen.

The rules have been in place since June, and the Department of State has been diligent about publicizing the new requirements, but it appears that infrequent travelers are still falling through the cracks. As Mrs. Williams-Allen noted in her column, “Maybe I should have known I needed a passport. I think there may be more out there like me who do not know. It is not like I am a world traveler.”

The moral of the story?  If you are planning a trip to Mexico, even if it’s just walking across and taking a taxi back to the US, obtaining a passport should be your first step! It’s also a step that should be taken well in advance of a trip, if possible.  Currently,  obtaining a passport takes about 6 weeks if you apply with normal processing and about 3 weeks if you apply with regular processing.

To get your passport more quickly and with less hassle, consider using a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com. You’ll get detailed, easy-to-follow instructions to help you with your paperwork, plus personal help and guidance from a professional passport specialist.

Also, an expediting company will personally deliver your passport application to the Department of State, drastically reducing the time you have to wait. In fact, with an expediting company, your passport could be on its way back to you in as little as 24 hours!

At RushMyPassport.com, we make obtaining a passport quick and easy. Apply with us today!

In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was  common for wealthy young men to go on a “Grand Tour” of Europe,  visiting the major cities and seeing important historical sites and works of art.  In those days, the “Grand Tour” usually took months, if not years. However, if you act fast, Ryanair is giving you the opportunity to create your own, much faster version of this tradition, by selling a million plane tickets  from Great Britain to  different cities in Europe for only one euro.

What about getting there? Coincidentally, both American Airlines and United Airlines are having a sale on plane tickets to Europe, starting at $438 round trip.  So, you can get there and get around relatively cheaply.

However, if you want to take advantage of these specials, you’ll need to get a passport, quick. Ryanair’s deal ends tomorrow, on September 17th, and your travel dates have to be between October and December. Plus, the American Airlines deal is only valid if you travel before November 25, although United will give you until March of next year.

The best way to get a passport in time is to apply through a private passport expediting company. If you apply directly through the government, it will take about 6 weeks for your passport to come back. Even if you apply for the government’s expedited service, you can still expect to wait at least 3 weeks.

An expediting company will hand-deliver your passport application to the Department of State. This cuts processing times down to as little as 24 hours, so you’ll get your passport, quick!

Don’t miss out on these great airfare deals: get a passport, quick and start planning your trip today!

The small village of Nuevo Progreso lies just on the other side of the Texas/Mexican border. Known for its safe streets and great bargains on everything from alcohol to medications to souvenirs, over the past few decades Nuevo Progreso has built an economy based largely on Texans who like to winter in Mexico. In the summer, they depend on casual tourists who cross the border to shop.

However, after the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative went into effect on June, 2009, the ability to casually pop over to the Mexican side of the border became a thing of the past for US residents without passports. The new law requires that citizens show US passports or passport cards to get back into the country. Previously, all you had to have was your driver’s license and a birth certificate.

Since the rules went into effect, tourism in Nuevo Progreso has plummeted, according to this article in the Brownsville Herald.   According to Nuevo Progreso civic leaders, business is down 60 percent since the winter. For many in town, this is the slowest slow season they can remember.

For example, the article quotes Smiriam Hernandez, a local shop owner, who said that her 30-year-old establishment has never before lost so much money.  She told the Brownsville Herald that “The problem is the passport.”

However, there is hope: traffic across the border is slowly increasing, and according to Nuevo Progreso’s chamber treasurer, Dr. Maribel Martinez, more Americans living near the border are beginning to understand the necessity of having passports.  She told the Herald:  “People said they had problems with the cost, or gathering their documents. But it seems to be getting better and people are more conscientious now. Before, people didn’t want to accept it.”

Applying for a passport can be intimidating, and it does cost a little bit money. A private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com can make it by easier by offering personal assistance and faster processing. With RushMyPassport, you’ll be connected to a professional passport specialist and receive detailed, easy-to-understand instructions to help you through the application process, step by step.

Plus, applications for passports submitted through us are delivered directly to the Department of State for faster processing-often as quick as 24 hours!

Don’t miss out 0n everything Mexico has to offer- apply for your passport with us today!

Fall is almost here, the air is starting to feel just a tad crisp, and its time for Homer Simpson’s favorite holiday-Oktoberfest!  Americans are always eager for an excuse to drink beer and listen to music, so there are plenty of small local Oktoberfests to go to, but wouldn’t it be great to go to the mother of all Oktoberfests in Munich, Germany?

According to Wikipedia, the original Oktoberfest was actually held in 1812, to celebrate the marriage of King Ludwig the 1st to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The citizens of Munich had so much fun at the party that they decided to make it an annual event. And really, with beer, cheese and sausages galore, what’s not to like?

Oktoberfest is celebrated in the same meadow as it was in 1812, the Theresienwiese, named after King Ludwig’s bride. However, the event has grown, and is now the largest public festival in the world.  Entrance is free, but it’s not a bad idea to book seats inside one of the beer tents-they do tend to fill up. Some beer tents have free seats available, too. You can find out more at the Oktoberfest website.

This year’s Oktoberfest runs from September 18th  to  October 3rd. Originally, the festival was held in the middle of October, but the date was moved up to take advantage of the gorgeous weather at the end of September.

If you want to attend this year’s Oktoberfest, you’ll need to get a fast passport! Applying for a passport via the government’s expedited processing can still take 3 weeks or longer, and that’s cutting it much too close!

The safest way to go is to get a fast passport from a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com. An expediting company can hand-deliver your application to the Department of State to put your paperwork on the top of the stack, resulting in super-fast passport processing times. With RushMyPassport, your new passport could be on its way to you in as little as 24 hours!

Don’t miss out on this year’s Oktoberfest-apply for a fast passport today!

Do you fantasize about quitting your day job and traveling the world? Many people dream about it, but only a small percentage actually do it. And yet, it is definitely possible- if you willing to step outside of your comfort zone!  Bef0re you bid your 9-to-5 job adieu, however, you’ll need to do some research. After all, it’s always better to learn from other people’s mistakes rather than your own.

To help you get started, here are 5 great resources for wannabe world travelers:

1. For motivation and inspiration, check out The Art of Non-Comformity’s classic blog post, Why Should Quit Your Job and Travel the World
2. For more motivation, plus a healthy dose of practical, basic tips for survival on the road in another country, check out How to Quit Your Job and Travel the World by 5dolla on Kuro5hin.  Geeks (like yours truly) will also appreciate the sci-fi/fantasy references.
3. Nomadic Matt has a series of travel tips that covers everything from getting a job in another country to finding accommodations.
4. Nomadic Backpackers’ how-to archive covers everything from dealing with community bathrooms in a hostel to dealing with culture shock when you come home.
5. Almost Fearless is doing an excellent series on how to quit your job and travel the world this month:  30 ways in 30 days to Redesign Your Life And Travel the World.

Of course, before you can put your world travel plans in action, you need to renew your passport (or get a new one if you’ve never traveled overseas before).  Without a passport, you aren’t going anywhere!

Also, when you renew your passport, make sure you allow enough time for the Department of State to process your application. Regular passport renewals take 6 weeks or longer to process, and the government’s expedited service still takes about 3 weeks. If you have a departure date looming and you still haven’t applied for your passport, the safest option is to renew your passport with a private passport expediting company. You’ll get help with the paperwork and much faster service. In fact, if you use RushMyPassport.com, your application could be processed in as little as 24 hours!

Renew your passport with us today!

Residents of Dallas, Texas (and nearby cities) who need emergency passports have been able to apply for them at the new Dallas passport agency office since July. However, according to this article from the Dallas News, many  area residents are not aware that the office, located in at 1100 Commerce St, is even there.

In the article, Britany Williams, the regional director of the Dallas passport agency, told the newspaper that “We actually don’t have a lot of traffic right now because a lot of people don’t know we are here.”

The office, which can issue emergency passports, probably won’t remain an open secret for long. Also, applying for a same-day passport at an agency office is not a viable option for everyone, even if you live in the Dallas area. First of all, the office may not be busy, but it is by appointment only. Second, the office hours are not convenient for people who work during the day, and if you are already leaving the country unexpectedly, you may not be able to get additional time off work.  The Dallas office is open from 8am to 3pm, weekdays only.

Third, many people don’t live anywhere near one of these offices. The Dallas office is one of only 18 regional passport agency offices scattered across the country. Depending on where you live, your nearest office  could be a long drive or even a plane ride away!

Fortunately, there is an easier way to get an emergency passport. A private passport expediting service, like RushMyPassport.com, can hand-deliver your application to the Department of State for immediate processing.  There’s no need to wait in line or make an appointment, and your application can be processed in as little as 24 hours!

Need an emergency passport? Apply for one today!